Gervase Widdowson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Gervase was the son of Gervase Widdowson and Hannah Cooper (née Roberts). Gervase Widdowson snr. was born in Ruddington in about 1840. He married Elizabeth Dalby (née Carter b. abt 1830) at Nottingham St Mary in 1867. Elizabeth was the widow of James Dalby (m. Ruddington 1852) and had one child, Arthur (b. 1857). Gervase and his wife were living in Ruddington at the time of the census in 1871 and 1881. Hannah Roberts was born in Derby in about 1857 and married Thomas Cooper at Derby All Saints in 1877. They had a daughter, Martha Cooper (b. Derby 1878) and a second daughter, Mary Emma Cooper, in 1883 (reg. Nottingham). No record has yet been traced of Gervase and Hannah's marriage and her husband Thomas may not have died until 1917, the year after Gervase's death. Gervase and Hannah had six children, all of whom were born in Ruddington. The registrations of birth of the three eldest were in the surname Cooper: Arthur Cooper b. 1886, Gervase Widdowson Cooper b. 1888 and Edward Widdowson Cooper b. 1890. The three youngest children were registered as Widdowson: William Benjamin b. 1892, Annie birth registered 1894 (J/F/M) and Lily Lavinia b. 1897. Gervase (50) and Hannah (35) were living at Marlpit, Ruddington, in 1891 with Hannah's daughter Martha (12) and their children Arthur (5), Gervase (3) and Edward (6m). Hannah's daughter Mary (8), was living in Marlpit with foster parents, Thomas and Phoebe Jesson. The family had moved to Chestnut Grove, West Bridgford, Nottingham, by 1901. In the home on the night of the census were Gervase snr., a lamp lighter for the Urban District Council and general agricultural labourer, Hannah, Mary Cooper, Arthur, Gervase, Edward (9), William (8), Annie (7) and Lily (4). Hannah's daughter Martha had married Charles William Stokes in 1901 and they were living in the Meadows, Nottingham. Their son William Arthur was born in 1904. In 1911 Gervase and Hannah were living at 135 Exchange Road, West Bridgford, with Arthur (in work), Gervase a labourer (Urban District Council), William a plumber, Annie (no occupation), and Lily an errand girl (lace manufacturer). Also in the household was Hannah's widowed daughter Martha Stokes, a 'cutter-out' (hosiery manufacturer) and her son William (6) who were both described as boarders. Martha married secondly Frederick Topley (1915 reg. Derby). Gervase and Hannah's daughter Annie died on 18 October 1914 aged 20. Gervase snr. died two years later in 1916 (O/N/D). Gervase married Lily Cole) in 1911 (A/M/J) and they had one child, Gladys Doreen Widdowson, who was born in November 1911. Lily died at 119 Exchange Road on 19 September 1917 and her mother-in-law, Hannah Widdowson, became her daughter's guardian. Gladys died in 1938. Hannah was living at 119 Exchange Road, West Bridgford, by 1917. She died in March 1930. Two other brothers died in the war; Edward (October 1917) and William Benjamin (March 1918). See 'Extra information.' The fourth brother, Arthur, also served.
21st Moile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps Gervase died on 1 November 1918 of wounds received in action and is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France (grave ref. X.A.8). CWGC - History of Terlincthun British Cemetery (extract): The cemetery is on the northern outskirts of Boulogne. 'The first rest camps for Commonwealth forces were established near Terlincthun in August 1914 and during the whole of the First World War, Boulogne and Wimereux housed numerous hospitals and other medical establishments. The cemetery at Terlincthun was begun in June 1918 when the space available for service burials in the civil cemeteries of Boulogne and Wimereux was exhausted. It was used chiefly for burials from the base hospitals. In July 1920, the cemetery contained more than 3,300 burials, but for many years Terlincthun remained an 'open' cemetery and graves continued to be brought into it from isolated sites and other burials grounds throughout France where maintenance could not be assured.' (www.cwgc.org)
Two of Gervase's brothers, Edward and William Benjamin, also died in the war. Edward served with the Sherwood Foresters (86412 Private) and was killed in action on 4 October 1917. William Benjamin served with the Royal Engineers (23851 2nd Corporal) and was killed in action in France on 1 April 1918. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: William Benjamin (KIA 1918). His legatees were his mother Hannah Widdowson, sister Lily, half-sister Martha Topley [née Cooper], half-sister Mary E Webster [née Cooper], Rose Widdowson [widow of brother Edward] and brother Gervase [DOW October 1918]. CWGC: 'Son of Hannah and the late Gervaise Widdowson, of West Bridgford, Notts; husband of the late Lily Widdowson.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Until the day breaks' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 September 1917: ‘Widdowson. On September 19th, Lily, beloved wife of Gervase Widdowson (France) passed peacefully away at 119, Exchange-road, West Bridgford. At rest.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 6 November 1918: ‘Widdowson. On November 1st, in hospital abroad, of wounds received in action, Gervase, AVC, son of Hannah and the late Gervase Widdowson, 119 Exchange-road, West Bridgford. Third son to fall, last one still serving. Not far behind the firing line, within the sound of guns, a wooden cross is the only sign, ‘neath the rays of the setting sun, to denote the resting place of one, who did his duty well, facing the dangers as each day dawned, and like a hero fell. From sorrowing mother and little daughter Gladys.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 6 November 1918: ‘Widdowson. On November 1st, in hospital abroad, of wounds received in action, our dear brothers Gervase, AVC. Not our will, but Thine, O Lord be done. From the family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
