Charles Rushton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles was the son of David and Martha Ann Rushden (née Milward). His father David Rushton was born in Alton, Staffordshire, in 1856 and his mother Martha Ann Milward was born in Warslow, Staffordshire, in 1855. Martha had a son, William Milward in 1877 (bap. Warslow St Lawrence 1877) who was probably David's son but used both surnames on civil records. David and Martha were married at Alton St Peter in July 1881 and according to the 1911 Census had nine children, who included William. Their other eight children were: Arthur b. 1882, Eliza Ann b. 1883, Charles b. 1885 and Lucy b. 1887 who were all born in Alton and baptised at Alton St Peter, Charles on 22 November 1885, and then Ada b. 1891, Annie b. 1893, Elsie b. 1895 and Ernest b. 1899 who were all born in Kirkby in Ashfield. In 1891 David and Martha and their six eldest children together with a lodger, Mark Milward, were living at Kirkby Folly, Kirkby in Ashfield. By 1901 David, a coal miner hewer (loader) and Martha were recorded at 62 New Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, with eight of their nine children: William, Arthur a coal miner, Charles a colliery bank boy, Lucy a domestic servant, Ada (10), Annie (8), Elsie (5) and Ernest (1). Mark Milward, a coal miner, was still living with the family. The eldest daughter, Eliza Ann was in domestic service and living in Kirkby in Ashfield in the home of William Barke, a dealer in musical instruments and cycles (own account), and his wife Bertha. By 1911 when David and Martha were living on Forest Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, only five of their children were still at home: William a labourer (golf links), Charles, Ada a milliner, Elsie a hosiery worker and Ernest. Of the other four children, Annie was in domestic service at Sutton in Ashfield living in the household of Edward Lampson, a seed merchant (employer). The other three siblings were married. Arthur, a miner dayman (loader), his wife Clara (née Chapman, m. 1906) and their three children were living in New Annesley. Eliza Ann had married Herbert Radage, a coal miner, in 1905 and they and their three children were living in East Kirkby. Lucy was married to a police constable, George Henry Coaten (m. 1909), and they were also living in East Kirkby with their daughter Elsie Louise (5 months). Lucy died later that year and her husband married secondly Alice Flinton in 1914. David and Martha were living at 58 Forest Street, Kirkby in Ashfield when their youngest son, Ernest, attested in 1914 and at the same address when he was discharged in 1916. The eldest son, Arthur, also served in the war. (See 'Extra information'). However, in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled David, now retired, and Martha were living on Cookson Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, with their son William (Milward), who was still employed as a labourer at a golf course and daughter Annie who was a postwoman (she had joined the postal service in 1919 as a clerical assistant) and also Barbara Rushton (b. 1927, mother's maiden name Rushton) who was probably their granddaughter. Martha died in 1944 and David in 1946.
11th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 11th (Service) Battalion was raised at Derby in September 1914 (Kitchener's Third Army). The battalion served in France from August 1915 and took part in the Battle of the Somme (1 July 1916-18 November 1916). The battalion went with the Division to Italy in November 1917, returning to France in September 1918. Charles did not serve in theatre until 1916. He died of wounds on 3 July 1916 and is buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref. I. B. 17). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): the village of Warloy-Baillon Warloy-Baillon is about 21 km north-east of Amiens. 'The first Commonwealth burial took place in the communal cemetery in October 1915 and the last on 1 July 1916. By that date, field ambulances had come to the village in readiness for the attack on the German front line eight kilometres away, and the extension was begun on the eastern side of the cemetery. The fighting from July to November 1916 on the northern part of the Somme front accounts for the majority of the burials in the extension.' (www.cwgc.org)
Mansfield Reporter, 11 August 1916: 'Kirkby in Ashfield. Memorial Service. A most impressive memorial service in memory of the East Kirkby men who have given their lives in the war was held in St Thomas’s Church on Sunday afternoon … at the close a collection was taken up for a memorial window in the church. The following is a list of fallen … Charles Rushton.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers Effects: his mother was his sole legatee. Charles' brother, Arthur, served in the Sherwood Foresters (27198 Corporal) in the 16th, 9th and 15th battalions. He was wounded in December 1916 and later claimed a disability pension. Arthur was awarded the Military Medal (Gazetted February 1917) and qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He was discharged on 6 March 1919 and the same year was presented with an inscribed silver watch purchased by the inhabitants of Warsop Vale for three men from the Vale who had won special distinctions. (Sources: military records and Mansfield Reporter 22 December 1916, 23 February 1917, 18 May 1917, 3 October 1919). The youngest brother, Ernest, a collier, attested in the Territorial Force (4 years service) on 17 October 1914 giving his age as 17 years 5 months (born 1899 J/A/S, therefore 15 years old). He transferred to embodied service the same day and served in the 2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (2691). However, having served 1 year 113 days on home service he was discharged on 7 April 1916 'being under age at date of application, KR para 392 (v.i.a).' Ernest would have been 18 years old the following year but no record has yet been found that he was conscripted later in the war. Their brother-in-law, George Henry Coaten, the husband of their sister Lucy (d. 1911), was a police constable based at Mansfield Woodhouse. He was an army reservist who was mobilised on the outbreak of war and served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (7769). He was in France from 21 August 1914 and probably taken prisoner in the retreat from Mons. He survived the war and rejoined the police force, achieving promotion to sergeant. Mansfield Reporter, 9 October 1914: 'Mansfield Division Police Called to the Colours. The following is a list of the police reservists in the Mansfield Division called to the Colours … Geo H Coaten Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 16 June 1916 (extract): ‘Mansfield Prisoner of War and His Belgian Friend. A touching instance of the kindly spirit of a Mansfield Woodhouse policeman who is a prisoner of war, and is in receipt of a parcel of comforts through the agency of Sir Arthur Markham’s fund, has come to the notice of Ald JE Alcock, who has received the following postcard from Private G Coaten, who belonged to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry: ‘Please accept my sincere thanks for the parcel I have received from Sir Arthur Markham’s fund. I can assure you it was very much appreciated. Please don’t think me ungrateful, but I have a Belgian friend here who does not receive any parcels, and I am sure you would be good enough to send him my next parcel. He would be so grateful. He is a prisoner of war. Again thanking you for your kindness.’ (Then followed the name and camp of the Belgian prisoner.)’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 14 February 1919: ‘From Khaki to Blue’, a report of 18 constables who had seen war service being resworn for police duty at Mansfield Petty Sessions. One of the officers, Pc Coaten, had been a prisoner of war in Germany for four years. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
