William Arthur Heath

William Arthur was the eldest son of William a lace maker and Martha Heath née Lomas, they lived at 3 Scotts Yard, North Sherwood Street, Nottingham. His father William (senior) was born in 1868 in Heanor, Derbyshire, his mother Martha Lomas was born in 1871 in Nottingham, they were married in 1894 in Nottingham and went on to have 8 children , sadly 1 died in infancy , their surviving children were William Arthur b1895, John b1897, Leslie b1900, Grace b1901, Noel b1904, Alice Maud b1907, and Arthur b1908 all were born in Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 3 Scotts Yard, North Sherwood Street, Nottingham , and are shown as William 43 yrs head of the family a lace maker, he is living with his wife Martha 40 yrs and their children , William Arthur 16 yrs an errand boy, Leslie 11 yrs scolar, Grace 10 yrs scholar, Noel 7 yrs scholar, Alice Maud 4 yrs scholar, Arthur 3 yrs, also living at the address is Miriam Lomas a niece aged 27 yrs a slip winder.

Private William Arthur Heath, enlisted at Nottingham and served with “A” Company, 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles), he was killed in action, probably during a fight with a German patrol on 5th March 1917. He is buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, grave reference II D 13.

Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 16 April 1917: HEATH Private W Heath, Sherwood Foresters, 3 Scott's Yard, Sherwood Street, Nottingham, killed in action, March 5th, age 22. Further obituaries published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 29th March 1917 : - “HEATH. – Killed in action, March 5th, 1917, Private William A. Heath, Sherwood Foresters, aged 22, eldest son of William and Martha Heath, Sherwood-street. – From his sorrowing father, mother, brothers, and sisters, also brother Jack (in France). “HEATH. – Fell in action, March 5th, 1917, Private William A. Heath, Sherwood Foresters, aged 22. Lost one? No, not lost, for near me in the spirit still thou art, and in all my best affections bearest still a precious part. – His broken-hearted fiancée Florrie. “HEATH. - Fell in action, March 5th, 1917, Private William A. Heath, Sherwood Foresters. Ever in our thoughts. - Mabel and cousin Maurice (in France).” In memoriam published Nottingham Evening Post 5th March 1918 :- “HEATH. – In loving memory of Pte. W. A. Heath, the beloved fiancée of Florrie Stanley, who fell in action March 5th, 1917. Noble sacrifice.” Above obituaries/in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.