Leslie Douglas Woodhouse
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Leslie was the son of Thomas Vernon Woodhouse and Lucy Hole Woodhouse (nee Hardwick).His father was born in 1849 (A/M/J Nottingham) and married Lucy Hardwick in 1873 (O/N/D Mansfield). The 1881 and 1891 Census give Lucy's place of birth as Manchester but on the 1901 Census as Heath, Derbyshire.According to the entry on the 1911 Census completed by the widowed Thomas he and Lucy had had 13 children of whom 10 were still living.Thirteen children were named on the four census between 1881 and 1911 and three children who died young and were buried in the family grave in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery were named on the headstone (see 'extra information'): Eliza (birth/death probably registered as 'Ella', named as Bella on the 1881 Census), Percy David and George Norman. The name of one other child, Pattie, is given variously on the census as Dora (1901) and Theodora Patty (1911). The 13 children were: Florence Lucy b. 1874 (J/A/S Nottingham), Thomas Vernon b. 1875 (J/A/S Nottingham), Ella [Bella/Eliza] b. 1876 (J/A/S Basford) died 14 August 1882 aged 6 years, Percy David b. 1877 (O/N/D Nottingham) died 14 August 1882 aged 4 years 10 months, Fred [Frederick] b. 1879 (J/F/M Nottingham), Pattie [Dora/Theodora] b. 1880 (O/N/D Nottingham), Beatrice b. 1882 (J/A/S Nottingham), Beryl Eva b. 1884 (J/A/S Nottingham), George Norman b. 1886 (J/F/M Nottingham) died 2 June 1888 aged 2 years 5 months, Muriel Gladys b. 24 January 1888 (J/F/M Nottingham), Leslie Douglas b. 1890 (O/N/D Basford), Harold Duncan b. 6 September 1891 (O/N/D Basford) and Marjorie [Marjory] Grace b. 1893 J/A/S Basford).In 1881 Thomas Vernon (32) and his wife were living at 254 Woodborough Road, Nottingham, with their children Florence L. (6), Thomas V. (5), Bella (4), Percy D. (3), Fred (2) and Pattie (8 months). Also in the household were two domestic servants, Ada Hallis (20) and Ada Thornley (16). Bella [Ella/Eliza] and Percy died the following year, both on 14 August 1882. A son, George Norman, was born four years later in 1886 but died tragically in June 1888 (see 'extra information'). Thomas and Lucy had moved to Fox House, 16 Hound Road, West Bridgford, by 1891. Thomas (42) was a timber merchant. At home on the night of the census were Thomas (15) a county council clerk, Frederick (13), Pattie (11), Beatrice (9), Beryl Eva (6), Muriel Gladys (3) and Leslie Douglas (7 months). Their eldest child, Florence, was not at home on the night of the census. Also in the household were Elizabeth Farnsworth (19) a cook, and Mary Worth (16) a nurse. The family was still living at the same address in 1901. Thomas (52) was now described as a builder and architect (employer). All the children were at home with their parents on the night of the census: Florence (26), Thomas (25) and Fred (22), both builder's clerks, Dora [Pattie] (20) a school governess, Beatrice (19) a baker's clerk, Beryl E. (16), Muriel G. (13), Leslie D. (10), Harold D. (9) and Marjorie (7). Thomas employed one domestic servant, Annie M Jones (20).Florence Lucy married Albert Edward Bohane in 1901 (J/A/S Basford) and Thomas Vernon married Marie Claribel Young in 1902 (O/N/D Nottingham). It seems that Thomas and his wife later moved to Canada where their daughter, Margery Claribel was born in Saskatchewan in about 1909 although they were back in England by 1911.Leslie's mother died on 23 August 1909 aged 57 years and was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery on 27 August.The family home was still at 16 Hound Road, West Bridgford, in 1911. Only seven of Thomas's children were still living at home: Theodora Patty (30) a ladies' companion, Beatrice (28) a cashier typist, Beryl Eva (26), Muriel (22) a ladies' companion, Leslie Douglas (20) a warehouseman in a shipping house and Marjory Grace (17) a student at Nottingham University. Harold (22), a civil engineering student, was still living in the family home in West Bridgford but on the night of the census was a patient at Derby Royal Infirmary, London Road, Derby. Thomas employed a general servant, Florrie Bland (17). The same year Florence and her husband Edward Bohane, secretary to the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society, were living at Derby House, Winckley Square, Preston, with their three children Doris (7), Kenneth (5) and Phyllis (2). Also in the household were a children's nurse and two female domestic servants.Thomas Vernon (35) a contractor's clerk, and his wife Marie Claribel (35) were living at 63 Mona Road, West Bridgford with their two-year old daughter, Margery.Fred (31) a builder, was a boarder at the Globe Hotel, 1 Courtney Street, Newton Abbot, in 1911. Leslie's father, Thomas Vernon, died on 22 August 1931 aged 82 years. His home was still at 16 Hound Road, West Bridgford. His unmarried daughter, Beatrice, was one of his executors.Of Leslie's siblings:Florence Lucy Bohane died aged 51 in 1926 (December Basford). Marjorie Grace Woodhouse died aged 35 in 1929 (June Basford).Thomas Vernon died on 4 February 1934 at Stanton Place, Mansfield. He and his wife Marie Claribel, who survived him, were living at 51 Selby Road, West Bridgford, at the time of his death.Beatrice Woodhouse died aged 71 in 1954, she was then living at Pendenis, Mapperley Hall Drive, Nottingham. Her brother Harold Duncan, a company director, and sister Beryl Eva Wharmby, were executors of her will.Beryl Eva married Henry Marsden Wharmby in 1920 (J/F/M Basford) and was living at 9 Stanton Place, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, when she died on 8 November 1961. Her husband, Henry, a retired manufacturing chemist, was one of her executors. Harold Duncan qualified as a civil engineer (proposed 27 July 1917, Certificate 15401-15600, Jan-Dec 1918). He married Margaret Dilys Herbert in 1923 (O/N/D St George Hanover Square, London) and died in May 1965 (June Basford) aged 73. He and his wife, who survived him, were living at The Croft, Loughborough Road, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, at the time of his death.Muriel Gladys Woodhouse died aged 83 in 1971 (March Derby).Neither Fred nor Pattie have yet been traced after 1911.
