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Doubly Thankful Village Bradbourne Derbyshire 18 Soldiers All returned in WWI And 11 all returned in WWII.

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Martin Hulbert, Jean Castledine, and Sally Mullins

18 Thankful Soldiers who all returned Place of Birth and Service Number Henry BALDY Frank BARBER Francis EYRE Benjamin GOULD Leslie W GREENLEAF William J HEATH Cornelius HEATHCOTE William E L HODSON James Henry LOWE Francis W. MASKERY Frank MELLOR Fred MYERS William MYERS Edward NEEDHAM Leslie TRAFFORD George Henry WALTON John William WALTON Frank WHITEHEAD

PLACE OF BIRTH Service No. 1876 Bradbourne 119029 1900 Bradbourne 350357 1892 Bradbourne 1883 Bradbourne 3088 1898 Westminster 4783 1886 Duffield 1193 1894 Bradbourne 48889 1893 Birmingham 152430 1881 Bradbourne 201851 1900 Ballidon 28328 1898 Bradbourne 418594 1894 St Albans 46474 1896 St Albans 107359 1888 Bradbourne 22830 1892 Bradbourne 103228 1900 Bradbourne 15853 1898 Bradbourne 20425 1880 Elton Lieut.

The records of place of birth are from the censuses. The war records very rarely register the place of birth, so it is very difficult to find the service record of a soldier from Bradbourne. Local knowledge that a person from Bradbourne enlisted is final proof. For each new person who might be in the 18, it is helpful to know: their date of birth, when they lived in Bradbourne, their Regiment and Service number. Anyone reading these lists who knows one of the people served in the First World War, please get in touch with Martin Hulbert or Jean Castledine. [email protected] 01629 825148 [email protected] 01335 390570 2

The Thankful Village of Bradbourne, Derbyshire Bradbourne is a “Thankful Village”, the only one in Derbyshire. It is “Thankful” because 18 people enlisted in the First World War, and all returned at the end of the War, so the village has no War Memorial. But what were the names of the 18 mentioned in Arthur Mee’s book The King’s England Derbyshire? Finding the details of the names on War Memorials is relatively easy, but the names of those enlisted rarely give their place of birth. Local knowledge is the best source of details, but after 100 years not everyone of the 18 is remembered. The census of 1901 and 1911 give names of those living in Bradbourne. However the Forces War Record Website rarely gives their place of birth, so it is not easy, if there are many soldiers with the same name as a name known in Bradbourne, to find the Soldier with that name who was from Bradbourne. Sally Mullins has been a great help to us, in finding the Soldier.

The Village of Bradbourne The population of the Village at the time of the Great War was about 130, so the 18 men represented a very large portion of the able bodied men in this very rural community. Many of those who returned had been scarred physically and or mentally by their horrific ordeal. At the time of writing, there is no memorial in Bradbourne to indicate that all 18 the servicemen returned to the peace 3

tranquillity and beauty of their homes in the Dales of their beloved Derbyshire. There is a single Great War grave in the churchyard, of Private Holmes from the Village of Aldwark, which is about 4 miles from Bradbourne.. Aldwark is 2 miles north of Brassington. In August 2013, Medwyn Parry and Dougie Bancroft rode motorbikes to every one of the 51 “Thankful Villages” in the United Kingdom. See the picture on page 20. Amazingly 14 of the Villages are “Double Thankful” where everyone who left also returned from the Second World War. We have not yet proved that Bradbourne is a “Double Thankful Village”. Those who live in the “Thankful Villages” are tremendously proud of their status. Medwyn and Dougie were very pleased to meet with residents – especially descendants of those who survived the conflict - and of course the Royal British Legion. More than nine million men and women are estimated to have served in the British Armed Forces during the First Word War. Unfortunately, more than half of their service records were destroyed in September 1940, when a German bombing raid struck the War office repository in London. However an estimated 2.8 million service records survived the bombing. This means that there is roughly a 40% chance of finding the service record of a soldier who was discharged at some time between 1914 and 1920. At the start of writing, people in the Village only knew of 4 names who might 4 in the 18. After a lot of help from Local knowledge, and a great deal of research on the internet, we now have all the names of the 18, with details on page 7, and a list of those “Probably not” on page 9. There are also three summaries: The Place of Birth on page 2, The Homes on page 6, and The Regiments and Service numbers on page 19. 4

How we found the 18 Soldiers who returned to the Thankful Village of Bradbourne Local Knowledge We started off with local knowledge of only 4 names we knew of Soldiers who might be in the 18 who returned. William Hodson, John Maskery, Francis Maskery, and Frank Mellor. The Censuses of 1901 and 1911 These gave a lot more names. We then had a list of men who were born between 1853 and 1901 who would therefore be between 17 in 1918 and 61 in 1914. Birth records Free BMD told us who was born in the Ashbourne registration district, the certificate would give home addresses. Forces war records This website told of literally hundreds of soldiers with the same names as those known to have lived in Bradbourne, but the records did not give the place of birth we could not tell which soldier was the one from Bradbourne. Other websites Sally Mullins was very helpful with Ancestry and other websites to give details of the Bradbourne names if they were soldiers. Absent Voters lists These lists from the local Studies Library were vital in proving which Bradbourne names enlisted, So and giving their homes and regiments. So Absent Voters confirmed several of the 18 names. 5

18 Thankful Soldiers, who all returned Regiments, Homes, and Ages in 1918 Henry Frank Francis Benjamin Leslie W. William J. Cornelius William E L James H Francis W Frank Fred William Edward Leslie George H John W Frank

REGIMENTS HOMES AGE in 1918 Baldy Headquarters The Close 42 Barber Royal Engineers Bradbourne 18 Eyre West Yorkshire Bradbourne 26 Gould Sherwood Foresters Bradbourne 35 Greenleaf Australian Army School house 20 Heath Sherwood Foresters Sandpitlow 22 Heathcote Machine Gun Corps Farm Cottage 24 Hodson Royal Field Artillery Bradbourne Hall 25 Lowe Labour Corps Bank Top Farm 37 Maskery Sherwood Foresters Wagoner Cottage 18 Mellor Army Service Corps Bradbourne 22 Myers Manchester Reg. White Meadow 22 Myers Royal Flying Corps White Meadow 24 Needham Manchester Reg. Gardener 30 Trafford Royal Garrison Du Lands 28 Walton Royal Marines Rock Cottage 18 Walton Royal Marines Rock Cottage 20 Whitehead Royal Flying Corps White Meadow 38

