Henry Edmund Priestley
- Family History
- Military History
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Henry Edmund Priestley was born in 1878 at Attenborough the son of Thomas a farm labourer and Hetty Priestley. Thomas was born in 1853 in East Leake, his mother Hetty also in 1853 at Barton, Lancashire. In 1911, they had been married thirty eight years and have had eight children, six surviving infancy. Henry married Emma Elizabeth Spowage (born 17th March 1878 ) at Nottingham in 1907. Emma had a daughter Mabel who was born in 1898, they had two further daughters Lilian May born 10th April 1912 and Edna born 22nd April 1913. In the 1911 census his parents are living at 60 Station Road, Beeston, Thomas 58 yrs is a farm labourer, he is living with his wife Hetty 58 yrs. . In 1911 the family at 31, Station Road, Beeston, Nottingham Henry 33 yrs is a labourer he is living with his wife Emma 34 yrs and their daughter Mabel 13 yrs. Commencing 31st January 1916 his widow was awarded a pension of 21 shillings a week. Emma married William Stubbs in 1916 and they lived at 68. Station Road, Beeston.
Henry Priestley enlisted at Nottingham whilst residing at Beeston. He died of nephritis on 26th July 1915 at Netley Hospital. His body was returned to his family and he was buried in Beeston Cemetery on 31st July 1915.
Article published 2nd August 1915 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- “WITH MILITARY HONOURS. “A Sherwood Forester Laid to Rest at Beeston. “The remains of Private H. Priestley, of 26. Stoney-street, Beeston, were laid to rest in the cemetery on Derby-road there on Saturday. [31st July 1915]“Private Priestley, who belonged to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foredters, fought through the South African war with his brother and together they rejoined their old regiment and went out to serve their country once more in France. He was wounded and succumbed at Netley Hospital last Tuesday, leaving a widow and a family of young children.“The Robin Hoods Depot Unit sent to the funeral their band, a firing party, and bearers, and also a contingent of men to follow the cortege. They were under the command of Lieutenant Miller and Sergeants Rider and Machin. The Beeston Detachment of the Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Brigade also followed, as did the local company of the Citizen Army. Beeston soldiers at home on furlough also joined the procession, and there was also a party of wounded from one of the local hospitals. Several hundred people gathered round the grave, where three volleys were fired and the Last Post sounded. “Captain McGuire and Mr. C. P. Walker (who made the arrangements) were amongst those who were present. The vicar of Beeston (the Rev. W. P. Cole-Sheane) and the Rev. S. W. Gooch performed the obsequies.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
