John Henry Palfreyman
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John Henry Palfreyman was the son of John Palfreyman and Sarah Smith who married in the Bakewell area in 1885. Their children included: Ruth (b.1885), John Henry (b.1887), Mary Emily (b.1888), Benjamin (b.1892), Grace Hannah (b.1890/d.1892), Sarah Agnes (b.1894), Elizabeth (b.1897), Elsie (b.1898) and Annie (b.1900). The Palfreyman family lived at 17 Ann Street, Hulme, Lancashire [C.1891]; 13 Trafalgar Terrace, Trafalgar Street, Old Radford [C.1901]. In 1905 John Palfreyman, who worked as a basket and rush rod maker [C.1901], died at Nottingham, aged 47. In 1908 Sarah Palfreyman married William Fleet at Nottingham and in 1911 the Fleets, who now included Phyllis (b.1908), were living with the younger Palfreyman children at 85 Radford Boulevard, Radford. The post-war address given for John Henry Palfreyman’s mother was 5 Ellen Terrace, Wilton Road, Radford [CWGC]. William Fleet died at Nottingham, aged 75, in 1926 and Sarah Fleet died at Nottingham in 1937, aged 69. On 31 May 1913 John Henry Palfreyman married Elizabeth Tomlinson at Radford St Peter’s Church. His death notice [n.e.p.20.4.1916] mentioned that they had one child. No birth for a child bearing the surname ‘Palfreyman’ was registered anywhere in Nottingham so the child was probably born before the couple were married and so bore his mother’s surname. If so, it is likely to be Arthur Tomlinson (b.1913). In 1919 Elizabeth Palfreyman married Henry Shepherd and they lived at 24 Bramcote St., Old Radford, Nottingham [CWGC]. Elizabeth Shepherd died at Nottingham, aged 91, in 1973.
He enlisted at Nottingham; in 1911 he was serving with the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers based out in India; killed in action; as his body was not recovered his name was added to theYpres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
In memoriam published 20th April 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “PALFREYMAN. – Reported gassed and missing, May 2nd, 1015, now officially killed in action, Private John Henry Palfreyman, aged 28 years. Peace, perfect peace. – His loving wife and child. “PALFREYMAN. – Reported gassed and missing, May 2nd, 1915, now officially killed in action, Private John H. Palfreyman, aged 28 years. At rest. – Deeply mourned by his loving father, mother, sisters, and brother Ben [1] (R.E., in France).” (1) Spr. Benjamin Palfreyman, Royal Engineers, formerly of the Robin Hood Rifles, who landed in France with the battalion on 28th February 1915. He later served with the Machine Gun Corps before transferring back into the Sherwood Forestes. Above notices are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Article published in the Nottingham Daily Express on 7th June 1915 :- The deaths of two members of the Albert Hall Mission were commemorated at a service held on 6th June 1915. Given Italy's recent entry into the war on the allied side, the service included a lecture on the country and a performance of the Italian national anthem. “AN ITALIAN SERVICE. “Yesterday’s Interesting Music at the Albert Hall. “The fact that two more soldier members had died in action was announced at the Albert Hall yesterday. [6th June 1915] In both oases the notification was unofficial, but little doubt attaches to the reports received. Pte. J. H. Palfreyman (2nd Lancashire Fusiliers), one of the two heroes, is reported to have been “gassed” in the trenches on May 2nd. He was an enthusiastic member of the Albert Hall Boys' Brigade in his younger days, and greatly beloved amongst the young men of the hall. Private G. F. Martin (7th Robin Hoods), reported a companion to have been killed in action, was a member of the Albert Hall Young Men's Bible Class. Martin’s name is the nineteenth name of honoured dead in this solemn roll at the Albert Hall. Last week 17 Albert Hall men enlisted, bringing the Mission’s figures up to 585. “At yesterday afternoon’s meeting welcome was given to Mr. Rossell, who has returned to England after nine months’ experience of internment in Germany. At the evening service the Rev. H. G. Oyston spoke of “The Story of Italy: Her Pioneers and Prophets.” Italian music formed the organ recital programme by Mr. B. Johnson, and the Italian National Anthem and hymns and tunes by Italians were used in the service.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
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