There are other Soldiers, with the same name, as names known in Bradbourne, but these particular soldiers below, may never have lived in Bradbourne. Even if the solder came from Bradbourne he may have been too old to have fought in the war if he was over 40. William John Richard John James George Francis H George Matthew Charles

Dean Royal Engineers Timber Carter Heathcote Sherwood Foresters Farm Labourer Lomas Royal Air Force Mellow Meadow Maskery Sherwood Foresters Wagoner Rains Royal Artillery Sandpitlow Farm Renshaw Ordinary Seaman Haven Grange Watson Derbyshire Yeoman Farmer Williams North Staffordshire Gorse Hill Farm Williamson Royal Marines Crow Trees Farm Wright Royal Engineers Haven Grange

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21 20 28 44 44 30 18 27 43 19

The Results of the search for the 18 Men with the following names known in Bradbourne from the 1901 and 1911 censuses, served in the war. .Henry Baldy (Photo on page 12) b 1877 Bradbourne, Chauffeur at the Close 1911 c/o Headquarters North Staffordshire Regiment. 1918 Service number 119029. Absent voters confirms Francis Eyre (Photo on page 18) b 1892 Bradbourne left, by 1901 working in Derby West Yorkshire Regiment, Service number Wounded 1916, Discharged April 1917 Frank Barber b 1900 Bradbourne, 1901 left by 1911 Royal Engineers, Service number 350357 Website confirms he was from Bradbourne Benjamin Gould b 1883 Bradbourne, Sherwood Foresters 3088 Website confirms he was from Heathcote, Newhaven Leslie Webster Greenleaf b 1898 Westminster, in School House Bradbourne in 1911, One soldier of this name in Australian Forces. Service number 4783.Website confirms Bradbourne. William J. Heath. b 1886 Duffield, Farm Labourer Bradbourne 1901, Cowman Brailsford 1911. enlisted in Buxton, Sherwood Foresters Drummer, Service number 1193 Website confirms he was from Bradbourne Cornelius Heathcote (first of three brothers) b 1894 Bradbourne, Ashbourne by 1911 Machine Gun Corps, Service number 14889 1901 Census confirms he was from Bradbourne William Edward Laurence Hodson (Photo on page 15) b 1893 Wolverhampton ,1901 Wales, 1911 Hampshire Royal Field Artillery, Service number 152430 Absent voters confirms from Bradbourne Hall in 1918. James Henry Lowe b 1881 Belper, Bank Top Bradbourne 1911 Labour Corps Service number 201851, Absent Voters 7

Francis William Maskery b 1900 Ballidon, left Bradbourne by 1911 Private Sherwood Foresters enlisted 20.7.15 Service number 28328 Local knowledge confirms he was from Bradbourne Francis Mellor b 1896 Brassington, A Private in Service Corps Service number 418594 Local knowledge confirms he was from Bradbourne Fred Myers B 1893 St Albans, White Meadow Farm 1911,1918 Manchester Regiment, Service number 46474 Absent voters list confirms he was from Bradbourne William Myers (Photo on page 17) b 1896 St Albans, White Meadow Farm 1911,1918 Royal Flying Corps, Service number 107359 Absent voters list confirms he was from Bradbourne Edward Needham b 1888 Bradbourne, left to Brassington by 1911 17 Edward Needhams, Manchesters 22830 Website confirms he was from Bradbourne Leslie Trafford b 1892 Bradbourne, Haven Cottage 1901 Royal Garrison Artillery Service number 103228 Local knowledge confirms he was from Bradbourne George Henry Walton b 1900 Bradbourne, Rock Cottage Bradbourne 1911 Forces War records give 3 results. LK confirms One soldier in the Marines, Service number 15853 John William Walton (Photo on page 16) (brother of George) b 1898 Bradbourne, Rock Cottage Bradbourne 1911 Forces War record give 3 results, R.M.L.I. The Marines, H.M.S. Prince Rupert Service number CH/20425. Absent Voters Confirms Frank Whitehead b 1880 Elton, 1911 White Meadow House Bradbourne Royal Field Corps S M A Service number Lieut. Absent Voters list confirms 1918 8

Probably not in the 18 The following men have names known in Bradbourne. Four Soldiers are not counted in the 18 because they may be too old, others did not return to Bradbourne after the war. Henry Cope (too OLD to be in the 18?) b 1875 Ipstones Farm Labourer Bradbourne 1911 Harold Cope b 1901 Brassington (son of Henry?) Bradbourne 1911 Fred Bridgwood b 1880 Bradbourne, 1901 St/Trent, 1911 Cheshire 1916 Bristol Leonard Dakin b1884 Ivonbrook Grange, Bradbourne 1911 William H Dean b 1897 Bradbourne, Timber Carter 1901 A John William Dean was in service until 5 Nov 1919. Royal Engineers Service number No local knowledge yet confirms from Bradbourne John Hadfield b 1887 Bradbourne, left Bradbourne by 1911. Albert Hadfield b 1896 Bradbourne, left Bradbourne by 1911. Harold Heathcote (second brother of Cornelius) b 1896 Bradbourne, went to Kniveton by 1911 No Harold Heathcote enlisted John William Heathcote (The third of three brothers) b 1898 Bradbourne, Parwich in 1911 Private RAF Rank A Mechanic (Labourer) enlisted 18. 08.16 Service number ? No Local knowledge yet confirms from Bradbourne William Litchfield b 1881 Fenny Bentley, Bradbourne 1901, left by 1911 John Lomas b 1881 Bradbourne, Mellow Meadow Bradbourne 1901 Possibly Sherwood Foresters (or Manchester Reg) Service number 240904 If a record of Bradbourne, then possibly in the18 9

