Samuel Sturtivant
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Samuel was the son of Samuel and Annie Sturtivant (née Atherley). His father Samuel was born in Carlton, the son of John and Sarah Sturtivant. His mother Annie was born in Nottingham in about 1873. They were married in 1891 (A/M/J) and had eight children of whom only six survived infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were: Grace Alice b. 1891 bap. Sneinton St Matthias November 1891; Samuel b. 1893 bap. St Matthias 18 September 1894; Olive Blanche b. 1895 d. 18 November 1917; Charles birth registered 1899 (J/F/M); Annie Ivy (Ivy) b. 1901 and John b. 1903. Samuel, a bricklayer, and Annie were living at 78 Windmill Lane, Sneinton, in 1891 when their daughter was baptised but had moved to 70 Windmill Lane by 1894 when Samuel was baptised. They were still at the same address in 1901 by which time they had four children: Grace (9), Samuel (7), Olive (5) and Charles (2). Ivy was born later that year and John two years later. Samuel snr. died in 1905 (reg. J/F/M) and in 1911 his widow Annie, a lace clipper, was living at 30 Martin Street, St Ann's Well Road, with four of her children: Samuel who was working in a builder's yard, Charles, Ivy (9) and John (7). The eldest daughter, Grace, had married Thomas King Champion, a former soldier in the Grenadier Guards, at Nottingham St Ann on 14 May 1910 and they were living at 26 Calcutta Street, St Ann's Well Road; Thomas was working as a plain net lacemaker. The second daughter Olive, a lace drawer, was living with her paternal grandparents, John and Sarah Sturtivant, on Eaton Street, Carlton. Samuel was engaged to an Annie Smith at the time of his death in 1917. Samuel's brother-in-law, Thomas King Champion, the husband of Grace Alice, joined the Grenadier Guards (12324) at the age of 18 on 28 August 1905 on a 12 year engagement (3 years with the Colours, 9 years Reserve). He transferred to the Army Reserve on 27 August 1908 but was then mobilised on the outbreak of war and served with the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards in France from 19 October 1914 to 2 February 1919 (4 years 107 days). He was discharged on 5 March 1919 but died three months later on 25 June while undergoing an operation following an accident at work. No trace has yet been found of a military record for Samuel's brother Charles while John (b. 1903) would not have been old enough to serve. Annie Sturtivant probably died in 1949.
11th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Samuel died of wounds at Rouen on 28 September 1917 and is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen. France (grave ref. P.III.B.4B0. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of St Sever Cemetery Extension (extract): 'During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 4 October 1917. Sturtivant. Died of wounds, September 28th, Cpl. Sam Sturtivant, Sherwood Foresters, aged 24, beloved son of Annie Sturtivant. He will never be forgotten, never will his memory fade, loving thoughts will always wander to the place where he is laid. A noble life laid down. From sorrowing mother, sisters, brothers, grandma [prob. Sarah Sturtivant, husband John d. 28 September 1913], brothers-in-law Tom [Thomas King Champion] and Alic [Alexander Harriss] and fiancée Annie Smith (in London).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Grace Alice married Thomas King Champion in 1910 and Olive Blanche married Alexander Harriss in 1917 (reg. J/F/M Nottingham). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 27 June 1919: ‘Champion. On June 25th, Thomas King Champion, aged 31, the dearly beloved husband of Grace Alice Champion, of 6 Denstone-road, died whilst under operation at the General Hospital, through accident at work, after serving 4½ years in France. From broken-hearted wife & children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive) Note: Grace and Thomas had three children, Thomas Albert b. 1911, Arthur b. 1915 and Grace Annie b. 16 June 1919. Grace snr. died in 1942. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 18 November 1919: ‘Harriss. In loving memory of Olive Blanche, the beloved daughter of Annie Sturtivant, died November 18th 1917. Death divides, memories cling. Also her loving brother, Cpl. Samuel Sturtivant, died of wounds at Rouen, September 29th (sic) 1917. Resting with the brave, in a far off unknown grave. Mother, sisters and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
