Fred Birch

Fred was the son of Arthur Birch and Florence Ann Birch nee Tivey and was born in 1890 on 21 October, the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Arthur was born in Radford in about 1871 and Florence Ann Tivey was born in Hyson Green in 1869 (J/A/S Radford). They were married in 1890 (A/M/J Nottingham) and according to the 1911 Census had nine children of whom only seven survived infancy or childhood. Seven children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911: Fred b. Radford 21 October 1890 (O/N/D Nottingham), Fanny b. Nottingham birth registered 1892 J/F/M Nottingham, Albert b. Stapleford abt. 1893, Isabel b. Pinxton, Derbyshire 1905 (A/M/J Mansfield), Mary b. Wombwell Nottinghamshire, 4 January 1898, Hilda b. Beeston 12 January 1906 (J/F/M Basford) and Arthur b. Beeston abt. 1909. In 1891 Arthur (20), a lace maker, and Florence (21) were living at 4 Forsster Avenue, Radford, with their son Fred (6 months). By 1901 they were living at 2 Midland Cottages, Wombwell. Arthur was working as a railway signalman. Four of their five children were in the home on the night of the census: Fanny (9), Albert (7), Isabel (5) and Mary (3). Fred (10) was recorded in Old Radford in the home of his paternal grandparents, Richard Birch and his wife Keren Happuck. Fred joined the Royal Navy five years later and in 1911 would have been serving in HMS Temeraire. Fred's parents were living at 36 Victory Road, Beeston, Nottingham, in 1911. Arthur was still working as a railway signalman. Five of their seven children were still at home: Albert (17) an office boy for a hosiery firm, Isabel (15) who was working in the furniture trade, Mary (13) a 'back girl' on a Swiss lace machine, Hilda (5) and Arthur (1). Their eldest daughter Fanny had left home having married Albert Edward Ball in 1910 (J/F/M Nottingham). Fred's father was notified of his son's death in 1918; Arthur's address on the Naval records was given as 7 Clayton Terrace, Clayton Street, Nottingham. Florence Ann Birch died in December 1924 (burial 17 December), and her widower married May Gildings in 1926 (A/M/J Nottingham. Arthur died on 16 April 1935; he was then living at 42 Newthorpe Street, Nottingham. May survived him. Of Fred's siblings: Fanny married Albert Edward Ball in 1910 (J/F/M Nottingham). There is a record on the 1939 England & Wales Register of a Fanny Ball (b. 23 January 1892), a married woman, whose occupation was 'household duties paid' living at 38 Park Road, Beeston, in the household of a married couple, Frederick Edwin Allen (b. 26 January 1875) who was employed as a joiner, and Mary Ann Allen (b. 2 August 1873). A Fanny Ball b. abt 1892 died in 1963 (Dec Nottingham) aged 71. Albert married Elsie M Garner in 1915 (A/M/J Nottingham). Elsie died in 1931 (Jun Basford) aged 32 and the following year Albert married Eva Greaves (1932 J/A/S Basford). He is recorded on the 1939 Register living at 183 Brookhill Avenue, Beeston/Stapleford. He was a railway traffic inspector. Also in the household was his second wife Eva (b. 24 February 1902), his two unmarried daughters by his first marriage, Hilda M. (b. 15 May 1920) and Nellie Birch (b. 5 December 1923), and his son by his second marriage, Bramwell (b. 22 June 1933, reg. 1933 Basford, mother's maiden name Greaves). Albert died on 4 December 1965. Isabel has not yet been traced after the 1911 Census. Mary married William W Mellors in 1921 (J/A/S Nottingham); William died on 10 October 1936. He and Mary were living at 44 Kirkby Avenue, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and at the time of the 1939 Register his widow was still living at this address. Also in the household was her sister, Hilda Birch, a restaurant waitress. Hilda, a restaurant waitress, was living with her widowed sister, Mary (Mellors) at 44 Kirkby Avenue, Ilkeston, at the time of the 1939 Register. Arthur may have died in 1994 (Jul Basford) aged 85.

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