Attached Light Trench Mortar Battery. He was killed in action at Beaumont Hamel. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Nottingham Evening Post, 9 September 1916: ‘The Casualties. Killed. Lieut. LD Woodhouse. Mr Thomas V Woodhouse, of Hound-road, West Bridgford, has received intimation that his son, Lieut. Leslie Douglas Woodhouse, was killed in action on September 3rd. The deceased officer, who was 26 years of age, was attached to the Light Trench Mortar Battery, Sherwood Foresters. He received his commission in August last, and was promoted in May.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 11 September 1916: ‘Woodhouse. Killed in action, September 3rd, Lieutenant Leslie Douglas Woodhouse, Brigade Light Trench Mortar Battery, age 26 years, beloved son of Thomas V Woodhouse, Hound-road, West Bridgford, Nottingham.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Probate: Woodhouse Leslie Douglas of Fox House Hound-road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire lieutenant in HM Army died 3 September 1916 in France Probate Nottingham 20 September to Thomas Vernon Woodhouse contractor. Effects £90 4s. 2d.Inscription on family headstone, Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery; 'In loving memory of Percy David died August 14th 1882 aged 4 years 10 months. Eliza died August 14th 1882 aged 6 years. George Norman died June 2nd 1888 aged 2 years 5 months. Children of Thomas Vernon and Lucy Woodhouse. ‘Of such is the kingdom of heaven. Also Lucy the beloved wife of Thomas Vernon Woodhouse, and mother of the above, died August 23rd 1909 aged 57 years. And of Leslie Douglas son of the above Lieut. 17th Sherwood Foresters attd TMB, killed in action Beaumont Hamel September 3rd 1916 aged 26 years. Also of the above Thomas Vernon died August 22nd 1931 aged 82 years.'Nottingham Evening Post, 4 June 1888: ‘A Child Scalded To Death In Nottingham. The Deputy Borough Coroner (Mr A Brownel) held an inquest on Saturday evening, at the General Hospital, Nottingham, on the body of George Norman Woodhouse, aged two years and three months, son of Mr Thomas Vernon Woodhouse, timber merchant, of Corporation Wharf, Leen-side. Mr Woodhouse stated that a week last Wednesday his little girl came to him in the office with the news that the deceased had been scalded in the bath in the house. He went there immediately and found the deceased badly scalded, the skin peeling off his hands. His daughter Patty (sic), aged six years, told him that she was going upstairs when she heard her brother George screaming. She went to see what was the matter and found her brother in the bath with his head towards the hot water tap, which was running. She pulled him out by his clothes, he being fully dressed. There was no one else in the bathroom when she entered. The tap of the bath turned stiffly with a screw handle, and he was almost convinced the deceased could not have turned the water on himself. He did not think it was possible for deceased to climb into the bath himself, as it was over two feet high. The water in the bath would probably be boiling. Mrs Woodhouse deposed that she was in the kitchen when the deceased screamed. She heard Patty call from the top of the stairs, and at once went to the bathroom, where she saw the deceased in charge of the nursemaid, and very much scalded. When witness heard the screaming the maid was in the scullery, where she had been talking to another servant. Witness was under the impression that the maid had put the little boy to bed. She had had to complain of carelessness on the part of the maid with regard to the children. – Alice Rudge, of Beeston, said she was in the service of Mr Woodhouse when the deceased was scalded. She took him upstairs and sat him on a chair in the passage whilst she went downstairs to fetch a towel. She was told she was away about a quarter of an hour, but she did not think it was so long as that. Mrs Woodhouse told her to get the baby’s night clothes and some water whilst she was downstairs, which she did. When she heard Patty call out she ran upstairs before Mrs Woodhouse, and picked up the deceased. She did not turn on the water before she went downstairs. She had never known the deceased to climb into the bath, but he could turn the tap himself. Mr A Anderson, house surgeon of the Nottingham General Hospital, said the deceased was admitted on the 23rd ult. suffering from scalds on the face, head and upper part of the body. Death was caused by meningitis, the result of being scalded. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental death.’’Probate: Woodhouse Thomas Vernon of Fox House 16 Hound-road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire died 22 August 1931 Probate Nottingham 1 January to Ronald Arthur Shipstone company director and Beatrice Woodhouse spinster. Effects £102224 19s. 5d.
