Oliver Thurman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Oliver was the son of Oliver and Kate Elizabeth Thurman (née Squires). His father was born in 1856 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Thurman. His mother was born in 1861 in Sneinton, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Squires. Oliver and Kate were married at Nottingham St Peter in September 1880 and had eight children, five of whom survived childhood. Seven children have been identified from census and birth records; all were born in Sneinton: Ada birth registered 1881 (J/F/M) d. 1881, Kate b. 1882 bap. Sneinton St Stephen, Annie Elizabeth b. 1883, Walter b. 1885 bap. St Stephen, Oliver b. 1888 d. 1888 age 8 months, Oliver b. 1889 (reg. J/A/S) and Albert Arthur b. 1892. Oliver, a hosiery hand, Kate, a lace winder, and their daughter Ada were living on Harrington Street, Nottingham, with Kate's widowed mother in 1881. According to St Stephen's baptismal register, the family was living at Dennett Terrace, Sneinton between 1882 and 1885 when two of the children were baptised but the church record of Oliver's burial in 1888 gave his parents' address as Haywood Street. Oliver, now working as a framework knitter, Kate and their four surviving children, Kate, Annie, Walter and Oliver, were still living on Haywood Street in 1891. However, Oliver and Kate had separated by 1901. She was living at 1 Byron Street, Chapel Square, working as a cotton winder and described as head of household. Also in the home were her five surviving children: Kate a lace jennier, Annie a lace finisher, Walter a threader (lace machines), Oliver and Albert. Her husband was living with his elderly parents on Walker Street, Coburg Square, Nottingham. Oliver was recorded on the 1911 Census living in a boarding house in Woolwich, Kent. He was a telephone wireman and another of the eight boarder was also a telephone wireman who had been born in Nottingham. Oliver's mother was living alone in Greendale Square, Walker Street, Sneinton. Her youngest son, Albert, a grocer, was a boarder in Nottingham while Walter, a miller, was living with his married sister Kate Montezin at 43 Loughborough Road, Sneinton Dale. Kate had married Leon Anthony Montezin at Sneinton parish church in 1906; they had two daughters, Olive May b. 1908 and Irene Adela b. 1913. The younger daughter, Annie Elizabeth, had married James Edward Gardner in 1910, also at Sneinton parish church, and they were living in Grimsby where her husband was manager of a hatter's shop. Oliver's father was now boarding with a fellow framework knitter on Spalding Road, Sneinton. Walter, the eldest son, emigrated to Australia, probably sailing onboard SS Irishman which departed Liverpool for Sydney on 13 September 1912 (passenger list: Walter Thurman aged 27 b. 1885, occupation dyer). He probably enlisted in the AIF in Woonoona, New South Wales, in 1916. Oliver Thurman snr. died in 1927 (buried 3 February) and Kate Elizabeth Thurman died on 20 June 1930.
15th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 15th (Service) Battalion was a battalion of the New Armies and raised at Nottingham by the Mayor and a Committee in February 1915. It was a bantam battalion which accepted recruits who were under the normal regulation height of 5 feet three inches. The battalion served in France from 1 February 1916 and took part in the Battle of the Somme including the action at Bazentin Ridge (14-17 July). Sergeant Oliver Thurman was killed in action on 17 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. France.
His brother Private Walter Thurman served with the 45th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. He suffered a chest wound on 13 January 1917 then on 7 June 1917 received a gunshot wound to an upper arm. (Information courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918) Oliver's two brothers-in-law, Leon Anthony Montezin, Kate's husband, and James Edward Gardner, Annie's husband, also served in the war: Leon Anthony Montezin attested on 6 March 1915 aged 29 and it was recorded on his service record that he had previously served in the RHR [Robin Hood Rifles]. He was posted to the Royal Field Artillery (L/1279 Driver) and served in France from 8 January 1916-3 October 1918. He was awarded furlough 4-18 October then returned to France where he served until April 1919 and then in German from 2 April 1919 to 18 April 1919. He then returned to the UK where he transferred to the Army Reserve and was demobilized to 43 Loughborough Avenue, Sneinton Dale. Leon's period in the Army Reserve ended on 31 March 1920. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. James Edward Gardner attested on 20 April 1915 and was posted to the Royal Artillery (L/23161 Driver, later Gunner and Bombardier). He was 30 years old, occupation outfitter and living with his wife and children at 35 Loughborough Avenue, Sneinton Dale. He served in France from 8 January 1916 to 10 August 1917. He had suffered a 'contusion, thigh' in April 1916 but was more severely wounded (gunshot wound forearm) on 4 August 1917 when he was treated at No. 5 General Hospital, Rouen, before being medically evacuated home. He remained on home service until returning to France on 5 December 1917 but on 11 February 1918 was diagnosed with trench fever and returned to England for treatment (HS Panama from Le Havre) arriving on 5 March 1918. He returned to France on 2 October 1918 where he remained until 5 June 1919. He then returned to the UK where he transferred to the Army Reserve and completed his liability for service on 31 March 1920. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC additional information: ' Brother of Miss A. Thurman [Annie Elizabeth Gardner, m. 1906], of 35, Loughborough Avenue, Sturrington [Sneinton] Dale, Nottingham.' WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his married sister, Annie Elizabeth Gardner. Nottingham Evening Post. 'Roll of Honour', 15 August 1916:- “THURMAN. — Killed in action, July 17th, Sergeant O. Thurman, beloved brother of Kate Montezin and husband (in France). “THURMAN. — Killed in action, Sergeant O. Thurman, Sherwood Foresters, aged 27 years, beloved brother of Annie Gardner and husband (in France). Sadly missed. “THURMAN. — Killed in action, July 17th, 1916, Sergeant O. Thurman, Sherwood Foresters, aged 27 years. – He will be greatly missed by his loving brothers Albert and Walter, who are now serving in the Australian Forces.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Note: CWGC record gives Oliver's age as 26 (birth registered 1889 J/A/S). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 17 July 1917: ‘Thurman.In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Sergt. O Thurman, killed in action July 17th, 1916. A day of remembrance sad to recall. Mother, father, sisters Kate, Annie, and brothers Walter and Albert (in France). (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 21 June 1930: ‘Thurman. On June 20th, Kate, passed peacefully away. At Rest. Loving sons, daughters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
