Harold William Renshaw
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold was the son of James and Florence Renshaw (née Ross). His parents were both born in Nottingham. They were married in 1894 and had three sons, two of whom died in infancy. All three children were born in Nottingham and baptised at Radford Christ Church: Harold Wiliam b. 1894 bap. 30 December 1894; Stanley Clarence birth registered 1897 (J/F/M) bap. 28 February 1897 d. 1897 and Clarence Vincent b. 1898 bap. 9 November 1898 d. 1899. James and Florence were living at 33 Ronald Street, Radford, when their sons were baptised between 1894 and 1898. In 1901 James (35) a lace draughtsman and Florence (24) were living at 30 Norton Street, Radford, with their surviving son Harold (6) and Florence's widowed mother, Susannah Ross. The family, including Susannah Ross, was still at the same address in 1911. James was now a gas meter inspector (Nottingham Corporation) and Harold a lace warehouseman. Harold married Ethel Millicent Daft in 1916 (A/M/J). He was killed on 24 September 1916 at their home at 3 Chancery Place, Broad Marsh, during a bombing raid. The later CWGC record gave Ethel's address as 8 Rose Street, Dame Agnes Street, St. Ann's Well Road, Nottingham. Ethel married Arthur Pavier in 1917 and in 1939 she and Arthur, an agent collector, were living on Sycamore Road, Nottingham, with their daughters Doris (b. 1917) and Gladys (b. 1919). Ethel died in 1982. James Renshaw committed suicide on 26 July 1926, aged 50. He and Florence were then living on Connaught Street, Radford. James was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. (See 'Extra information')
Harold appears to have only recently begun his training when he was killed and may well have been conscripted early in 1916. According to Register of Soldiers' Effects he was based at 1st Battalion (Depot) Notts and Derbys. Harold died on 24 September 1916 in a bombing raid on Nottingham by Zeppelin L17. He was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Harold had served such a short time that he was ineligible for a War Gratuity.
Inscription on gravestone in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: 'In loving memory of Harold William the beloved and only son of James and Florence Renshaw and dearly beloved husband of Ethel Millicent Renshaw who was suddenly called to rest September 24th 1918 aged 21 years.’ Harold Renshaw was one of three fatalities when Zeppelin L17, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Hermann Kraushaar, bombed Nottingham on 24th September 1916. An incendiary bomb came through the house roof and landed on Harold and Ethel while they were in bed. This set fire to his clothing, causing extensive burns. His wife, who was in bed next to him, was totally uninjured. The death certificate gave his cause of death as 'Burns by incendiary bomb dropped from an enemy airship and thereby murdered by some person or persons unknown.' Nottingham Evening Post, 27 September 1916. Report of the inquest ‘at an East Midlands town’ into the deaths of three people in the Zeppelin raid. Two of the victims were a 'tailor’s cutter, aged 43, and his wife, aged 43’ whose two sons were both serving in France, one of whom was expected home on leave that coming week-end. The other victim was Harold Renshaw: ‘Burned to death. The third victim was a labourer, 21 years of age. He and his wife were asleep in the middle floor of a three-storeyed house when a bomb came like a ball of flames through the roof of the room above and fell on the deceased. The bed immediately took fire, and the wife ran for a bucket of water which she threw over the bed. A second bucket she also threw, but the room was so full of smoke that she could not see the effect. The woman sought for assistance and cried for a quarter of an hour before anyone came, and then the deceased was taken on a barrow to the hospital, but he died on the way. The foreman of the jury expressed the view that the bereaved woman had shown great presence of mind. A neighbour said that she saw the deceased on a landing outside his bedroom. His head and shoulders were in flames.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notices published 24 September 1917, Nottingham Evening Post:- “RENSHAW. – In fond remembrance of Harold W. Renshaw, who was suddenly called to rest September 24th, 1916. A day of remembrance sad to recall. From Millie [Ethel Millicent Renshaw] and loving mother-in-law. “RENSHAW. – In loving memory of our dear son, Harold William, who was killed in an air raid September 24th, 1916, aged 21 years. Oh why was he taken so young and fair, from mother and father who loved him so dear; hard was the blow that compelled us to part, from one so loving and dear to our hearts. – From his sorrowing mother and father.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, 28 April 1926: ‘His 'Brain had Turned.’ Nottingham Gas Inspector Ends His Life.’ A verdict of ‘Suicide during temporary insanity’ was recorded by the Nottingham District Coroner (Major H Bradwell) at an inquest at Wollaton yesterday on the body of James Renshaw, aged 50, of 45-Connaught-street, Radford, a gas inspector in the employ of Nottingham Corporation, whose body was recovered from the railway canal at Wollaton the previous evening. The widow said that he left home as usual in the morning at about 7.15, and did not return. He had been ordered to undergo an operation, and had said he would not do so, and also worried about the death of his son, who was killed in an air raid during the war. Deceased left a note saying that his ‘brain had turned.’’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 30 April 1926: ‘Renshaw. On the 26th inst., suddenly, James, the beloved and devoted husband of Florence Renshaw, 45 Connaught-street, Radford, 25 years faithful servant of Nottingham Corporation Gas office. Deeply mourned. Interment Church Cemetery, Saturday, 2 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam', 25 September 1925: ‘Renshaw. Sweetest memories of dear Harold, killed Sept. 24th, 1016. Loving mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
