Charles Hickingbottom
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles was the son of William and Selina Hickingbottom and born abt. 1893. In 1911 William and Selina were living at 13 Glasshouse Street, Nottingham, with their seven children: John (29), Polly (25), Henry (23), Charles (19), Sarah (15), William (14) and Arthur (12). When Charles enlisted as a special reservist in April the following year he gave his address as the family home, 7 Careys Place, Coalpit Lane, Nottingham. His next of kin were listed as his parents and his four brothers, John being noted as 'serving in Sherwood Foresters'. Charles married Mabel Whitehead at St Paul's church, Nottingham, on 18 October 1913. Their son, Charles, was born on 6 December 1914 but died the following year, aged 9 months, on 16 September 1915 at 26 Tyler Street. The death was registered the following day; the cause of death was suspected enteritis and convulsions. At the time of Charles' death Mabel was living at Dennett's Terrace, Sneinton Road; she was awarded a pension of 13s 9d in May 1918.
His army service record survives (burnt record). At the age of 19, Charles enlisted in the Army Reserve (Special Reserve) in April 1912 on a six years' engagement. He was on home service from 25 April 1912 to 10 November 1914 and then served in France from 11 November 1914; total service 5 years 202 days. His medical record shows that he suffered gunshot wounds to the head on 28 June 1915 and again on 1 July 1915. Neither injury was likely to have been serious as on the second occasion he was quickly 'discharged to duty'. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged), 27 November 1917: 'Hickingbottom. Killed in action November 12th 1917, Private Charles Hickingbottom, Sherwood Foresters, age 25, husband of Mabel Hickingbottom of 16 Dennett's Terrace. Wife Mabel. Father, sisters, brothers Harry and Bill (France), Arthur (with the Colours) and Jack (home, wounded).
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