Francis Edgar Shipstone

Francis Edgar was the son of James and Lucy Shipstone (née Barker) of the renowned Nottingham brewing family. His father James Shipstone was born in Bulwell, Nottingham, in 1846 and his mother Lucy in Burton-on-Stather, Lincolnshire, in 1851. They were married at Lenton St Anthony, Nottingham, in August 1873 and had seven children of whom six survived infancy: James Henry b. 1874, Francis Edgar b. 1875, Edith Mary b. 1877, Ronald Arthur b. 1880, James Hugh Gordon b. 1882 and Alice Christabel Everingham birth registered 1885 (J/F/M). All the children were born in Basford. In 1881, eight years after their marriage, James, a master brewer, his wife and their four children, James (6), Francis (5), Edith (3) and Ronald (under 1 year), were living on Regent Street, Basford. Also in the household was a general domestic servant. The family had moved to Woodthorpe Lodge, Mansfield Road, by 1891 and all six children were in the home of the night of the census: James a brewer's assistant, Francis, Edith, Ronald, James HG (9) and Alice (6). James snr. now employed a cook and housemaid. By 1901 the family residence was at 15 Magdala Road, Nottingham, where James and Lucy were living with five of their children: Francis a malster, Edith, Ronald a brewer, James HG and Alice. In the household were a ladies' help and a cook. James Henry, the eldest son, had married Gertrude Turner in 1899 and they were also living in Nottingham. James and Lucy were still at 15 Magdala Road in 1911 although it is likely that only Francis was still a permanent member of the household. His two married sisters, Edith and Alice, and their children, were in the home on the night of the census. Edith had married Harold Squire Morley, an engineer officer in the Royal Navy, in 1906 and they had had a daughter Gwynnedd Mary Everingham in 1910 (b. Medway, Kent). Lieutenant Harold Morley was recorded on the census in RN Barracks/Officers' Quarters, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth. Alice had married Arthur Leslie Wing, also in 1906, and they had had a son, Ronald Leslie in 1910 (reg. Ecclesall Bierlow-Sheffield). Included in the household were a lady's help, a cook, housemaid and two domestic nurses. The eldest son James Henry was living with his family on Mansfield Road, Nottingham. Ronald was a brewer with Plymouth Breweries Ltd and boarding in East Stonehouse, Devon, with a schoomaster in the employ of the Admiralty (Royal Marines). The youngest son James Hugh had married Edith Margaret Warwick in 1907 and they were living with their infant daughter in East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire, where James was a farmer. His mother Lucy died in 1912. A later record showed that in 1913/14 Francis was living at 5 Ebers Road, Mapperley Park, Nottingham, but he was living at 3 Ebers Grove, Carrington, when he attested in 1915. Francis' father, whom he named as his next of kin, was living at The Elms, Cropwell Butler. His father completed a form for the army in September 1919 listing his late son's surviving blood relatives: Parents: James and Lucy (sic) Shipstone The Elms Cropwell Butler Brothers: JH Shipstone (45) Mansfield Road Nottingham, RA Shipstone (38) St George's Terrace Plymouth and JHG Shipstone (36) East Heckington Lincolnshire Sisters: Edith Mary Morley (44) Dovercourt Essex and ACE Wing (34) Ranmoor Sheffield James Shipstone snr. died in September 1922. Ronald Arthur Shipstone served in the war in the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade (S/26693 Rifleman). He enlisted on 3 June 1916 and served overseas. Ronald was severely wounded on 15 April 1918 and discharged unfit in May 1919 (Silver Badge No. B.203906). He was a director of the Shipstone Brewery Company until his death in 1944.

1901 census: malster. Later partner and director Messrs. N. Pratt and Son, Ltd., Maltsters, Nottingham. Official and player of the Notts. Magdala Football Club (later Nottinghamshire Magdala Amateurs FC).

