Harold Bartram
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold was the son of John Henry and Ellen Bartram (née Gilbert). John Henry Bartram was born in Mansfield in 1871 (J/A/S Mansfield), the son of John and Eliza Bartram of Stockwell Gate, Mansfield. He was baptised at the parish church of SS Peter and Paul Mansfield on 19 August 1871. Ellen Gilbert was born in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1872 (J/F/M Mansfield), the daughter of Joseph and Ann Gilbert. She was baptised at the parish church of St Edmund King and Martyr Mansfield Woodhouse on 6 March 1872. In 1891 Ellen (19), a mill hand, was living with her parents at Andrew's Yard, Mansfield. John Henry and Ellen were married on 6 August 1894 at St John the Evangelist Mansfield (J/A/S Mansfield). Ellen had had a son, Alfred Gilbert, b 18 February 1889 (J/F/M Mansfield), then Mary Ellen on 26 November 1894 (O/N/D Mansfield), the year of her marriage to John, and Harold in 1896 (O/N/D Mansfield). Alfred was named on civil records as Alfred Gilbert and although described as John's son on the 1901 and 1911 Census John completed the 1911 Census with the information that he and his wife had had only two children. In 1901 Ellen (29) was living at 16 Plantation Road, Mansfield, with her children Alfred (13), Mary Ellen (6) and Harold (4). Also in the household was a lodger, John Gearer (52). Ellen was head of household as her husband John, who had joined the Militia and then transferred to the Army Reserve (Special Reservists), was serving in South Africa (see 'Extra information'). By 1911 John (39), a coal miner at Langwith Colliery, and Ellen (39), a housemaid, were living at 1 Gilcroft Row, Mansfield, with Alfred (22), who worked above ground at Pleasley Colliery, Mary Ellen 916) a doffer in a cotton mill, and Harold (14) a driver at Sherwood-Mansfield Colliery. The family was living at 8 Radford Street, Mansfield, when Harold enlisted in 1915. His father, who served in the Labour Company from 1914, was discharged from the Army on 1 August 1918 as 'no longer physically fit for War Service' and discharged to 8 Radford Street. Ellen Bartram died in 1929 (J/F/M Mansfield) and John Henry in 1931 (O/N/D Mansfield). Alfred Gilbert married Ethel Woodward (b. 9 May 1889) in 1913 (O/N/D Mansfield). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 22 Goldsmith Street, Mansfield; Alfred was an unemployed surface worker and Ethel's occupation was given as unpaid household duties. Also in the home were Edna M Gilbert (b. 15 February 1915) a domestic servant, Harold Gilbert (b. 1 December 1917) a general labourer, and Robert H Gilbert (b. 19 April 1922) a cinema operator. The record of one other occupant of the household is inaccessible. Mary Ellen married Thomas Hall in 1914 (J/F/M Mansfield. In 1939 they were living at 12 Padley Hill, Mansfield. Thomas Hall (b. 11 December 1892) was a labourer at a sand quarry while Mary's occupation was given as unpaid household duties. Also in the home was Mary E Hall (b. 5 November 1920) a moulder of leather stiffeners boots and shoes, and Thomas Hall (b. 5 December 1923) a leather shoe operator. Mary Ellen probably died in 1976 (A/M/J Basford).
Harold enlisted on 1 May 1915 aged 19 years and 216 days. He only stood 5ft 2 inches tall, hence joining the 15th Bn Sherwood Foresters which at that time was a 'Bantam' Battalion which took soldiers who were below the British Army's minimum regulation height of 5 feet 3 inches. Harold served at home from 1 May 1915 to 13 March 1916 and then with the BEF France from 14 March 1916 until his death two years later. He was killed on 14 October 1918 and was buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. V.A.2). Harold served for 3 years 167 days (Home: 1 May 1915-13 March 1916, 317 days and BEF France: 14 March 1916-14 October 1918, 2 years 215 days). Harold qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC (WW1) - only four records surname Bartram and no record for HH Bartram. Mansfield Reporter, 29 November 1918 (photograph): ‘Private H Bartram Killed ... The accompanying photograph is that of Private Harold Bartram, of the 15th Sherwood Foresters, son of Mr John Bartram, of Radford-street, Mansfield, who was killed on the 14th of October in France. Before joining the army he worked at the Sherwood Colliery, and went overseas three years and eight months ago. He was single, and aged 22 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Two sets of Attestation papers survive for John Henry Bartram although these are not complete and only partially legible. He served in the Militia, 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters (1116 Private), from 4 August 1894 but probably transferred to the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) as he served in South Africa for which he was awarded the South Africa medal and Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps. He may have been discharged after serving in the Anglo-Boer War but if so appears to have rejoined the Militia on 6 March 1905 before attesting in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on 14 June 1908 when John was 35 years 2 months, working as a coal miner and living at 9 Plantation Row, Mansfield. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in a Labour Corps on 9 September 1914 (222320 L/Sgt). He was promoted corporal on 14 March 1915 and to lance-serjeant on 1 December 1915. He served with the BEF France from 17 August 1915 followed by home service from 30 July 1917 until his discharge as 'no longer physically fit for War Service' on 1 August 1918. He qualified for the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