Richard Lomas b 1890 Bradbourne, Bradbourne Mill 1911 possibly Carpenter in R A F Service number ? No website confirms he was from Bradbourne John Lovering b 1893 Manchester, Bradbourne 1901, left by 1911 John Maskery (too OLD to be in the 18?) b 1874 Wirksworth, Wagoner 1901, left B by 1911 (Father of Francis W Maskery) 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment 45th & 95th Foot) Service number 2280. Local knowledge confirms he was from Bradbourne John Midlane b 1875 Manchester, Bradbourne 1901, left by 1911 Charles North b 1888 Brickendon, Bradbourne in 1901, left by 1911 Frederick North b 1892 Brickendon, Bradbourne 1911. James Rains (too OLD to be in the 18?) b 1874 Brassington, Sandpitlow Farm Bradbourne 1911. Royal Artillery Service number 211947. Jewry Book of Honour Local knowledge confirms he was from Bradbourne George Renshaw b 1888 Kniveton, Bradbourne 1901, and Haven Grange 1911. One sailor of this name. but no record from Bradbourne possibly enlisted 1914 Service number Z/1505. Samuel Shirley b 1877 Cauldon, Dairy Farmer Crow Trees 1911 5 records of a soldier of this name. One in the Manchester Regiment Service number 10045 No LK Arthur Trafford b 1887 Nottingham, Joiner Bradbourne 1911 Thomas Wagstaff b 1888 Fenny Bentley, Bank Top Bradbourne 1901, Ernest Ward b 1875 Ashleyhay, left Bradbourne by 1911 Might have become a soldier, in Sherwood Rangers 10

Francis Henry Watson b 1900 Bradbourne, left by 1911 Farmer Forces War record give 151 results possibly Derbyshire Yeomanry Service number 11603 No Local Knowledge George Williams (not in Bradbourne until after 1920) b 1891 Withington Leigh, near Stoke on Trent George did not live in Bradbourne before the war, but lived at Gorse Hill Farm Bradbourne long after the war. North Staffordshire Regiment, Service number 5020 Matthew Williamson (too OLD to be in the 18?) b 1875 Bradnop Staffs, Crow Trees Farm Bradbourne 1901, in Kniveton by 1911 Royal Marine Engineers Forces War record give 14 results Possible Service number 1087. Not certain this Soldier was from Bradbourne Charles Wright b 1900 Bradbourne, Haven Grange 1901 left by 1911, We can not know if one of the 217 Charles Wrights should be in the list of the 18. Possibly Royal Engineers, Derby Fireman Service number 240129 Other local Soldiers not born in the Village, and never lived in “Bradbourne Village” Arthur Adams b1886 Tissington, 1911 Dairy Farmer Tissington. North Staffordshire Regiment, Service number 240917 John Cresswell B 1888 Edlaston, Farmer West End Brassington 1911 Machine Gun Corps Service number 34453, Absent voters confirms Brassington 1918 John Fisher Lees b 1899 Parwich, 1911 Parwich York and Lancaster, Service number 59477 Website confirms he enlisted from Ballidon in 1915

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Henry Baldy Henry was a Chauffeur at the Close in 1911. The Close is on the left as you enter the churchyard, and the Old Parsonage is on the right. Henry had been chauffeur to the Revd A. Gamble, Vicar of Bradbourne, for 29 years. The Vicar may have been the only person in Bradbourne to have a car in 1911. Henry was the oldest man to enlist so far as we know, and was 41 by the end of the war. He was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery and employed at the Headquarters of the Staffordshire Regiment. Was he a Chauffeur to someone at Headquarters we wonder? The other three men who we were over 40, and we believe too old to serve, are John Masker, James Rains and Matthew Williamson.

Details about Leslie Greenleaf By Sally Mullins Leslie Greenleaf was born in Westminster London in 1898, but by 1901 census he was living in the School House in Bradbourne, the son of Richard Greenleaf an Insurance and Commission Agent. He was still there in 1911 census aged 13. He obviously will regard Bradbourne as his home village. 12

By the age of 16 he left for Australia, and signed up for the Australian Forces almost right away. There are extensive Australian war records — 27 pages about him. They make fascinating reading. Leslie was, let’s say — a colourful character. (See Leslie Greenleaf in Google, for much more.) He was in trouble a number of times during his service, for smoking, being late for parade, and being absent. He was also wounded twice — a gunshot wound to the hand, and a more serious wound to his body. He was sent to England for medical care. He also - hmm... caught a nasty disease from a young lady - and was hospitalised for many weeks. Yet his story does not stop there — he was awarded the Miltary Cross for bravery. How incredible!

The Two Brothers, John William Walton and George Henry Walton photo of John William Walton on page 16. John and George, the eldest two, aged 12 and 11, of the five children of Thomas and Ellen Walton, were living with their three younger sisters in Rock Cottage, Bradbourne, at the time of the 1911 Census. Little did they know what was in store for them a few years later! Their father, Thomas, was a Council Roadman born in Brassington. Soon after the outbreak of the Great War, at the age of 17, John William enlisted in the Royal Marines on the 22nd December 1915, and his Service number was 20425. He went off to War, and served on H.M.S. Prince Rupert. His brother George Henry, followed his brother into the Marines, also at the age of 17, as a Bugler, enlisting on 27th June 1917, and his Service number was 15853. They both came back after the war, very “Thankful”. George appears in the De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour. They both received two medals, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. 13

The Three Brothers Cornelius, Harold, and John William Heathcote Cornelius, Harold, and John William aged 7, 5 and 2, of the five children of John Heathcote, a General Labourer, and Esther his wife, were living in a cottage in Bradbourne in 1901 Census. Cornelius joined the Machine Gun Corps, but we know the second brother Harold did not enlist. We are uncertain if the third brother, John William enlisted with only the initial J in the Sherwood Foresters, Service number 11268. Another J. was in the Lancashire Fusiliers, Service number 5304. Neither have a reference to Bradbourne, so we need local knowledge of what J.W. did. Cornelius, when he came home thankfully, in 1919 married Ethel Watson from Brassington, and died there in the 1960’s.

