Ambrose Webster
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ambrose was the son of John and Eliza Ann Webster (née Stockdale). His father John was born in Basford in about 1863, the son of Joseph and Ann Webster, and was baptised at Old Basford St Leodegarius on 2 March 1863. His mother Eliza Ann was born in Basford in 1868 (reg. J/F/M), the daughter of George and Elizabeth Stockdale. John and Eliza were married at St Leodegarious on 14 November 1885 and had eight children, all of whom were born in Basford: Edmund b. 1886 (reg. J/F/M); Ambrose b. 1887; Ada b. 15 June 1889 bap. St Leodegarius 4 January 1892; John b. 1891 bap St Leodegarius 4 January 1892; George b. 1894; Alfred b. 1896; Walter b. 1902 (reg. J/F/M) and Joseph b. 1904. In 1891 John (29) a coal miner, and Eliza (24) were living at Brown's Croft, Basford, with their three children Edmund (6), Ambrose (4) and Ada (2). John was born the following year and the family was still living at Brown's Croft in 1892 when Ada and John were baptised. By 1901 they had moved to 8 Queen Street, Basford, where they lived with their six children: Edmund a basket maker, Ambrose a coal miner and pit pony boy, Ada, John (9), George (6) and Alfred (4). John and Eliza were at 4 Academy Place, Mill Street, Basford, by 1911. Only five of their eight children were still living at home: Edmund a wicker worker, George and Alfred who were mine gangers below ground, Walter (10) and Joseph (6). Ambrose had joined the army and was serving with the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards in London. John was working as a fitter's labourer and was a boarder in the household of Arthur and Mary Davis at Palm Street, Nottingham. Ada had married George Gibson (b. 22 June 1885) in 1910 and was living with her husband and theiir daughter Alice (4m) on Wicklow Street, Old Basford. Alfred's mother probably died in 1924. Ambrose married Beatrice Chambers (b. 19 September 1894) in 1913 (O/N/D). Beatrice was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Chambers and lived in Hyson Green, Nottingham. Ambrose and Beatrice had one son, George, who was born on 5 July 1914. The CWGC record gives Beatrice's address as 4 Towlsons Place, Old Basford, Nottingham.
3rd Coy 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards Ambrose was serving in London with the Grenadier Guards in 1911. He served in France from 6 October 1914 and died of wounds in Wimeroux Women's Hospital on 2 December 1914. He is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France (grave ref. I. B. 29A). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Wimereux Communal Cemetery (extract): 'From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves.' Note: The headstones in the cemetery are laid flat upon the graves because of the sandy nature of the soil.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace after pain' Ambrose's brother Alfred served in the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment (19424 Private) and was killed in action in Belgium on 10 November 1917. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
