Stanley Adwick

Stanley was the son of Thomas Adwick and Fanny Adwick (née Tate). His father Thomas was born in Worksop in about 1853 and his mother Fanny in Retford in about 1859. They were married in Sheffield in 1878 and had seven children: Ethel b. Sheffield 20 May 1879; Mabel b. Sheffield 1881; Maggie b. Worksop 1887 bap. Retford St Swithun 9 September 1887; Stanley b. Retford 7 June 1890 bap. Retford St Saviour 9 November 1892; Amy b. Retford 1892 bap. 9 November 1892; Dorothy b. Retford 1895 and William Austin b. 13 December 1897 (reg. 1898). In 1881 Thomas, a tailor, and Fanny were living at 128 Grammar Street, Nether Hallam, Sheffield, with their first child, Ethel. Also in the household was Fanny's brother, Charles Harry Tate (21) a coach smith, and a visitor, Elizabeth Hindley. Thomas, a foreman tailor, and Fanny had moved to Grove Lane, Clarborough, Nottinghamshire, by 1891; they now had four children: Ethel, Mabel (9), Maggie (4) and Stanley (u/1yr). The following year the family was living in Pennington Gardens, Retford: Thomas, a tailor's cutter, Fanny, Ethel a dressmaker, Mabel a milliner, Maggie, Stanley, Amy (8), Dorothy (6) and William (3). Thomas and Fanny were living on Pennington Gardens (Loxley Cottage) in 1901 and 1911 although by 1911 only four of their children were still living at home: Ethel a dressmaker, Amy a shop assistant (draper), Dorothy of no occupation and William (13). Stanley was working in Worksop as a butcher and was a boarder in the home of Samuel Turner, a blacksmith, and his family on Kilton Road. Mabel had married James Ogden, a clerk with the Great Northern Railway, at Retford Free Methodist Church in 1905 (report Retford & Worksop Herald, 5 September), and in 1911 they were living on Raglan Road, Retford, with their son Sydney Hubert (b. 1908). A second son, Ronald James, was born two years later in 1913. Maggie had married Wilfred Miles in 1910 and in 1911 they were living on Whitby Road, Fallowfield, Manchester. Wilfred was a clerk with a firm of Scotch whisky distillers. Fanny Adwick died in 1912. William Austin attested in May 1916 by which time he was living with his widowed father at 41 Bridgegate, Retford. William was posted initially to the Sherwood Foresters (45084 Private) on 29 May but transferred to the Royal Field Artillery (203505) in March 1917. He served with the BEF France and was discharged from the army in November 1919 (Driver, acting corporal) to 41 Bridgegate. His service record survives (burnt record). A letter in his service documents shows that by November 1921 he was living in Fallowfield, Manchester. He married Martha Ash (b. 1897) in 1924 and in 1939 they were living in Hampshire where William was working for HM Customs & Excise. William died on 26 August 1951; he and his wife were then living in Blackpool. Mabel Ogden died of influenza in March 1919, her unmarried sister Dorothy died later that year (O/N/D) and their father Thomas died in March 1920 (see 'Extra information'). Ethel married Jonathan Hurst (b. 1878) in 1919 and in 1939 they were living in Doncaster; Jonathan was a locomotive engine driver. She probably died in 1960. Stanley married Agnes Bell (b. Aug. 1892) in 1915 (J/F/M Doncaster). Their son Eric Stanley was born on 30 March 1918 (A/M/J Doncaster), five months after Stanley's death. Agnes married secondly Frederick Pagdin in 1922 (J/A/S Doncaster) and they lived at 31 Moorgate, Retford. However, by 1939 they were landlord and landlady of the Railway Inn, London Road, Retford, and her son Eric was assisting in the business (barman). Frederick died in 1946 and Agnes married Leonard Skelton in 1947. She was still living in Retford when she died on 11 December 1975. Stanley's son Eric married Joan Vickers in 1940. He died in 1997.

He was an apprentice to George Tallents, butcher, in Retford, and later worked in Worksop as a butcher.

