Thomas King Champion

Thomas King was the son of John and Annie Champion. John Champion was born in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, and his wife Annie in 1859 in Oakham, Rutland. Their marriage was registered in the Nottingham registration district in 1882 (September quarter) and they were to have 11 children although three died in infancy or childhood before 1911. Their surviving eight children were: John (b. 1883), Fanny (b. 1884), Thomas (b. 1887), Walter (b. 1889), William (b. 1891), Raymond (b. 1898), Rose (b. 1901) and Albert (b. 1905). All the children were born in St Ann’s, Nottingham. In 1901 the family home was at 12 Rushworth Avenue, St Ann’s but by 1911 John, a gasworks labourer, and Annie were living at 6 Calcutta Street, St Ann’s. At home on the night of the census were their three youngest children; Raymond (13) and Rose (10), who were both at school, and Albert (6). Also in the household were their married daughter, Fanny, her husband Henry Middleton, an engine driver, and their son John Henry. John, the eldest son, had joined the Royal Field Artillery (102 Battery) in 1902 and having extended his period of service to eight years was discharged to the Army Reserve on 16 June 1910. He served initially as a driver and later as a shoeing smith and served in South Africa from 21 February 1905 to 5 April 1910. On John’s return to England he married Fanny Adcock, a widow, at the Nottingham Register Office on 23 June 1910. In 1911 John was a shop keeper and living at 34 Hawkridge Gardens, Nottingham, with his wife and stepson George Adcock (10). Also in the household was John’s younger brother, William (20), a brass bobbin winder. John was discharged from the Army Reserve on 30 June 1914 and according to his service record his address on discharge was 6 Calcutta Street, Nottingham, his parent’s home. His record was annotated that he intended emigrating to Canada and no further trace has yet been found of either John or his family. Thomas had joined the Grenadier Guards in August 1905 when he gave his address as 6 Calcutta Street, St Ann's, his parents' address. He transferred to the Army Reserve in August 1908 and was discharged to 6 Denstone Street, Nottingham. Thomas married Grace Alice Sturtivant in St Ann's on 14 May 1910. They lived at 26 Calcutta Street, St Ann’s Well Road, as shown on the 1911 census when Thomas was recorded as being 24 yrs of age and a plain net lacemaker and Grace 20 yrs. They had three children; Thomas Albert (born 22 April 1911), Arthur (born 23 April 1915) and Grace A (born 1919). All the children were born in Nottingham. His widow Grace later lived at 6 Denstone Road, Nottingham. His brother Walter also joined the Army, enlisting in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1906 and serving first in Malta and then India. He returned to England in 1913 and was discharged to the Army Reserve on 1 March 1914. He married Harriet Ellen Baxter on 8 June 1914 at the Nottingham Register Office, and they had one daughter, Edna Rachel, born 3 October 1914. Three of Thomas’ brothers died in the war. Walter served in the 1st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps (6987 Rifleman) and was killed on 3 September 1914 (Ypres Menin Gate Memorial). William served initially in the Sherwood Foresters but transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (19649 Lance Corporal) and was killed on 1 May 1917 (Thiepval Memorial). Raymond, served with the 9th Bn Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (302504 Private) and died of wounds in Keighley War Hospital, Yorkshire, on 19 October 1917 (Nottingham General Cemetery).

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