Two Brothers Fred and William Myers Photo on page 17 Both brothers were born in St Albans, Fred in 1893 and William in 1896, but were at White Meadow Farm by the 1911 Census. We do not know if they enlisted on the same day, but Fred joined the Manchester Regiment, and William the Royal Flying Corps. They are both on the Absent Voters list in 1918.

George Williams Private George Williams was born in Wilthington Leigh near Stoke on Trent and did not come to Bradbourne until after the war, where he was a Farmer. He is left out of the 18 because he only had connections with Bradbourne after the number 18 was first printed in 1937 He and almost all the others won Military Medals and Victory Medals. 14

Driver William E. L. Hodson Royal Field Artillery. Driver William E. L. Hodson of the Royal Field Artillery, is the son of Mr. Lawrence W. Hodson, of Bradbourne Hall, and was born on February 24th 1893, at Compton Hall, Wolverhampton. After repeated efforts to serve King and country since the first week of the war he was at last accepted on August 3rd 1916 and is serving in the 2nd Battery A1 Reserve Brigade. He may not have been counted in the original 18 because he was not born in Bradbourne, was in Wales in 1901 and Hampshire in 1911, but the family was in Bradbourne Hall by 1914. He took part on the Battle of the Somme and the 3rd Battle of Ypres and was gassed and suffered injuries. Local Knowledge and Absent Voters list confirm. 15

Private J. W. Walton

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Royal Marines.

Private J. W. Walton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walton, of Bradbourne, he joined the Royal Marines on December 22nd 1915, and is now in training in Deal. (This text is the note below this photo when published in the local paper. Details of places in the text below the next solder are made ******* to keep them secret.) 16

Private W. Myers.

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Sherwood Foresters.

Private W. Myers is the second son of Mr W Myers, of White Meadow, Bradbourne. He joined the Sherwood Foresters in January ****. He went into training at Watford and was drafted to Ireland at the outbreak of the ************. He is now *****. Additional note: W. Myers. To France 26th February. Sick April 14th. Home on leave 10th – 20th August.

Private F Myers - Duke of Lancaster own Yeomanry. He was also the son of Mr. W. Myers, of White Meadow, Bradbourne. He joined the forces in September, 1914 and has been ************************** and is now in **************. Additional note:F. Myers. To France December 1916. Sick/ Wounded 24th February. 17

Private Francis Eyre -West Yorkshire Regiment. Private Francis Eyre, who is the son of Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Lucy Eyre, of Bradbourne, joined the forces in May last, and is serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment somewhere in France. Additional Note: Francis Eyre. Wounded 1916. Discharged April 1917 Francis Eyre is in the 18.

The Photos Photos on front cover, taken by John Lord, of Bradbourne. Photos of the soldiers, were given by Derek Cooper of London. His grandfather was William Myers. William’s brother was Fred Myers, and his brother - in - law was Henry Baldy. 18

WW1 The 18 Thankful Soldiers, who all returned Regiment, and Service Number Henry Baldy Frank Barber Francis Eyre Benjamin Gould Leslie Web. Greenleaf William J Heath Cornelius Heathcote William E L Hodson James H Lowe Francis W Maskery Frank Mellor Fred Myers William Myers Edward Needham Leslie Trafford George H. Walton John W Walton Frank Whitehead

1876 1900 1892 1883 1898 1896 1894 1893 1881 1900 1896 1894 1896 1888 1892 1900 1898 1880

REGIMENT SERVICE NUMBER Headquarters 119029 Royal Engineers 350357 West Yorkshire Reg. Sherwood Foresters 3088 Australian Army 4783 Sherwood Foresters 1193 Machine Gun Corps 148889 Royal Field Artillery 152430 Labour Corps 201851 Sherwood Foresters 28328 Army Service Corps 418594 Manchester Regiment 46474 Royal Flying Corps 107359 Manchester Regiment 22830 Royal Garrison Artillery 103228 Royal Marines Bugler 15853 Royal Marines 20425 Royal Flying Corps Lieut.

Not in the 18 Soldiers below (with names known in Bradbourne) may never have lived in Bradbourne Village before the war. If they had lived in Bradbourne they may have enlisted after they left, Maskery, Rains and Williamson may have been too old to have fought In the war. William John Richard John James George Francis H George Matthew Charles

Dean Heathcote Lomas Maskery Rains Renshaw Watson Williams Williamson Wright

1897 1898 1890 1874 1874 1888 1900 1891 1875 1899

Royal Engineers Sherwood Foresters 11268 Royal Air Force Sailmaker32413 Sherwood Foresters 2280 Royal Artillery Ordinary Seaman Z/1505 Derbyshire Yeomanry 11603 North Staffordshire 5020 Royal Marines Royal Engineers 19

Bradbourne. Village The WWI Soldiers came from Farms round Bradbourne

20 The Bikers came to every Thankful Village in August

In the Second World War Was Bradbourne Doubly Thankful? Did all return alive? Finding the names of those who enlisted for the Second World War was different from finding those for World War One, First there was no number known to have enlisted and returned like the 18 heroes of the first World War, secondly the census lists for 1921, 1931 and 1941 were not yet published. They are kept confidential for 100 years The best place to start was Local Knowledge. We are very fortunate that an evacuee to Bradbourne Mrs Yvonne Grimley and her friend who came to Bradbourne during the war, and they remembered six names These were, Douglas Boyes, Herbert Dean in Navy, Stan Dean in the RAF, a man called Knox, Neville Midlane in the Navy and Curtis Weston in the Army. The next step was to use Freebmd to find births Their births, provided Christian names and dates. Birth Year 1908 Douglas Boyes 1916 Herbert Dean 1907 Stanley Dean 1907 Ronald Ernest Knox 1906 Neville Midlane 1905 Curtis Albert Weston Not all of these were Registered in Ashbourne. R E Knox was born in Ecclesall in Sheffield, and Curtis Weston born in Tutbury and Registered in Burton (on Trent). Birth certificates for each of these are obtainable which would give their parents names and addresses. 21

