Samuel William Bunfield
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Samuel William Bunfield was born on 5th October 1886 in East Kirkby and was the son of Charles a coal miner and Ada Emily Bunfield née Wightman of 319 Nottingham Road, Basford, Nottingham. His father Charles was born in 1862 in Norfolk and his mother Ada Emily Wightman was born in 1860 in Bleak Hall, Nottinghamshire, they were married in 1882 in Nottingham and went on to have the following children all born in Kirkby in Ashfield, John Clarence b1884, Samuel William b1187, Sarah Alexandra b1889, Winifred Mary b1892 and Egbert Charles b1894. . Samuel William was the husband of Ada (née Hayes) Bunfield whom he married on 7th June 1905 at the Basford Registry Office and the father of Sydney Charles Bunfield born 2nd October 1905 of 37 York Street Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire. In the 1911 census Samuel and his family are living at 37 York Street, Sutton in Ashfield and are shown as Samuel 24 yrs a coal miner corporal, he is living with his wife Ada 25 yrs and his son Sydney Charles 5 yrs also present at the house was Egbert Charles Bunfield 17 yrs an office boy , described as a boarder. In the same 1911 census his parents are living at 319 Nottingham Road, Old Basford and are shown as Charles Bunfield 49 yrs general secretary of the Notts Miners Association, he is living with his wife Ada Emily 51 yrs and their children Sarah Alexandra 22 yrs a waitress and Winifred May 19 yrs a domestic. Following his death his widow received a letter dated 26th September 1918 from the Ministry of Pensions informing her that she would be receiving a pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence a week for herself and her child with effect from 7th October 1918.
Rifleman Samuel William Bunfield, enlisted on 15th December 1914 at Mansfield, he gave his age as 28 yrs and 187 days, his address was 37 York Street, Sutton in Ashfield, his occupation was that of a coal miner, his next of kin was his wife Ada of the same address. He served with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and landed in France on 15th April 1915. He was wounded in the field by a gun shot wound to the hand on 16th May 1915, he was treated for his wound and re joined his unit on 29th May 1915. He was once again wounded on 24th March 1918 by shell wound to his buttocks and died of his wounds on 2nd April 1918 at 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples . He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.
His brother Pioneer Egbert Charles Bunfield enlisted on 15th November 1915 and served with the Royal Enginners, he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for active service having TB he died on the 20th April 1919 . He is buried in Kingsway Old Cemetery, Kirkby in Ashfield. Article published in the Nottingham Journal and Express dated 15th April 1918 :- “RIFLEMAN BUNFIELD. “SON OF NOTTS MINERS' SECRETARY KILLED IN ACTION. “In the ranks one of the Suttonians reported killed is Rifleman S. W. Bunfield, son of Mr. C. Bunfield, secretary of the Notts. Miners' Association. For four years Rifleman Bunfield was a member of the Sutton Harriers' Club.” In memoriam published 2nd April 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BUNFIELD. – In fond and loving memory of Rfn. Samuel William, dearly-loved son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bunfield, Basford, who died of wounds in France April 2nd, 1918, in his 32nd year. Bravely he fought and nobly fell, how much we miss him none can tell, God's will be done; He knoweth best.” Both above articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
