Harry Burton

Harry was the son of Joseph and Ada Burton (née Hodgkinson). His father Joseph was born in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 23 November 1874, the son of Andrew and Ellzabeth Burton. He was baptised at Bulwell St Mary the Virgin on 3 January 1875. In 1891 the family was living on Selkirk Terrace, Selkirk Street, Basford; Joseph was a coachman (domestic). By 1901, when Joseph was married, his parents were living on Ramsey Street, Nottingham. His mother Ada was born in Carrington, Nottingham, in 1874 (A/M/J Basford). She was the daughter of Thomas and Emma Hodgkinson (née Newman) who were married in 1872 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1891 Ada (17) was a domestic servant in the household of George Dominy, a brewer's agent, on Mapperley Park Drive, Nottingham. Joseph and Ada were married at Carrington St John the Evanglelist on 1 January 1895 (J/F/M Basford) and had at least two children: Harry b. 14 April 1897 (A/M/J Basford) bap. Nottingham St Andrew 9 May 1897 and Winifred b. 15 February 1900 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. St Andrew 18 March 1900. Joseph and Ada were living at 32 Mansfield Street, Nottingham, when Harry and Winifred were baptised and this was still the family home in 1901. In the home on the night of the census were Joseph (26), a laundry van driver, Ada (26), their two children Harry (3) and Winifred (1) and a boarder, Jack Brown (22), an electrical engineer. By 1911 Ada Burton was living with the widowed Walter Smith (36), a carter for Nottingham Corporation, at 9 Crown Terrace, Park Lane, Basford. Her status was married and occupation given as housekeeper. Also in the household was her daughter, Winifred. Her son Harry, a butcher's shop assistant, was living with his widowed paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Burton, and five of her children at 19 Ramsay Street, Nottingham. Harry later emigrated to Australia. He enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria, on 17th August 1914 and named Walter Smith of 19 Bastion Street, Radford, as his next of kin. His mother corresponded with the Australian authorities in December 1914 explaining that Walter Smith was 'the gentleman with whom I am living as man and wife' and that as Harry's mother she was his next of kin. She added that Walter Smith used to live at 19 Bastion Street but his home was now 84 Forster Street, Nottingham, although he was 'at present on active service in the Near East.' Harry's next of kin was changed accordingly to his mother, Ada Burton, of 84 Forster Street. His service record also has details of his sister, Winifred Burton, address c/o Mrs Joyce, 80 Mansfield Street, Sherwood, Nottingham. Ada has not yet been traced after 1917. Joseph Burton enlisted in the RAF (365387) on 8 July 1918 at the age of 43; he was then working as a barman. His next of kin was Fanny Metcalfe, his 'unmarried wife', of 11 Conway Street, Nottingham, by whom he had three children whose births were registered as Burton: Thomas Noel b. 24 January 1914 (d. 1988), Marjorie b. 12 February 1916 and Joseph b. 23 November 1917. Joseph served with the BEF from 4 August 1918, joining 151 Squadron on 6 August. He transferred to the RAF Reserve on 17 February 1919 and was discharged on 30 April 1920. Joseph has not yet been traced after this date. Harry's sister, Winifred, married Stanley Herbert Clarke (b. 24 June 1900) in 1925 (A/M/J Nottingham). Stanley had served in the RAF during the war (189806) attesting on 28 May 1918 when he was just under 18 years of age. He served at Cranwell from 9 June 1918 and was transferred to the RAF Reserve on 1 March 1919. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Stanley, an electrical and mechanical engineer, and Winifred were living on Newlyn Drive, Nottingham. There were probably no children of the marriage. Stanley died in 1976 and Winifred in 1992 (A/M/J Nottingham).

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