1911 census The next source of information is the 1911 census. The Census can give the address and show how the family has moved from the date of birth to the year 1911. It can confirm the names of the parents, and those of the rest of the family at the same address. Forces War Records These records do not give the home address, so it is not always certain which person of any particular name known in Bradbourne is the soldier with the Bradbourne connections. During our researches one name was dropped, a first name was confirmed by relatives, and four new names were discovered as other data and local knowledge arrived. The name that dropped out Mr Knox The name that dropped out was Mr Knox. It was known he served in the war but no boy called Knox was found in Bradbourne. Ronald Ernest Knox was the son of George E and Gertrude Knox both born in Wales and living in Doncaster in the 1911 census. Ronald Married Lilian Freeman in Buckrose Yorkshire, and all the births were in Yorkshire. Forces war record had many men called Knox, but no record of where they came from. The family in York said he was killed, so the “Doubly Thankful“ was in doubt, until they also confirmed that Ronald never lived in Bradbourne, but his family had for a time between 1911 and 1939. The Voters lists Mr Boyes His Christian name was known to be Douglas, but no Douglas Boyes was found in the birth registers or the 1911 census for Bradbourne. However Douglas’s wife, Kate Boyes, was in the 1945 voters list for Bradbourne. We looked for all Kates marrying Douglas Boyes, and found Kate Walkington married Douglas Boyes in Malton in 22

September 1936. Kate was born in Malton in September 1909, and Douglas was also born in Malton in June 1908. The Forces war records one Boyes was an officer of the Royal Air Force Reserve With local knowledge four new names were added Torr Local knowledge confirmed Leslie Torr also served, his birth was registered as Leslie R Torr in Burton on Trent in June 1925, His uncle and aunt, Charles (born in Wyaston) and Lillian Torr, were living in the Council Houses Bradbourne in 1945 voters list. There was no record of Leslie Torr’s military service that could be found. Norcliffe The Norcliffe family was also found in the 1911 census, but Thomas Samuel Fairfax Norcliffe was born in Tibshelf in Derbyshire in 1906. However his younger sisters were born in Bradbourne and they lived in Ivy Cottage, one of the council houses. Norcliffe was not a common name in the Forces War record, and the name turned up with a soldier in the Dental corps. Local knowledge, when given the name, remembered that they lived in the Bradbourne Post office. Staffords (George William and Ester May, brother and sister) Local knowledge told us George William Stafford and Ester May Stafford connected with Bank Top Farm both served in the war. Ester May Stafford was born Sept 1917 and George William was born March 1919. He was in number 8 British Field Hospital regiment Number T/240960D

1908 1916 1906 1919 1925

So the new list is: Douglas Boyes Herbert Dean 1907 Stanley Dean Neville Midlane 1907 Thomas Norcliffe George William Stafford 1917 Ester May Stafford Leslie R Torr 1905 Curtis Albert Weston 23

All the information Person by person For each of the Nine who went to Word War Two and all returned alive 1908 Douglas Boyes Douglas was born in the June quarter of 1908 at Malton registration district, and in the September quarter of 1936 he married Kate Walkington also in Malton Registration District. In June 1940 they had twin girls Dorothy and Margaret registered in Buckrose East Yorkshire and with Kate in Bradbourne after 1940. There was no one called Boyes in the voters list in 1937, but Kate Thorpe Douglas’s wife was in Bradbourne in 1945. She had left by 1947. Apparently they came as evacuees. They had two daughters Dorothy and Margaret, also born in East Yorkshire. Douglas moved to be chauffeur at Bradbourne Hall, and Kate was the cook, after the 1937 voters list. We do not know where they went to after the war. Douglas’s Regiment, RAF possibly Volunteer Reserve, War Substantive Flying Officer General Duties Branch, Navigator

Douglas Boyes Family Tree m 1936 in Malton Douglas Boyes============ Kate Walkington B June 1908 Malton | b Sept 1909 Malton _____________________|____ | | Dorothy Margaret B June 1940 Buckrose b June1940 Buckrose Moved to Bradbourne after 1940 24

1916 Herbert Dean (family tree on page 27) Herbert was born 25th March 1916 at Bradbourne in the June quarter of 1916 in Ashbourne registration district. He was baptised on May 14 at Bradbourne. Herbert’s father was William Herbert Dean a Farmer born in December 1876 and his mother’s maiden name was Annie Eyre born in June 1915 She was the sister of Francis Eyre who was a thankful soldier who returned to Bradbourne after the First World War . 25

William Herbert and Annie are in the voters list of 1937, and were in Ivy Cottage in 1945. Herbert had a brother John Dean who had polio as a child, and so did not serve in the war, but Herbert left Bradbourne school in 1929 at 13 and went to Pembrokeshire to work for a sister of the Vicar of Bradbourne. When war broke out in 1939 he joined the Navy.

Destroyer H. M.S. Churchill 26

Herbert served on HMS London and HMS Churchill as a leading Seaman. On HMS London they were guarding the Atlantic Convoys attacked by U Boats nearly every night.. HMS Churchill also went to Murmask and Arkhangel, the Middle East and Asia. He went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, New York, Iceland, Gibraltar, Panama, Egypt, Ceylon, India, Singapore, Aden and Burma. After the War Herbert worked for Ben Bennett Quarries at Longcliffe. On 18th May 1957 he married Margaret Beach of White Meadow Farm, at Bradbourne. They had a son called Timothy Dean who was born on 3rd September 1960, and was baptised at Bradbourne on 10th December 1960. They lived in White Meadow House until 1973, when they moved to Derby Road Ashbourne. Herbert Dean’s Family Tree. William Herbert Dean======== Annie Eyre b Dec 1876 m Jun 1915 b March 1883

