William Benjamin Widdowson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Benjamin was the son of Gervase Widdowson and Hannah Cooper (née Roberts). Gervase Widdowson was born in Ruddington in about 1840. He married Elizabeth Dalby (née Carter b. abt 1830) at Nottingham St Mary in 1867. Elizabeth was the widow of James Dalby (m. Ruddington 1852) and had one child, Arthur (b. 1857). Gervase and his wife were living in Ruddington at the time of the census in 1871 and 1881. Hannah Roberts was born in Derby in about 1857 and married Thomas Cooper at Derby All Saints in 1877. They had a daughter, Martha Cooper (b. Derby 1878) and a second daughter, Mary Emma Cooper, in 1883 (reg. Nottingham). No record has yet been traced of Gervase and Hannah's marriage and her husband Thomas may not have died until 1917, the year after Gervase's death. Gervase and Hannah had six children, all of whom were born in Ruddington. The registrations of birth of the three eldest were in the surname Cooper: Arthur Cooper b. 1886, Gervase Widdowson Cooper b. 1888 and Edward Widdowson Cooper b. 1890. The three youngest children were registered as Widdowson: William Benjamin b. 1892, Annie birth registered 1894 (J/F/M) and Lily Lavinia b. 1897. Gervase (50) and Hannah (35) were living at Marlpit, Ruddington, in 1891 with Hannah's daughter Martha (12) and their children Arthur (5), Gervase (3) and Edward (6m). Hannah's daughter Mary (8), was living in Marlpit with foster parents, Thomas and Phoebe Jesson. The family had moved to Chestnut Grove, West Bridgford, Nottingham, by 1901. In the home on the night of the census were Gervase snr., a lamp lighter for the Urban District Council and general agricultural labourer, Hannah, Mary Cooper, Arthur, Gervase, Edward (9), William (8), Annie (7) and Lily (4). Hannah's daughter Martha had married Charles William Stokes in 1901 and they were living in the Meadows, Nottingham. Their son William Arthur was born in 1904. In 1911 Gervase and Hannah were living at 135 Exchange Road, West Bridgford, with Arthur (in work), Gervase a labourer (Urban District Council), William a plumber, Annie (no occupation), and Lily an errand girl (lace manufacturer). Also in the household was Hannah's widowed daughter Martha Stokes, a 'cutter-out' (hosiery manufacturer) and her son William (6) who were both described as boarders. Martha married secondly Frederick Topley (1915 reg. Derby). Gervase and Hannah's daughter Annie died on 18 October 1914 aged 20. Gervase snr. died two years later in 1916 (O/N/D). Hannah was living at 119 Exchange Road, West Bridgford, by 1917. She died in March 1930. Two other brothers died in the war; Edward (October 1917) and Gervase (November 1918). See 'Extra information.' The fourth brother, Arthur, also served.
2nd Field Squadron Royal Engineers William served with the BEF France from 1 March 1915 and was killed in action three years later on 1 April 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France (Panel 10-13). William qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Pozieres Memorial (extract): The village of Pozieres is 6 kilometres north-east of the town of Albert. The Memorial encloses Pozieres British Cemetery and 'relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
Two of William's brothers, Edward and Gervase, also died in the war. Edward served with the Sherwood Foresters (86412 Private) and was killed in action on 4 October 1917. Gervase served with the Army Veterinary Corps (18953 Private) and died of wounds on 1 November 1918. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’ 20 October 1914: ‘Widdowson. On the 18th inst., at 8 Gordon-road, West Bridgford, Annie, the beloved daughter of Gervase and Hannah Widdowson, aged 20 years. To live with Christ, which is far better. Interment Bridgford Wednesday, 2.30.’’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 13 April 1918: ‘Widdowson. Killed in action, April 1st, Cpl WB Widdowson, RE, dearly beloved youngest son of Hannah and the late Gervase Widdowson, 119 Exchange-road, West Bridgford. He died that we might live. Until the dawn breaks. From his broken-hearted mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 13 April 1918: ‘Widdowson. Killed in action, April 1st, Willie, dearly loved brother of Arthur and Olive Widdowson. Grant him eternal rest, O Lord’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 13 April 1918: ‘Widdowson. Killed in action, April 1st, Cpl Willie Widdowson, dearly beloved brother of Pattie, Polly, Fred and Dick. Asleep with the brave’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his legatees were his mother Hannah Widdowson, sister Lily, half-sister Martha Topley [née Cooper], half-sister Mary E Webster [née Cooper], Rose Widdowson [widow of brother Edward] and brother Gervase [DOW October 1918]. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 20 March 1930. ‘Widdowson. March 18th, Hannah, the beloved wife of the late Gervase. Peace after pain. Loving children, West Bridgford.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
