Oswald Denby
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Oswald was the son of John and Loise Denby (née Pike). His father John was born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1865 (J/A/S Mansfield), the son of Samuel Denby and his second wife Mary Ann (née Hudson); he was baptised at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene on 24 June 1867. His parents were married at St Mary Magdelene on 25 December 1888 (O/N/D Mansfield) and by the time of the 1911 census they had six children: Oswald b. 8 February 1891 (J/F/M Mansfield) bap. St Mary Magdalene 25 March 1892, Arthur b. 19 February 1893 (J/F/M Mansfield) bap. St Mary Magdalene 7 April 1893, Horace Pike b. 21 February 1896 (A/M/J Mansfield) bap. St Mary Magdalene 17 April 1896, William b. 1898 (J/A/S Mansfield, John b. 1901 (A/M/J Mansfield) and Olive b. 1904 (J/F/M Mansfield). In 1891 John (25), a hosiery factory hand, and Loise (24) were living on Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield, with their son Oswald who had been born on 8 February that year. They were living on Forest Street, Sutton in Ashfield, when Oswald was baptised in 1892 and at Briggs Street when their third child Horace was baptised in 1896. By 1901 they were again living on Mansfield Road and now had four children: Oswald (10), Arthur (8), Horace (5) and William (2). In 1911 they were living at 15 Mason Street, Sutton in Ashfield; John was now working as a framework knitter. All six children were still living at home: Oswald (20) a colliery stoker, Arthur (18) a baker, Horace (15) a factory hand, and William (12), John (10) and Olive (7) who were at school. Oswald married Abigal Cordin Kirk (b. 15 March 1892) in 1912 (J/A/S Mansfield) and they probably had one child, John b. 12 February 1914 (J/F/M Mansfield-Kirk). Oswald died in 1920 (J/A/S Mansfield). His widow Abigail married secondly Clement Melanaphy (b. 30 July 1899) in 1922 (J/F/M Mansfield). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 2 Milner Street, Sutton in Ashfield; Clement was a colliery haulage maker. Two other records for the household remain closed. Abigail died in 1973 (J/A/S Mansfield) and her son John in 1988 (J/F/M Mansfield).
No military record has yet been traced.
Two of Oswald's cousins died in the war; both were sons of his father John's half-brothers, Benjamin Denby (b. 1847) and William Denby (b. 1849). Benjamin's son Samuel (b. 1893) served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (43034 Private) and died of wounds in France on 27 April 1917. William's son Arthur (b. 1898) served in the RNVR (Leading Seaman) and was killed on 17 May 1918 while serving in SS Mavisbrook which was sunk by German submarine. (See records on this Roll of Honour.) His brother Horace Pike served in the war: 43826 Private Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), secondly 16352 Private Labour Corps. Mansfield Reporter, 2 November 1917: ‘Sutton Tribunal. The following appeals were also adjourned for further medical examination … William Denby (19) 15, Mason-street, Cotton’s patent hand.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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