Blanchard William Storr
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- Military History
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Known as 'Blancha' Blanchard William was born in 1895 and was the son of Francis and Elizabeth Eliza Storr née Statham of 9 Holgate Road, Wilford Crescent, Meadows, Nottingham. His father Francis was born in 1870 in Sheffield and his mother Elizabeth Eliza Statham was born in Matlock 1870, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Dorothy Statham. They were married in 1889 In Nottingham, and had three children, Dorothy Elizabeth b 1890, Francis Christopher b 1893 and Blanchard William b 1895; all were born in Nottingham. They probably also had another son, John Henry, who died on 4 February 1891 aged 2 weeks. His mother Elizabeth Eliza died in Nottingham in 1896, she was 26 yrs of age. His father remarried in 1898 in Nottingham to Sarah Harriett Woolley (b1868 in Mansfield). They had three children, Ernest Leonard b 1901, Harold Reginald b1908 and Evelyn b1910. In the 1911 census the family were living at 9 Holgate Road, Nottingham and are shown as Francis 41 yrs head of the family a builder's carter, who was living with his wife Sarah Harriett 43 yrs, Francis' three children by his first marriage Dorothy 21 yrs a machinist, Francis 17 yrs a seed packer and Blanchard 15 yrs a seed packer, and the three children of his second marriage, Ernest 9 yrs, Harold 3 yrs and Evelyn 1 yr. Blanchard was engaged to be married at the time of his death.
Private Blanchard William Storr enlisted at Shrewsbury whilst residing in Nottingham. He served in the 7th Battalion King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry. He landed in France on 22nd May 1915 and was killed in action the following year on 31st March 1916. He was buried in Dickebusch New Military Cemetery.
Personal inscription on CWGC headstone: 'In loving memory of Blancha (sic) Rest in peace Loving father, family & fiancee' Text on commemorative stone on family grave (William and Dorothy Elizabeth Statham), Nottingham General Cemetery: 'In loving memory of Pt. BW Storr, KSLI. Killed in action in France. March 31st 1916. Aged 21 years.' The headstone commemorates among others their daughter Elizabeth Eliza and grandson, John Henry Storr, who died in infancy. 'In Memoriam' notice published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 31st March 1917 :- “STORR. – In loving memory of Pte. B. W. Storr (Blanchard), late K.S.L.I., killed in action March 31st, 1916. Duty nobly done. – Loving father, mother, fiancée, and family.” Above notice is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 30 March 1918: ‘Storr. In loving memory of our dear son, Pte BW Storr, KSLI, killed in action March 31st 1916. Nobly he did his duty. Rest in peace. From loving family and fiancee.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