3 Ebers Grove, Carrington, Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham.

1/28th Battalion (Artists' Rifles) London Regiment Francis enlisted on a Short Service Engagement (Duration of War) on 9 December 1915 and transferred to the Reserve from 10 December to 22 December. He joined on 23 December (own request) and was posted to the London Regiment (2/28th Artists' Rifles) the same day. Francis was posted to the BEF France embarking at Southampton on 21 April 1916 and disembarking Rouen on 22 April to join the 1/28th battalion on the 27th. On 22 June he was appointed lance corporal (unpaid). The battalion, which formed part of 190th Infantry Brigade, joined the 63rd Royal Naval Division in June 1917 and took part in the Battle of Passchendaele (July-November 1917). Francis was killed in action on 20 July 1917 and according to his service record was buried in Point-du-Jour Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref III.F.18). Francis served in France for 1 year 90 days and in the army for a total of 1 year 223 days. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Point-du-Jour Military Cemetery (extract): the cemetery is a short distance from the village Athies-les-Arras. 'Athies was captured by the 9th (Scottish) Division, which included the South African Brigade, on 9 April 1917. It remained in Allied hands until the end of the war. Point-Du-Jour was a house on the road from St. Laurent-Blangy to Gavrelle and by 1917 it had become a German redoubt, captured by the 34th Division on 9 April. Two cemeteries were made on the right of the road from St. Laurent-Blangy to Point-du-Jour, No.1 Cemetery becoming the present Point-Du-Jour Military Cemetery. It was used from April to November 1917, and again in May 1918, and contained at the Armistice 82 graves (now part of Plot I). It was then enlarged when over 650 graves were brought in from the battlefields and small cemeteries north, east and south of Arras, [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)

Note: CWGC date of death 20 July 1917. Probate and family records, 19 July. BREWERY – James Shipstone & Sons Ltd, Star Brewery, New Basford, Nottingham. Founded by James Shipstone (Francis' grandfather) in 1852. The brewhouse was bult in about 1900. The firm was acquired by Greenall Whitley & Co Ltd in 1978 with 280 houses and closed in 1990. However, in recent years, the ‘Little Star Brewery’ was opened on Church Lane, Old Basford, as a microbrewery attached to a former Shipstone’s pub to brew ‘Shipstones’ beer. Nottingham Corporation minutes of council meeting 16 August 1917 (also minutes 30 July 1917): 'Expression of sympathy to ... and Mr James Shipstone on the deaths of their sons whilst serving with the Colours.' Report published 28th July 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post : - “NOTTM. BREWER'S SON KILLED. “Mr. James Shipstone, The Elms, Cropwell Butler, and chairman of Messrs. J. Shipstones and Sons, Ltd., brewers, New Basford, has been notified by the War Office that his second son, Corporal Francis Edgar Shipstone, London Regt., has been killed in action. The deceased, who was 40 [sic] years of age, was a partner and director Messrs. N. Pratt and Son, Ltd., maltsters, Nottingham, and was well known. He took a great interest in local football, and was an official and player of the Notts. Magdala Football Club, from which subsequently sprang the Nottinghamshire Magdala Amateurs F.C.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Probate: Shipstone Francis Edgar of 343 Mansfield-road Nottingham lance-corporal in HM Army died 19 (sic) July 1917 in France Administration Nottingham 5 February to James Shipstone brewer. Effects £2974 11s. 9d. Francis' private property comprising a photograph and letter were returned to his father c/o a Nottingham solicitors in March 1919. Nottingham Evening Post, 9 September 1922: ‘Death of Senior Partner in well-known Brewing Firm. The death occurred yesterday at his residence, ‘The Elms’, Cropwell Butler, of Mr James Shipstone senior partner in the well-known firm of Messr James Shipstone and Sons, brewers. The deceased who had been in failing health since Christmas, and was in his seventy-seventh year, leaves a widow (sic) and three grown-up sons and two daughters. Of a quiet and retiring disposition, the deceased gentleman up to about six years ago, represented Mapperley ward on the City Council, but retired on taking up residence at Cropwell Butler.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, report of funeral service: family mourners Messrs JHG [James Hugh Gordon] and RA [Ronald Arthur] Shipstone (sons), Mrs [Edith] Morley and Mrs [Alice] Wing (daughters), Sir Thomas Shipstone JP (brother), and Mr JS Shipstone (grandson). James and Lucy Shipstone were buried in a family vault in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. The inscription on the vault also includes the name of their son Francis: ‘Also in loving memory of their second son Francis Edgar Shipstone, Artists' Rifles. Who was killed in action in France, July 19th 1917, in his 42nd year.’