Harry Windley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harry was the second son of Alfred and Phoebe Windley (née Gray). Alfred was born in Radford, Nottingham, in about 1854 and Phoebe was born in Ireland in about 1852. They were married at Nottingham St Matthew on 23 November 1878 and had six children who were all born in Nottingham and baptised at Nottingham St Paul: Helen (reg. Helen but known as Ellen) b. 1881 bap. (Ellen) January 1882; Sarah Ann birth registered 1884 (J/F/M) bap. March 1884; Enoch b. 1886 bap. 1886 d. 1887; John b. 1888 bap. November 1888; Harry birth registered 1891 (J/F/M) bap. April 1891 and Alfred b. 1893 bap. October 1893. Alfred and Phoebe were living on West Street, Nottingham, when their two daughters were baptised, at James Yard, Nottingham, when Enoch was baptised in 1886 but had moved to Convent Street by the time John was baptised in 1888 and were registered there on the 1891 Census. The family was living at 11 Union Terrace, Nottingham, in 1901: Albert, a point and spring maker in the lace industry although previously employed as a paint maker (1891), Phoebe, Ellen and Sarah who were both machinists, John (12), Harry (10) and Alfred (7). Also in the household was a boarder, Charles Burrows (4). Phoebe died in 1907 and in 1911 her widowed husband was living at 17 Enoch Terrace, St Anns Well Road, Nottingham. Also in the home was Alice Forsey (43), married, who was described as a domestic servant ('at home'). The eldest daughter, Ellen, had married Arthur Leatherland in 1906 and she and her husband, a boot maker, were living on Gawthorne Street, Nottingham. Also in the household were her brother Harry, a printer's labourer, and her brother John's daughter, Annie Elizabeth (b. 1908), who was probably in the care of the Leatherlands. Ellen and Arthur later moved to 90 Sandon Street, New Basford. Harry continued to live with the couple and named his sister as his next of kin when he enlisted. Sarah Ann was living on Rutland Terrace, Bunbury Street, Meadows, Nottingham, with her husband Albert Dale, a bobbin and carriage hand, whom she had married in 1907. Also in the household was her youngest brother, Alfred, who was a beer bottler. Sarah and her husband later moved to Coventry but Alfred remained in Nottingham and married Mabel Belshaw in 1916. John had married Nellie Gertrude Whiting in 1908 (J/A/S) and their daughter Annie Elizabeth was born later that year. In 1911, John, an iron moulder, and Nellie, a lace clipper, were living at 8 Franchise Terrace, Westminster Street, Nottingham, although their daughter was living with John's married sister Ellen Leatherland. Nellie died later that year aged 24 and John married secondly Fanny Pacey in 1912. They had two children, Fanny G. who was born in 1912 and died the following year, and Walter who was born in 1914. Harry's brothers, John and Alfred, also died in the war, both in 1917 (see 'Extra information' and records on this Roll of Honour). Alfred Windley snr. may have died in 1929.
2nd Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) The 2nd Battalion was serving in India on the outbreak of war and returned to England, landing at Liverpool in October 1914. It was mobilised on its return and joined the BEF France in November 1914. Harry served with the BEF France from 1 May 1915. In March 1915 the Battalion had been involved in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, then in May, just as Harry probably joined the Battalion in the field, the Battle of Aubers Ridge. This was followed by the Battle of Loos, an offensive which began on 25 September, the date that Rifleman Harry Windley was reported missing in action. His death was not confirmed until June the following year. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (Panel 10). Harry qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Ploegsteert Memorial (extract): The Memorial stands in Berks Cemetery Extension, 12.5km from Ieper [Ypres]. 'The Memorial commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during the First World War and have no known grave. The memorial serves the area from the line Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton, in Belgium, to the north, to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes, in France, to the south, including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe, and Ploegsteert Wood ... Most of those commemorated by the memorial did not die in major offensives, such as those which took place around Ypres to the north, or Loos to the south. Most were killed in the course of the day-to-day trench warfare which characterised this part of the line, or in small scale set engagements, usually carried out in support of the major attacks taking place elsewhere.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Sergeant John (Jack) Windley, Sherwood Foresters, died of wounds on 14th July 1917 and is buried in Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) His brother Alfred served in the 2/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (267012 Private) and was killed in action on 29 September 1917. He was buried in White House Cemetery, St Jean les Ypres. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Photograph Nottingham Evening Post, 4 November 1915, caption: 'Pte. H Windley, Rifle Brigade, 90 Sandon St., New Basford, missing since Sept. 25th, aged 24.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 21 June 1916: ‘Windley. Previously reported missing, now officially reported killed September 25th, 1915, Rifleman H Windley, 90, Sandon-street, Basford, aged 24 years. Duty nobly done. Brother of Mrs Leatherland [Ellen/Helen], and Mr A Leatherland, now in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 23 June 1916: ‘Local Casualties. Missing Now Reported Killed ... Rifle Brigade. Windley 7042 H (Nottingham).’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 25 September 1916: ‘Windley. In loving memory of our dear brother, Rifleman Harry Windley, killed in action, Sept. 25th, 1915. A day of remembrance sad to recall. Nellie, and Arthur [Leatherland] (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 25 September 1918: ‘Windley. In loving remembrance of our dear brothers, Rifleman Harry Windley, killed in action September 25th 1915, also Pte Alfred Windley, killed in action September 29th, 1917. Sadly missed. Nellie and Arthur [Leatherland].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his sister, Helen (sic) Leatherland of New Basford was his sole legatee WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his sister Helen Leatherland and father Alfred Windley
