William Henry Widdowson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Henry was the son of Henry and Ellen Widdowson (née Radford). His parents were married at Nottingham St Ann in April 1885 and had four children: Nellie b. New Basford 1886, William Henry b. Hyson Green 1891, Hilda Gladys b. Hyson Green birth registered 1894 (J/F/M) and Albert Edward b. Hyson Green 1896. Ellen had a daughter, Selina Ann Radford, born 1884, baptised at Nottingham St Ann in January 1884 (mother Ellen Radford). On the 1891-1901 Census Selina had the surname 'Widdowson.' In 1891 Henry, a lace dresser, Ellen and the children Selina and Nellie were living in Nottingham with Ellen's mother Jane Radford and brother William. By 1901 Henry and Ellen were living at 18 Elson Street, New Basford. In the home on the night of the census were Selina (17) who worked in a laundry, Nellie (15), William (10) and Albert (5). Hilda Gladys, who would have been about seven years old, has not yet been traced on the census. Ellen died in August 1910 and in 1911 her husband was living at 5 Queen's Cottages, Court Street, Hyson Green, with his children Nellie a lace dresser, William a bottle washer (brewery), Hilda a restaurant waitress and Albert an errand boy. Also in the household were Henry's granddaughters Mary Elizabeth Widdowson (4) and Edith Widdowson (1) and his brother, John Widdowson (39) married, a general labourer. Selina Radford was living on Windmill Street, Radford, housekeeper to George Kirk (married) by whom she had two sons, George Kirk Radford (5) and William Kirk Radford (11m). She and George were married in 1934. William Widdowson snr. probably died in 1931. William Henry married Amy Smart at Sneinton St Stephen in April 1915 and they had one child, Albert Henry, born August 1915. They lived initially at 4 Cobden Street, Plimsoll Street, Hyson Green, but by 1917 Amy was living at 11 Saville Street, Hyson Green. Amy married secondly Ernest G Winders in 1919 and they had at least two sons. According to a notice of William Henry's death in the local paper, his brother Albert Edward also served in France.
1st Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Formerly 19th (Reserve) Bn Sherwood Foresters, a battalion of Kitchener's New Army formed in 1915. William Henry Widdowson attested on 7 December 1915 aged 24 years 3 months and transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He was mobilised on 7 April 1916 and on 11 April was posted to the 19th (Reserve) Bn Sherwood Foresters. He served with the BEF France from 5 September 1916, joining the 1st Battalion, which had been in France since November 1914, on 22 September. William Henry was killed in action on 4 March 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A). Service record: Home 7 December 1915-4 September 1916 (272 days), BEF France 5 September 1916-4 March 1917 (181 days). Total 1 year 89 days. William qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 March 1917: ‘Widdowson. Killed in action March 4th, 1917, Pte WH Widdowson, Sherwood Foresters, late of 4, Cobden-terrace. He sleeps not in his native land, but ‘neath some foreign skies, far from those who loved him best, but in a hero’s grave he lies. He did his duty. From his wife, baby, also father, sisters, brothers (Albert in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) His widow Amy was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence for herself and one child with effect from 24 September 1917. William's personal property comprising six photographs was returned to his widow at 11 Saville Street, Hyson Green, in October 1917.