_____Ashbourne___________| | | John Dean

d 1966

Herbert Dean=====Margaret Beach b 25 March 1916 | b 1925 Polio Bradbourne | White Meadow Baptised 14th May 1916 at Bradbourne, Married 18th May 1957 at Bradbourne Lived at Ivy Cottage Bradbourne Royal Navy Quarry worker at Longcliffe Died 16th June 1998 aged 82 ___________________________ | | Timothy Dean born 3 Sept 1960 Bradbourne, Baptised10 December at Bradbourne White Meadow House In 1973 moved to Derby Road Ashbourne 27

1907 Stanley Dean Stanley was no known relation to Herbert Dean but was related to the Heathcotes who lived next door.

Harold Heathcote is on the left. Born 23/12/1895 Died 20/7/1962. He lived at 2 The Bank

with his wife Lydia and Son Kenneth. Stan Dean is on the right. Born 1907 died 2008. Served in the RAF WWII He lived at 1 The Bank with his wife Amy, (Harold’s sister) Photo taken in Trafalgar Square about 1950. 1907 Stanley Dean Stanley was born in the September quarter of 1907 at Woore, Market Drayton registration district Shropshire, and in 1911 was living at Weymouth Pipe Gate, Market Drayton. His father John was a Joiner, and his mother was Edith. Stanley was a jockey, and moved to Bradbourne as a Chauffeur. On the 7th December 1935 he married Amy Heathcote from Nethertown Bradbourne, a double wedding with Amy’s sister Flora Heathcote marrying Frederick A Stevenson. a Quarryman from South Darley, whose father was a Leadminer. 28

In 1945 Amy was at The Bank, Stanley was at war in Aden, but he was back with Amy at The Bank in 1947.

Stanley and Amy lived at 1 the Bank. Harold Heathcote with his wife Lydia lived next door at 2 The Bank 29

Stan was in the RAF, here he is squatting in the centre Service number, (6150846) Stanley lived in Bradbourne, to be over 100 years old.

Stan aged about 33

Stan on his 100th Birthday 30

The Deans: In 1937 there were six people called Dean in Bradbourne. Annie, Pamela, William Herbert, Stanley with Amy his wife, and Annie. (The Herbert Dean born June 1916 in Bradbourne had left before 1937.) By 1945 there were seven people called Dean. Two of the six had left, they were Pamela, and Stanley, so there were only four of the six from 1937 remaining, but there were three new people called Dean. Stanley had enlisted, so the four who were left were his wife Amy at “The Bank,” and Annie and William at Ivy Cottage, and another Annie at the Council Houses, The three new people were, a third Annie at the Council Houses and Herbert and John W Dean, both at No 1 Council House. By 1947 there were nine people called Dean in Bradbourne, the two new ones were those who enlisted had returned, Herbert was at 1 Council houses (with Annie.) Stanley was with Amy his wife in “The Bank” . One of the Annies was in a Bungalow, with John W Dean. The third Annie was at Ivy Cottage, with William Dean. And another Herbert in a Council house. Stan Deans Family Tree m December 1935 at Bradbourne Stan Dean===========Amy Heathcote b 1907 Woore b 1903 Bakewell d 2008 at Bradbourne Living at “The Bank” in 1945

1906 Neville Midlane Neville was born in the June quarter March 29 1906 at Bradbourne, and baptised on April 10 at Bradbourne. His father was John Henry, a Wood Turner and Domestic Gardener. John and his wife Mary Ann, and their son Neville who enlisted are all in 1911 census and 1937 voters list. 31

However in 1945 John and Mary Ann, his father and mother, were still at “The Cottage” Bradbourne, but Neville was no longer at there as he was away at war, but back there with Mary in 1947. He became Tower Captain at Church and a keen Bellringer, restoring the Bells It was thought Neville served in the Navy, but there were no Nevilles in the War Records and only one Midlane in the Navy, but he was called George William Gundry Midlane, a Chief Petty Officer and a “Writer”. Could “George” be Neville’s pen name, perhaps that is unlikely? There is no record of Neville having been married Regiment, Royal Navy, However George is recorded as a “writer” and Chief Petty Officer with the Navy. He won the British Empire medal awarded for General Bravery as well as the War Medal and the Star. Service number, PMx45885. 32

1907 Thomas Samuel Fairfax Norcliffe Thomas was born in the June quarter of 1907 at Tibshelf, in Mansfield registration district. In 1908, the family moved to Ivy Cottage Bradbourne, and in 1911 were still at the Ivy Cottage Bradbourne with his 3 sisters, Margaret, Dorothy and Nora.. Thomas’s father was also Thomas a Roadman, his mother was Hannah In the 1937 Voters list, Minnie and Dorothy, his sisters, were at the Post office Bradbourne, but not Thomas Samuel who enlisted.. They were both still there at the Post Office in 1945

In the 1940 June quarter Thomas was married in Manchester to Ethel Dean, but by 1947 Thomas Samuel Norcliffe had not returned to Bradbourne. Regiment, Army Dental Corps Service number, Lieutenant 33

The Stafford Family The Staffords were a large family and some lived in Kniveton. The grandfather Oswald and George William’s grandfather was Jacob Stafford born in 1858. He married Annie Oldfield. in 1883 but died in 1890, and his widow was living in Standlow Farm, Kniveton in 1891 with sons Frank born 1884 and George born 1890 in Church Farm Kniveton. George was 21 in 1911, still living at Church Farm Kniveton with his widowed and remarried mother. Frank Stafford had a son called Oswald born in 1909, and Frank was still at Standlow Farm Kniveton when Oswald was aged 2 in 1911. Oswald married Dahlia Twigge in 1937 and then moved to Bank Top Farm Bradbourne, and Oswald Stafford and Dahlia Stafford are in the voters list at Bank Top Farm Bradbourne in 1937, 1945 and 1947. George Stafford’s children were George William Stafford, and Ester May Stafford. They were both born after 1911, and so are not in the census., but these are the two who enlisted, the cousins of Oswald Stafford at Bank Top Farm Bradbourne.

