Samuel Harry Wagstaff
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Samuel Harry/Henry was the son of John and Martha Ann Wagstaff. According to the RND record, he was born on 27 May 1870 although there is a record of the birth of a Samuel Henry Wagstaff in 1868 (registered J/A/S, Basford). His father was born in Selston and his mother in Hartshill, Worcestershire. They had at least five children: Samuel, Sarah Frances b. 1871, Martha Mary b. 1872, Ruth b. 1873 and Edward b. 1874. John was an ironworker and in 1881 he and his wife and their five children, Samuel (12) a coal miner, Sarah (9), Martha (8), Ruth (7) and Edward (6) were living in Selston. His parents were still living in Selston in 1891 but only Ruth and Edward were in the family home on the night of the census. Samuel was a regular soldier (formerly 6714 Private Notts & Derby Regt.) and served in the 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment (1957 Private) from 1 June 1885 to 31 December 1892, a total of 7 years 247 days. He volunteered on the outbreak of war and transferred to the RMLI and was demobilized on 9 April 1920. His address on demobilization was 25 Bentinck Street, Annesley Woodhouse, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, which was the home of his married sister, Sarah Frances Barnett. There is no firm evidence that Samuel ever married. However, all four of his siblings married. Sarah Frances married Edward Barnett in 1891. In 1911 Sarah and Edward, a coal miner, were living at 32 Bentinck Street, Annesley Woodhouse, with their four children; Linda, Albert, Arthur and Frances Lavinia. All the children were born in Kirkby in Ashfield. Sarah died in 1951. Martha Mary was married George Scothern in 1891. In 1911 they were living on Mansfield Road Selston. George, a coal miner, and Martha had 11 children between the ages of 18 and 9 months; Samuel Edward, John George, Harold, Martha Mary, Francis, Albert Edward, Bernard, Nellie Patricia, Ernest Lionel, Linda and Lillian. Martha died in 1945. Ruth married John Samuel Massey in 1896. John was a colliery banksman and in 1911 they were living on Hodgkinson Road, Annesley Woodhouse, with their five daughters, Minnie, Frances, Ruth Tryphena, Ethel May and Martha. All the children were born in Annesley Woodhouse apart from Martha who was born in Kirkby. Ruth died in 1921. Edward married to Annie Harvey in 1896. Edward was a coal miner loader. He died in 1909 leaving a widow and three children. In 1911 Annie was living at 13 Sherwood Street, Annesley Woodhouse, with her sons, William Henry and John Edward, both of whom were working in coal mine gangs, and daughter Rachel Annie.
Formerly served 7 years 247 days as 1957 Private 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment, 1 June 1885-31 December 1892. Formerly 6714 Private Notts & Derby Regiment. He enlisted at the age of 44 on 8 September 1914 and transferred to RMLI short-service on 16 September 1914. He served with the Portsmouth Bn. MEF (Dardanelles) from 28 April 1915-9 September 1915 (evacuated sick); HMS Hindustan, 18 April 1916-6 January 1917; HMS Victory (Dockyard Guard) 7 January 1917-12 April 1918; HMS Ambitious, 10 May 1918-3 March 1919. He was demobilized on 9 April 1919 and died of influenza on 19 April 1920. Wagstaff was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'
Samuel is not listed on CWGC as he died after demobilization and his death was not attributed to war service although he is commemorated on the Kingsway Cenotaph, Kirkby in Ashfield. The registration of his death recorded that his brother-in-law, E Barnett, husband of Sarah Frances, was present at his death. The record gave Samuel's age as 52 although his date of birth was given on the RND record as 27 May 1870 which would make him 49 years old. However, there is also a record of the birth of a Samuel Henry Wagstaff registered in 1868 (J/A/S, Basford).
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