Percy Nash

Percy was the son of William Nash and his third wife, Martha Ann (née Driver). His father William was born in Ripley, Derbyshire, in about 1853. In 1871 he was working as a coal miner and lodging in Chesterfield, where he probably married Ann Turner in 1874 (reg. J/F/M Chesterfield). No record of his wife's death has yet been traced but in 1881 the widowed William was lodging with a married couple in Cudworth, near Barnsley. In 1882 William married a widow, Mary Hindson (née Owram), whose husband George Hindson had died in 1877 less than two years after their marriage. She and William had two daughters, Clara Annie b. 1882 and Sarah Jane b. 1884, both of whom were born in Cudworth, Yorkshire, and baptised at Royston St John. The baptismal records gave William's occupation as miner. Mary Nash probably died in 1886 and in 1891 William, now a colliery deputy, was living in Colliery Yard, Monk Bretton, with his daughters Clara (8) and Sarah (7). Also in the household was Martha Ann Driver (b. Cudworth abt. 1862), a general servant, by whom William had had a son, Fred (reg. Fred Nash Driver J/F/M 1890, bap. Monk Bretton St Paul January 1890 d. 1904). William and Martha were married in 1892 and had four more sons, the three eldest of whom were born in Monk Bretton and baptised at the parish church of St Paul: Arthur Edgar b. 1892, Percy birth registered 1894 (J/F/M) bap. 25 March 1894, Harry birth registered 1897 (J/F/M) and Herbert b. Greasbrough Yorkshire 1899. By 1901 William was the publican and licensee of the Sun Inn, Monk Bretton. In the home on the night of the census were his daughter Sarah, wife Martha and their five sons Fred, Arthur (9), Percy (7), Harry (4) and Herbert (1). Clara, a school teacher, was a boarder in the home of a married couple in Greasbrough, Yorkshire. The eldest son, Fred, died in Monk Bretton three years later on 9 January 1904 (reg. Driver). His father was still the licensee of the Sun Inn but by April that year had been given notice and the tenancy had changed by February 1905. The family had moved to Elm Road, Creswell, Derbyshire by 1911 when William was working as a furniture dealer. The four surviving sons were in the home on the night of the census: Arthur a fish hawker, Percy and Harry who were both pit pony drivers (below ground) and Herbert. Clara had married Albert Rogers in 1905 (reg. Barnsley) and Sarah was a domestic servant working for a family in Stockport, Cheshire. William died on 30 March 1915; the probate record gave his address as 78 Model Village, Creswell Road, Mansfield, and the later CWGC record also gave this as his widow's address. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Martha was probably living in Clowne, Derbyshire. Martha's death in 1940 was registered in Barnsley registration district. Percy's older brother Arthur Edgar attested on 1 March 1916 aged 23 years 11 months, occupation collier; he was living with his mother at 78 Model Village. He was posted to the Army Reserve the following day and not mobilized until 29 April 1918, joining for duty at Nottingham. He was posted on 1 May 1918 (186369, Machine Gun Corps) and was based at Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire. Within a month Arthur had been awarded three days confined to barracks for being absent for 16 hours 50 minutes on 3 June followed by an absence from duty for 8 days 14 hours between 17 and 25 June, for which he was awarded 168 hours detention. Arthur then deserted on 5 August and was not apprehended until 16 September; he was charged with being absent without leave for 42 days and losing by neglect eleven articles of military uniform and equipment. He was sentenced to payment for the deficiencies and to serve 112 days detention (to 20 December 1918) at Detention Barracks Derby. Arthur was in hospital between 25 November and 7 December suffering from influenza then discharged to Detention Barracks. He was finally demobilized on 29 January 1919 having served 2 years 58 days in the Reserve then spending more than half his service following mobilization in detention. His home address on discharge was 78 New Village, Creswell.