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Ester May Stafford and George William Stafford 1917 Ester May Stafford known as “May” Ester May Stafford, was born in Ashbourne district in the June quarter of 1917. She was an Ambulance driver in the war, and married Arthur S. Peacock, in June 1946 at Repton before she left for Canada.. 1919 George William Stafford known as “Bill” George William was Ester’s brother, born in the March quarter of 1919 Ashbourne, the son of George Stafford and Dorothy Lamb, who by this date lived at Bank Top Farm Bradbourne. George William enlisted in Kirk Langley, and was in number 8 British field Hospital. Regiment number T/240960 D. George William married Joan Fearn in June quarter 1943. 35

The Stafford Family Tree Jacob Stafford===== Annie Oldfield====== Richard Ginnis B 1858 b 1862 b 1848 Standlow Farm | Church Farm Kniveton | Kniveton ————————–|——————————— | Frank Stafford |George Stafford B 1884 b 1890 Standlow Farm Church Farm | |———————————-| | Oswald Stafford | Ester May George William Stafford B 1909 b 1917 b 1919 Bank Top Farm Ambulance in WW2 Royal Navy WW2 Bradbourne

1925 Leslie R Torr Leslie was born in the June quarter of 1925 in Burton on Trent registration district. His father was Horace John Torr, and mother Edith (Hammond.) A Charles and Lillian Torr were in the voters lists Bradbourne 1937. They were obviously not Leslie parents so there is no record of a Leslie who enlisted. Were John Torr and Charles Torr brothers, or were Edith and Lilian sisters? Charles and Lillian may have been Leslie’s uncle and aunt. They also were both still at “The Council Houses” in 1945, and in 1947.

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In the September quarter of 1949 Leslie Torr was married in Burton on Trent to Brenda Woolley. There is no person called Torr in Forces War records, but a Pilot officer called L R TARR in the RAF, which must be right, the same sound as L R Torr. No L R Tarrs were born in England 1900 to 1925. 1905 Curtis Albert Weston Curtis Albert was born in the June quarter of 1905 at Intbury, Tutbury, near Burton on Trent Staffs, but by the 1911 census the family had moved to Ballidon in Bradbourne with Curtis’s elder brother John Robert, and younger brother Claude born in Ballidon in 1909. Curtis’s father was John Weston a Quarry labourer, and his mother was Edith (Plant) married in Ashbourne. in the June quarter of 1902. Curtis Albert Weston married Nellie Slinn in Chesterfield Registration district in the June quarter of 1928, and they were both in Bradbourne in the voters list of 1937. Nellie was alone at Bank House in 1945. and by 1947 Curtis Albert was back with her.

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Local knowledge says Curtis was in the Tank Regiment, or was he a driver in the Service Corps delivering to the Tank Regiment Service number T 5564930 War Medal and Star Of the Nine enlisted We have no written records of three being at Bradbourne before or after the war. The three are George Stafford, Ester Stafford and Leslie Torr, but they each had relatives in Bradbourne. There were Staffords at Bank Top Farm, and Leslie Torr’s uncle and aunt, Charles and Lilian, were in a Council House. All the other six lived in Bradbourne, and Neville Midlane and Herbert Dean had been baptised there, and Herbert Dean and Stanley Dean were married at Bradbourne. Kate Boyes was cook at the Hall, the Norcliffes were at the Post Office, and the Westons were at Bank House. Two more have been discovered, to make Eleven enlisted Gordon Kiddy and Olive Wood were also from Bradbourne, and returned from WWII, but their names have only just been discovered. We were only told about them after the first edition of the booklet was printed, so there are no details in the pages up to this. Gordon Kiddy Gordon was born 1913 in Holloway. After the war he became the farmer at Clipshead Farm in Bradbourne. Gordon married Mary Twigge in 1939, and signed up on 15 March 1940 in Chesterfield. He served in the Royal Artillery in the 142nd Royal Devon Yeomanry in Sicily and Italy from July 1943, and was at Monte Cassino, his regimental number was 262605. 38

Throughout the campaign the regiment was armed with Bishop self-propelled guns. For its support to the Canadian Division it was awarded the right to wear the Maple Leaf of Canada. He was mentioned in Despatches on 19th July 1945, wounded and spent time in Muswell Hill Hospital in London. After demob he did various jobs but then took over Clipshead Farm. He, and his wife, are both buried in Bradbourne Churchyard. Gordon’s daughter Ann Strange has supplied this information and this photo. Gordon Kiddy

Herbert Kiddy======= Sarah H Yates b 1880 | b 1884 | | m 1939 Gordon Kiddy================== Mary Twigge b 12 July 1913 Bradbourne Church b 1915 Holloway Clipshead Farm | Bradbourne | Royal Artillery | d 1989 Darley Dale | d 1992 Darley Dale Buried at Bradbourne | Buried at Bradbourne Stone by north wall |________ Stone by north wall m 1963 | | | Pat Strange============Ann Kiddy Jill Wynne b 1932 Bradbourne b 1941 b 1947 b 1952 Bradbourne Church 39

Olive Wood She was born in Bradbourne in 1924 the daughter of the farmer at Park Farm. He was also a Churchwarden at Bradbourne. Olive had two sisters Alice and Alethea. She was in the WRAF and served in Egypt, where she met her future husband Edward A Kidd, She became a nurse in Liverpool and they were married in Liverpool in Dec 1948. We are not sure if she has died, but would be 92 by now. Her first cousin Sister Merle Wild of Ashbourne has supplied this information. Olive Wood __________ | | David Rose Annie John James Elizabeth Wood======== Wilde Wilde ======Lomas b 1878 b 1890 Congleton b 1890 b 1890 m 1907 Leek m 1920 Chapel en le Frith d 1933 | | Bradbourne | | Churchyard__|_______________ | | | | | Anne Alethea Mary | | b 1912 | | d 1988 | | Bradbourne Churchyard | | (Photo opposite) | | m 1948 | | Edward A Kidd============Olive J Wood Merle Wilde b Liverpool b Sept 1924 Park Farm Bradbourne d Liverpool 40

