Charles Robert Thompson

Charles Robert was the son of Ralph Thompson and his first wife, Kate Thompson nee Richardson. His father Ralph was born in 1851 at Cavendish, Suffolk, the son of George Thompson, a grocer. His mother Kate Richardson was born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1855 (O/N/D Norwich-Bloomfield), the daughter of William and Sarah Richardson. She was baptised at the parish church of Heigham, Norwich, on 23 September 1855. Her father was also a grocer. Ralph and Kate were married at St Stephen's church, Norwich, on 1 January 1877 (J/F/M Norwich), the banns having been read on 17, 24 and 31 December 1876. Both were living in the parish of St Stephen. They had at least six children: Kate Lily Florence b. Ireland 2 December 1877 (birth registered Clogheen Tipperary), Ralph George William b. Dublin 16 April 1880, Rose Violet, b. Birmingham Warwickshire 7 November 1883 bap. 28 November 1883 Ashted St James the Lesser, Frederick Harry b. Muttra Bengal (India) abt. 1886, Harriett Emily b. Muttra 20 November 1887 and Charles Robert b. Muttra abt. 1890. Ralph snr. was a career soldier and served in the 3rd Dragoons retiring in the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major. He served in Ireland, the UK and Bengal, India, but had returned to the UK by 1891. In 1891 Ralph (40) was a drill sergeant instructor with the Notts Hussars and living on Thorneywood Lane, Sneinton, with his wife Kate (35) and children Kate (13), Ralph (11), Rose (7), Frederick (5), Harriett (3) and Robert (1). Also in the household was Ralph's sister-in-law, Lily Richardson, a dressmaker. Lily's age was given on the census as 28, however, she was born in Norwich in 1860 (J/F/M Norwich) and baptised on 9 February 1860 at the parish church of Heigham, Norwich. Kate died in 1891 (A/M/J Nottingham) aged 35 and Ralph married secondly Lily Richardson in 1891 (O/N/D Nottingham). It seems from the evidence presently available that he may have married his late wife's sister although this was prohibited until the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907. According to the information on the 1911 Census, Ralph and Lily had four children although only three were recorded on the 1901 and 1911 census: Madge birth registered 1894 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 3 January 1894 St Stephen Hyson Green, Victoria May b. 1896 (J/A/S Basford) bap. 17 June 1896 St John the Evangelist Carrington, and Frank b. 1898 (J/A/S Basford-Richardson). According to the baptismal records, the family was living at 8 Palin Street in 1894 and 13 Burton Street in 1896. In 1901 Ralph (50), a sergeant major (cavalry), was living at 7 Burton Street, Nottingham, with Lily (39), five of his children by his first marriage - Kate (23), Rose (17) a shirt machinist, Frederick (15) a stationer, Harriet (13) and Charles (11) - and their three children, Madge (7), Victoria (4) and Frank (2). Ralph's eldest son Ralph had married in 1900 and was probably living with his wife and family in Derby. Ralph snr. retired from the army on 11 December 1902. By 1911 census Ralph (60), now recorded as an army pensioner and malster, and Lily (49) were living at 13 Mafeking Street, Sneinton, with Harriet (23) a ladies help, Madge (17) a shop assistant (milliner) and Victoria May (14) and Frank (12) who were both at school. Charles enlisted in the Militia in October 1905 and transferred to the Sherwood Foresters in November 1905. He named his father Ralph, mother (sic) Lily and brothers Frederick, serving with the Sherwood Foresters, and Ralph (of Derby) as his next of kin. Both Charles and Frederick were serving in India with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters in 1911. Charles died of wounds in Derby Royal Infirmary on 30 April 1917. His eldest brother Ralph, who was serving with the King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in action on 21 March 1918 and his father Ralph died on 5 April the same year. Charles was engaged to Nell at the time of his death. Of Charles' full-blood siblings: Kate Lily Florence married William Diggle in 1908 (A/M/J Nottingam). In 1911 Kate and William (b. 2 December 1877), a printer, were living at 6 Beardsley Terrace, Goodhead Street, Meadows; they had had two children who had not survived infancy. In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register she and William, a railway checker, were living at 18 Bute Avenue. Nottingham, with their son Ralph W. (b. 3 December 1912), a printer. Kate died on 5 September 1957. Ralph George William married Eugenie Elizabeth Rust on 16 September 1900; they had seven children. They lived initially in Derby but by 1911 had moved to 12 Loscoe Terrace, Carrington. Ralph served with the King's Royal Rifle Corps and was killed in action on 21 March 1918. (See record on this ROH) Rose Violet married Thomas William Whitchurch in 1906 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1911 they were living at 11 Seaton Terrace, Goodhead Street, Meadows, with their children May Violet (4), Doris Winifred (3) and Thomas Charles Frederick (1); Thomas was a clerk/book keeper. They had other children including a daughter, Irene. Thomas snr. was killed on 9 May 1941 in the air raid on Nottingham; he was probably employed by the Nottingham Co-operative Society. Rose Violet died on 11 November 1944. Frederick Harry served in the Sherwood Foresters, married Clara Rebecca. The date/place of the marriage has not yet been traced but the WW1 Pension Ledger record confirms her name and status. He died on 27 December 1924; he and his wife were then living at 14 Radnor Street, Nottingham. Harriett Emily married John H Shaw (b. 18 May 1874) in 1919 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1939 they were living at 1 Laurel Street, Nottingham, with their children Kathleen M. (b. 4 December 1921) a shop assistant, and Peter R. (b. 17 January 1924) an electrical fitter apprentice. Harriet died on 10 August 1956.