Herbert William Steads
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Herbert was born in Babworth in 1887 and was the eldest son of Harry a horseman on a farm and Alice Steads of Morton Grange Cottages at Babworth he had two younger brothers henry and Frederick and a younger sister Amy. He was married on 23rd June 1909 to Elizabeth Ellen Lane at Gamston. In the 1911 census Herbert is 24 years of age and a farm labourer and is living at Bunkers Hill, Elksley, he is living with his wife Elizabeth Ellen aged 21 years and born at Ranby, they have been married for a year and now have a daughter Grace Enid who is 5 months of age and was born at Gamston They subsequently had three children, Grace Enid born 1910 at Gamston, George born 1912 at Elksley and Albert William born 1916 at Gamston.
Herbert enlisted on 10th December 1915 at Retford he gave his address as Gamston , his occupation as labourer and his age as 29 years and six months , on the 11th September he was placed into the army reserve . On 16th September 1916 he was mobilised and on the 19th September was posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery. From 16th September to the 18th June 1917 he was on home service where he received his training. On the 19th June 1917 he went to France and joined the British Expeditionary Force. On 24th April 1918 he was killed in action and is buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension 4.G.6
Gunner H W Steads Retford Times 17th May 1918 We regret to record the death of Gunner H W Steads, RGA of Gamston who was killed in action in France on April 24th. He was 31 years of age, joined up on September 16th 1916 and went to France on June 29th 1917. Before joining the colours he was employed by Mr W W Cranfield, Morton Grange where his mother and father reside. He was a married man and leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss. His officer, in a letter to the Rector of Gamston asking him to break the sad news to Mrs Steads, speaks of the valuable work done by Gunner Steads, and states that it had been bought to the notice of the Brigade Commander. A letter has also been received from the Chaplain expressing sympathy with the widow and children in their loss.