Gordon Kiddy

Olive Wood

Near the West wall of the Churchyard. The grave of David Wood, churchwarden, Olives father died 1933 aged 55 and Alethea Mary Wood, died 1988 aged 76 Olives Wood’s sister, of Park Farm Bradbourne 41

Park Farm, home of Olive Wood

We are grateful for all the local knowledge we have been given, if anyone knows any more details Jean Castledine or Martin Hulbert would be glad to know them. The photos of all the homes in Bradbourne have been taken by John Lord. Those who enlisted will have taken peaceful memories with them into their battles, and those who returned to Bradbourne would enjoy again the peaceful and beautiful countryside of Bradbourne. We do not know what horrors they had seen, and what wounds they had suffered, but the people of Bradbourne would have been very happy to have them safely home again, with some of them back on the Parochial Council of their parish church, some regular worshippers, and some became ringers of the Bells. Let us rejoice in the peace we enjoy as a result of their efforts. 42

Doubly Thankful

Harold Heathcote Stan Dean Harold’s sister, Amy, was Stan’s wife Harold’s brother was Cornelius, WWI Stan WWII 43

WORLD WAR TWO The 11 Thankful Soldiers Who all returned Name

Birth Place of Birth Number

Douglas Boyes 1908 Herbert Dean 1916 Stanley Dean 1907 Gordon Kiddy 1913 Neville Midlane 1906 Thomas Norcliffe 1907 George W Stafford 1919 Ester May Stafford 1917 Leslie R Torr 1925 Curtis A Weston 1905 Olive Wood 1924 Name

Malton Bradbourne Market Drayton Holloway Bradbourne Tibshelf Ashbourne Ashbourne Burton Tutbury Bradbourne

Date Home

Douglas Boyes 1945 Herbert Dean 1916 Stanley Dean 1945 Gordon Kiddy 1939 Neville Midlane 1906 Thomas Norcliffe 1911 George W Stafford 1919 Ester May Stafford 1925 Leslie R Torr 1937 Curtis A Weston 1911 Olive Wood 1939

Hall Cottage Ivy Cottage The Bank Clipshead The Cottage Post Office C/o Bank Top C/o Bank Top C/o Council Ho. Bank House Park Farm

Navigator 6150846 262605 PMx45885 Lieutenant Tl2240960 D Pilot Officer 2nd Lieutenant WRAF

Regiment RAF Navy Air Corps Yeomanry Navy Dental Corps Field Hospital, D Ambulance RAF Vol. Res. Tank Regiment. WRAF

Local Papers . Sally Mullins has searched the local papers from 1939 through to 1946 and not found a single reference to anyone from Bradbourne being killed in the war. 44

WORLD WAR TWO The 11 Thankful Soldiers Name lived 1937 lived 1947 Douglas Boyes Yorkshire Yorkshire Herbert Dean at baptism Ivy cottage Stanley Dean voters list Amy at The Bank Gordon Kiddy Bradbourne Clipshead Farm Neville Midlane at baptism Mary at the cottage Thomas Norcliffe census 1911 Minnie at Post Office George W Stafford Kniveton c/o Bank Top Farm Ester May Stafford Kniveton c/o Bank Top Farm Leslie R Torr uncle and aunt Council Houses Curtis A Weston voters list Nellie at Bank House Olive Wood Bradbourne Liverpool Name Father Father’s job Mother’s Name Douglas Boyes unknown Herbert Dean William H. Dean Farmer, Annie Eyre Stanley Dean John Dean, Joiner, Edith Wilson Gordon Kiddy Herbert Kiddy Farmer Sarah Yates Neville Midlane John H. Midlane, Gardener, Mary Ann Thomas Norcliffe Thomas Norcliffe, Roadman, Hannah Barlow George W Stafford George Stafford, Farmer, Dorothy Lamb Ester May Stafford George Stafford, Farmer, Dorothy Lamb Leslie R Torr Horace John Torr, Edith Hammond Curtis A Weston John Weston, Quarry Labourer, Edith Plant Olive Wood David Wood Farmer Rose A Wilde Name wife’s name, where married Douglas Boyes Kate Walkington Malton 1936 Herbert Dean Margaret Beach Bradbourne 1957 Stanley Dean Amy Heathcote Bradbourne 1935 Gordon Kiddy Mary Twigg Bradbourne 1939 Neville Midlane Unmarried Thomas Norcliffe Ethel Dean Manchester 1940 George W Stafford Joan Fearn Ashbourne 1942 Ester May Stafford Arthur S Peacock Repton 1946 Leslie R Torr Brenda Woolley Burton 1949 Curtis A Weston Nellie Slinn Chesterfield 1928 Olive Wood Edward Kidd Liverpool 1948 45

The Grave of the wireless operator KCB Scammell at Ashbourne

Local Air disaster in Bradbourne Although no person serving in the war from Bradbourne was killed in World war 2, one Australian Flight Officer, a pupil pilot, Eric Matthew Montagu O’Connor RAAF, was killed in a plane crash at Bradbourne. We are told by locals that his plane hit the trees on Haven Hill (Wigber Low) and crashed behind Bradbourne Mill.. Apparently the plane took off from Ashbourne runway facing NE having been delayed by snow showers, ice on its wing flaps, and poor visibility. It struck high tension cables near Kniveton, slewed to port and then hit the trees and crashed. The date was 30th March 1944. It was an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle P1463. The tragedy was very dramatic to those who lived in Bradbourne. The Australian was buried privately in Botley near Oxford, The wireless operator KGB Scammell was buried in Ashbourne. The two others killed were buried, one in Abington and the other in Ardrossan. 46

Bakewell

WORLD WAR TWO

Matlock

Wirksworth

AIR CRASH

Ashbourne

The crash site is now overgrown The site is on private ground at Bradbourne Mill, on the B5056. There is no evidence now of the crash. John Myers of Bradbourne Mill removed the wreckage on 31st March 1944, by horse and cart. (White Peak Air Crash Sites, P Cunningham) 47

World War II Doubly Thankful Second Edition Contact: J Castledine, Havendale House [email protected]