Formerly Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (2039) Stanley joined the Nottinghamshire Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry on 5th Oct 1914 and served with the regiment in Egypt and Salonika. He was invalided home from Greece and after recovery rejoined his unit and sent with a draft to France on Christmas Eve 1916. He was invalided home with malaria and was in hospitals in Birmingham and Nottingham followed by a period of convalescence in Somerset. On 26 Sept 1917 he returned to France as part of the Machine Gun Corps (112th Company) and had only been at the front a fortnight when he was mortally wounded. Reports of his death vary. A friend, Pte D Croft, formerly an employee of the Cooperative Store, stated in a letter to his parents that Stanley was struck in the head by shrapnel and died on his way to the dressing station. This account differs to the one given in a letter from his commanding officer. He said “I was not actually with your son when he was killed but I have been able to get particulars of his death. His officer, sergeant corporal and several other men were killed just about the same time as your son, and I went up to take the place of the officer and to take up reinforcements. Your son was carrying the tripod mounting of the gun when a shell burst very close to him and killed him instantly and when his comrades saw that nothing could be done for him left him and ran for shelter from the very heavy shelling. It occurred in the darkness and when I got along the following day I realised it would be sending men to their death to try and fetch your son in as no one knew exactly where he was and the shelling was very, very heavy …… he died painlessly and instantaneously whilst doing his duty under very heavy fire. He had only been with the company a short time but had proved himself a thoroughly reliable man, and had been made leading gunner.” Stanley has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

CWGC 'Extra information': Son of Thomas Adwick; husband of Agnes Pagdin (formerly Adwick) of 31, Moorgate, Retford. Retford Times 9th November 1917: 'Pte Stanley Adwick. Three years service' 'We recorded last week the death in action on Oct 8th of Pte Stanley Adwick M.G.C eldest son of Mr Thomas Adwick , Bridgegate, Retford. Aged 25 years, he served his apprenticeship with Mr Geo Baines, butcher, Carolgate bridge, and was afterwards at Sheffield. he joined on Oct 5th 1914, the Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, and served with the regiment in Egypt and Salonika. he was invalided home from Greece, and after recovery joined his unit at Aldershot. here with other yeomen, he was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hoods) and was sent out with a draft to France on Christmas eve 1916. He was invalided home again with malaria in April last, and was in hospital at Birmingham and Nottingham, spending a period in convalescence in Somerset. 'Then on Sept 26th last Pte Adwick made a second journey to France and was put into the machine Gun Corps. He had only been at the front about a fortnight when he was mortally wounded. A pal Pte D Croft, late of the Co-Operative stores, in a letter to his parents in Wright Wilson Street, stated that Pte Adwick was struck in the head by shrapnel, and died on his way to the dressing station. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Adwick and family in their great bereavement.' Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 13 November 1917: ‘Private Adwick. We recorded last week the death in action on October 8th, of Pte Stanley Adwick, MGC, eldest son of Mr Thomas Adwick, Bridgegate, Retford. Aged 25 years, he served his apprenticeship with Mr Geo Baines, butcher, Carolgate Bridge, and was afterwards at Sheffield. He joined on October 5th 1914, the Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, and served with the regiment in Egypt and Salonika. He was invalided home from Greece and after recovery joined his unit at Aldershot. Here, with other yeomen, he was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hoods), and was sent out with a draft to France on Christmas Eve, 1916. He was invalided home again with malaria in April last, and was in hospital at Birmingham and Nottingham, spending a period of convalescence in Somerset. Then on September 26th last, Pte Adwick made a second journey to France, and was put into a Machine Gun Corps. He had only been at the front about a fortnight when he was mortally wounded. A pal, Pte D Croft, late of the Co-operative Stores, in a letter to his parents in Wright Wilson-street, stated that Pte Adwick was struck in the head by shrapnel, and died on his way to the dressing station. