William Denham

William Denham (junior) was born in 1883 at Daybrook and was the son of William Denham (senior) a frame work knitter and the late Annie (died 1910) Denham née Eddisham of Grove Yard, Daybrook, Nottingham. His father William was born in 1862 at Daybrook , his mother Annie Eddisham was born in 1862 at Nottingham, she died in 1910 aged 48 yrs, they went on to have 7 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were William b1883 Elizabeth b1888, May b1894 and Hilda Denham b1901 all were born in Daybrook. In the 1911 census the family lived at Groves Yard, Daybrook, Arnold and were shown as William 48 yrs a widow and frame work knitter, he is living with his children, William 28 yrs a coal miner hewer, Elizabeth 23 yrs a laundress ironer, May 17 yrs a laundress ironer and Hilda 10 yrs a scholar.

Coal miner hewer

Private William Denham enlisted in 1914 (probably August 31st) joining the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment in France on the16th February 1915, when he was posted to “B” Company. William was killed in action during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 12th March 1915. Having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Le Touret memorial, France. . The Germans shelled battalion headquarters at 5 am on 12th March and then attacked in overwhelming numbers. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy , the battalion was forced back to the support trench some 150 yards to the rear. The battalion regained the original trench through charges and the excellent work done by the bomber Private Rivers (awarded VC for action). After a day of fighting it was decided at 9 pm, to withdraw to the support line and a new defensive line. At some point William was killed and he has no known grave.