Christopher Marriott

Christopher was born at Arnold in 1891, the son of William, a hosiery machine worker, and Elizabeth Marriott née Hibbert of Sherbrook Road, Daybrook. His father William was born in 1866 in Arnold and his mother Elizabeth Hibbert was born in 1864 in Shefford, Bedfordshire. They were married in 1885; the marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District; they went on to have 6 children all of whom were born in Arnold, Ernest b1886, Albert b1888, William b1889, Christopher b1891, May b1894 and Alfred b1899. In the 1911 census his family are living with at Sherbrook Road, and are shown as William 45 yrs a hosiery machine worker, who is living with his wife Elizabeth 47 yrs and three of their children, Christopher 19 yrs a grocer's assistant, May 17 yrs a dress maker and Alfred 12 yrs a scholar. Christopher married his wife Ethel May Stones in 1913; the marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District. They lived on Wellington Street, Arnold. The notice of Christopher's death in the local paper mentions children and these were probably Albert W b. 1914 (A/M/J Basford) and George b. 1916 (A/M/J Basford); both birth records give the mother's maiden name as 'Stones'. His brother Alfred also served in the war.

He went to the British School on Front Street, Arnold. He was employed as a grocer's assistant, Nottingham Co-operative Society.

He enlisted in Arnold, Nottingham.

Private Christopher Marriott enlisted in Arnold into the Army in the South Staffordshire Regiment with regimental number 52027. He was later transferred to the 2nd Battalion the Hampshire Regiment, probably having either been wounded and in hospital or perhaps had been on leave when he found himself at the Base Depot at Etaples and was simply sent to the Hampshire’s because they had called for reinforcements. On the 9th April 1917 the British opened the Battle of Arras which was intended to drive the Germans from the area of the Aisne River. It was during this extended battle that Christopher was wounded and later died from these wounds. He is buried at Windmill British Cemetery, Nonchy-le-Preux (grave ref. I.B.9).

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 26 May 1917: ‘Marriott. Died of wounds, April 23rd, Private Christopher Marriott, Wellington-street, Arnold. We could not stand beside you, to hear your last farewell, and not a word of comfort from those who loved you well. From sorrowing wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post , ‘Roll of Honour’, 26 May 1917: 'Marriott. Died of wounds, April 23rd, Private Christopher Marriott, Hants Regiment, aged 26, son of William and Elizabeth Marriott, Sherbrooke-road, Daybrook, late employee Nottingham Co-operative Society. A noble life laid down. Sorrowing mother, father, sister, brothers (Alf in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notice published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 23rd April 1919 : - “MARRIOTT. – In loving memory of Christopher Marriott, Daybrook, killed in action April 23rd, 1917. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – Mother, father, sister, & brothers.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.