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Adwick and family in their great loss. Special reference was made to him by the Rev. W Robinson last Sunday at the United Free Methodist Church, where he was respected by all, having been Sunday School secretary. The following letter has been received from his commanding officer: ‘Dear Mr Adwick, I was not actually with your son when he was killed, but I have been able to get some particulars of his death. His officer, sergeant, and corporal, and several of his gun-team, were all killed about the same time as your son, and I went up to take the place of the officer and to take up reinforcements. Please accept my very deepest sympathy in your terrible loss, but it may be some small consolation to you to know that he died painlessly and instantaneously, while doing his duty under very heavy fire. He had only been with his Company quite a short time; be he had proved himself a thoroughly reliable man, and had been made a leading gunner. I am sorry that I can give you so few details, but everyone who could have told you more, has unfortunately been killed. May you be given strength to bear this very heavy trial. Your sincerely, BH Durrant, Lieut. 119 Company MGC BEF.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Retford Times 16th November 1917: 'The late Private Adwick Retford' 'With reference to the death reported in our last issue of Pte Stanley Adwick, Machine Gun Corps, son of Mr T Adwick 41, Bridgegate Retford, a letter has been received from the deceased's officer :- "I was not actually with your son " writes Lieut Darrant "when he was killed, but I have been able to get some particulars of his death. His officer, sergeant and corporal, and several men of the gun team were all killed just about the same time as your son, and I went up to take the place of the officer and to take up reinforcements. Your son was carrying the tripod mounting of the gun when a shell burst very close to him, and killed him instantly, and when his comrades saw that nothing could be done for him, they left him and ran for shelter from the very heavy shelling. It occurred in the darkness, and when I got along the following day I realised that it would be sending men to their own death to try and fetch your son in, as no one knew exactly where he was, and the shelling all over the district was very, very heavy. Please accept my deepest sympathy with you in your terrible loss, but it may be some small consolation to you to know that he died painlessly and instantaneously while doing his duty under very heavy fire. he had only been with the company quite a short time, but he had proved himself a thoroughly reliable man and had been made a leading gunner." 'At the United Methodist Church on Sunday the preacher, Rev W Robinson made suitable reference to the death of Pte Adwick, and extended the sympathy of the friends to the father and members of the family in their bereavement.' Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 29 January 1918: ‘Memorial Service at Retford Wesleyan Chapel. On Sunday evening a well-attended memorial service for soldiers and sailors who have given their lives in the great war was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, Grove-street. A special form of service was used … The preacher, Rev TE Young, referred in eloquent terms to the noble Retford sons connected with the Wesleyan body, who had given their lives in the righteous cause for which the Allies were fighting, and read out the following list of names: Pte Stanley Adwick Sherwood Rangers [and 23 others].' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 4 March 1919 (extract): ’The Influenza Epidemic. The National Schools closed yesterday in consequence of the outbreak of influenza, and ther have been several deaths in the town. We regret to record the death from this terrible infliction of Mrs Ogden, of Dominie Cross-road, wife of Mr Ogden, of the GN [Great Northern] staff, and daughter of Mr Adwick with whom much sympathy is felt.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 11 March 1919 (extract): ‘The Late Mrs J Ogden. The funeral took place on Tuesday last of Mrs Ogden [Mabel], wife of Mr J Ogden jun., of Fenton Villa, Dominie Cross, clerk in the GC Department, whose death took place as recorded in our last issue, on the previous Friday. Deceased was connected with the United Methodist Church all her life and the first part of the burial service was held there the officiating minister being the Rev. JW Jenkinson, Superintendent Primitive Methodist Minister. The chief mourners were: Mr James Ogden jun. husband, Sydney and Ronald Ogden, sons; Mr Thomas Adwick, father; Mr & Mrs J Hurst [Ethel], Doncaster; Mrs Wilfred Miles [Maggie], Manchester; and Miss Dorothy Adwick, sisters; Bombardier W Adwick RFA, brother ... Mrs Stanley Adwick [Agnes] Doncaster, sister in law.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 16 March 1920: 'Death of Mr Thos. Adwick. We regret to record the death, on Wednesday last, of Mr Thos Adwick, aged 67 years, for over 30 years in the employ of Mr Jno. Segar, The Square. Mr Adwick had been ill only a week before he died, having had a seizure on the previous Thursday. Much sympathy is felt for the family in their bereavement, this being the third death, a father and two daughters [Dorothy and Mabel Ogden], within 12 months. Mr Adwick had identified himself with United Methodist cause, and held the offices of Sunday School superintendent, Church steward, and Church secretary .. [list of mourners].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Information on Stanley Adwick has been provided courtesy of Alan Laurie