William Storey
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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William was the only son of Charles and Hannah Storey (née Wright). His father Charles was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, in about 1846, the son of William Storey. His mother Hannah was born in Coleorton, Leicestershire, in about 1852, the daughter of William Wright. Charles, who was living in Nottingham at the time of his marriage, and Hannah were married at Coleorton parish church on 11 November 1879. They had two children who were born in Nottingham, William b. 1881 and Annie who was probably born in 1884 (reg. A/M/J). At the time of the 1881 Census, Charles, a shunter, and Hannah were living at 2 Seaton Terrace, Nottingham. Their son was born later that year. Charles died in 1883 (reg. J/A/S) the year before their daughter was born. Hannah and her two children have not yet been traced on the 1891 Census, but in 1901 she was employed as a nurse (domestic) in the household of a doctor who lived at 10 Oxford Street, Nottingham. William married Edith Maud Nicholls (b. 1877 Brighton Sussex) in 1902 (reg. Islington London). In 1911 William (30), a tram motorman (Nottingham Tramways), and his wife were living at 155 Vernon Road, Old Basford, Nottingham. His mother Hannah, described on the census as a 'sick nurse', was living at 9 Russell Street, Nottingham. William was still working for Nottingham Tramway when he emigrated to New Zealand in 1913. He sailed from London on 9 October onboard SS Arawa (Shaw Savil & Albion Co. Ltd) for Wellington, New Zealand. Edith followed him the following year, sailing from London to Wellington onboard SS Ruahine (The New Zealand Shipping Co. Ltd) on 10 August 1914. William's wife was living at 172 Taranaki Street, Wellington, New Zealand, when he embarked for Europe with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Edith later returned to the UK and was living at 11 Russell Street, Nottingham, in 1917; her mother-in-law was still living at 9 Russell Street. Edith later lived at 11 Cope Street, Hyson Green, but returned to New Zealand onboard SS Willochra (Federal & Shire Line) from Liverpool on 25 February 1918.
4th Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. William emigrated to New Zealand in the autumn of 1913. He joined the New Zealand Forces early in the war and embarked at Wellington, New Zealand, on 1 April 1916 for Suez, Egypt. He was in action on the opening day of the Battle of Messines, 7th June 1917, and died of wounds at No. 11 General Hospital, Camiers, France, on 11th June 1917. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery (grave ref XXV.J.13). CWGC - History of Etaples Military Cemetery (extract): The town of Etaples is about 2km from Boulogne. 'During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.' (cwgc.org.uk)
War obituary, All Saints Church News, August 1917: 'William Storey, 11 Russell Street, Lance Corporal New Zealanders, aged 35. Joined the army from New Zealand early in the war and was sent to France, died of wounds received in action on June 12th 1917, son of Nurse Storey of 9 Russell Street. He leaves a widow.' Notices published 28th June 1917, Nottingham Evening Post, by his widow, Edie Storey, formerly of 11 Cope Street, Hyson Green: 'STOREY. – Died of wounds received in action, June 12th, [1917] Lance-Corporal William Storey, aged 35, New Zealand Forces, the dearly loved husband of Edith Storey, 11, Russell-street, late driver Nottingham Tramways. A noble life, a noble death. Until the day breaks. – Wife Edie.' 'STOREY. – Died of wounds received in action, June 12th, Lance Corporal William Storey, New Zealand Forces, beloved son of Nurse Storey, 9, Russell-street. His country called, he answered. God knoweth best. – Mother.' Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914- 1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 12 June 1918: ‘Storey. In loving memory of Lce.-Corpl. William Storey, New Zealand Forces, who died of wounds in France, June 12th, 1917. ‘Tis sweet to remember him who once was here, although he is absent he is just as dear. From his loving wife Edie (now in New Zealand).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
