Abraham Wass
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Abraham was the youngest son of Isaac and Annie Wass (née Edwards). His father was born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1842 and his mother Mansfield in about 1851, They were married at the Mansfield Wesleyan Chapel in 1871 and had seven children, one of whom died in childhood. All the children were born in Sutton in Ashfield and baptised at St Mary Magdalene: Luke b. 1873 (reg. J/F/M), George b. 1874, Annie Marie/Mary b. 1876, Jane b. 1878, Ada b. December 1879 (reg. 1880) bap. 1882 d. 1882, Abraham b. 7 February 1884 bap. 5 October 1891 and Alice b. December 1890 (reg. 1891). In 1881 Isaac, a builder (employing one man and one boy) and with an 8 acre farm, was living with his wife and their five children Luke, George, Annie, Jane and Ada, on Kirkby Lane, Sutton in Ashfield. Ada died the following year. The family was living at Idlewells, Sutton in Ashfield, in 1891 and Isaac was now employed as a bricklayer. All six surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: Luke a grocer's assistant, George, Annie, Jane, Abraham (7) and Alice (under one year). On the 1901 census, Isaac was described as a farmer (employer) and his sons George and Abraham, who were still living at home, were also described as farmers. They may have been assisting their father but in 1917 when Abraham was mobilized he applied for exemption on the grounds that he worked on both his own farm and his father's. Also in the home were Jane. who was probably assisting her mother with domestic duties, and Alice. Luke, a grocer, was married and he and his wife Ellen were living at Forest Side, Sutton in Ashfield. Annie Mary had married James Millier in 1896 and they and their three children were also living in Sutton in Ashfield. By 1911 only George and Abraham, both described as farm labourers, and their youngest sister Alice were still living with their parents at Forest Street. Alice married John Cooper the following year. Abraham's mother completed a form for the army in April 1920 giving the names of her son's surviving blood relatives: Parents: Isaac and Annie Wass of Blackmire Farm, Sutton in Ashfield Brothers: Luke (48) and George (47) both of Forest Street, Sutton in Ashfield Sisters: Annie Mary Miller (43) Idlewell Sutton in Ashfield, Jane [?Barracott] (41) Forest Street Sutton in Ashfield, Alice Cooper (30) Blackmires Farm Sutton in Ashfield Abraham's brothers, George and Luke, were still living at 30 Forest Street in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled and continued to live there until their deaths in the 1950s. Isaac died on 29 November 1921. The probate record gave his address as Forest Street, Sutton in Ashfield; administration was awarded to his sons George Wass a farmer, and Luke Wass a grocer. Annie snr. died in 1938.
7th Bn Norfolk Regiment Abraham was transferred to the Reserves on 2 March 1916. It seems he had successfully applied for an exemption as he was engaged on scavenging work and also farm work, but this was cancelled in February 1917. (See 'Extra information') He was mobilised on 9 April 1917 and posted on 11 April 1917 to the Cavalry Reserve (33715) at Scarborough, but on 5 July 1917, while under training, he transferred to the Norfolk Regiment (33306). He was posted to the BEF France and embarked at Folkestone on 19 October 1917 disembarking at Boulogne the same day. Abraham suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and died at No 5 Casualty Clearing Station on 4 December 1917, less than two months after arriving on the Western Front. His service record was noted that he was buried at 'Tincourt New British Cemetery 4 miles E. of Peronne.' (Grave ref. III E 17) CWGC - History of Tincourt New British Cemetery (extract): 'Tincourt is a village about 7 kilometres east of Peronne. The villages of Tincourt and Boucly were occupied by British troops in March 1917, during the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line From the following May until March 1918, Tincourt became a centre for Casualty Clearing Stations. On the 23rd March 1918, the villages were evacuated and they were recovered, in a ruined condition, about the 6th September. From that month to December 1918, Casualty Clearing Stations were again posted to Tincourt. The cemetery was begun in June 1917, and used until September 1919 ... After the Armistice it was used for the reburial of soldiers found on the battlefield, or buried in small French or German cemeteries.' (www.cwgc.org)
Mansfield Reporter, 17 September 1915: 'SiA Roads & Buildings Committee - The following plans were recommended to be passed: two shops in Forest-street for Mr A Wass.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 23 February 1917: ‘Sutton Tribunal. A meeting of the Sutton Tribunal was held at the Council Offices on Friday evening ... The military Representative appealed for the certificated granted to Abraham Wass (33), Forest-street, a Class A man, to be cancelled as he was not now engaged on scavenging work. Wass said that he was still engaged of farm work. They had two farms, one belonging to him and the other to his father, and he assisted on both. Altogether there was over a hundred acres and 27 head of cattle. The Tribunal agreed to the certificate being cancelled.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Abraham's father, Isaac, had successfully put in a tender to the Council in early 1914 to provide house scavenging in district No. 1 'for five years ending 31st March 1919.' He was awarded the contract at £646 p.a. In December 1915, Isaac approached the council about the difficulties of getting workmen for night work and that with 'three horses lame' he would have to give up the scavenging work. However, he did continue with the work, probably because he had put up a £500 bond when the contract was awarded and was likely to lose this if he withdrew. The following March he wrote to the council requesting (unsuccessfully) an increase of £2 a week on the contract price 'to reflect increased cost of horse keep and wages.' (Mansfield Reporter, 1914-1916) Army Service Record. Telegram sent to Mrs I Wass Forest Street, Sutton in Ashfield: ‘Regret to inform you that No. 33306 Pte A Wass 7th Norfolk Regt died Dec 4th at 5th Casualty Clearing Station France from wounds.’ The telegram was sent after army internal correspondence to confirm the identity of the casualty at No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station, originally named as Pte 36306 A Wass 7th Suffolk Regiment. Probate: Wass Abraham of Forest-street Sutton-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire died 4 December 1917 in France Administration London 30 August to George Wass farmer and Luke Wass grocer. Effects £513 11s 11d. Research by Peter Gillings
