Thomas Anthony Kerry

Thomas Anthony Kerry was the son of Anthony and Harriet Elizabeth Kerry (née Shaw). His father Anthony was the son of Anthony Kerry, a builder, and his wife Anne. Anthony jnr. was born in Bullbridge, Derbyshire, in 1854 and baptised at Morley parish church on 4 June the same year, His mother Harriet Elizabeth was born in Smalley, Derbyshire, in 1861 (reg. Belper as Elizabeth Harriet) the daughter of Thomas and Fanny Shaw. In 1871 she was living with her parents in Smalley; her father Thomas' occupation was given as 'rope maker and brewer (over 4 generations)' Anthony and Harriet were married at St Werburgh's parish church, Spondon, Derbyshire, on 20 September 1882. They had six children who were all born in Smalley: Sarah Ann b. January 1884; Thomas Anthony b. 1886; John Johnson b. 1887 bap. Smalley St John October 1887; Phoebe Jane Elizabeth b. July 1889 bap. St John July 1889 d. 9 January 1905, Evelyn (Eveline) Ruth Mary b. September 1892 bap. St John October 1892 and Ernest Victor Samuel b. August 1895. In 1891 Anthony an inn keeper, and Harriet were living on Smalley Green with their four children Sarah, Thomas, John and Phoebe. Also in the household was Fanny Shaw who was employed as an assistant, presumably working in the inn. Anthony and Harriet had two more children, Evelyn in 1892 and Ernest in 1895. However, their second daughter Phoebe died on 9 January 1905 aged 15 (buried Smalley, 12 January). By 1911 Anthony and his wife were registered at Rose and Crown, Morley (sic); his occupation was given as innkeeper and farmer. Four of their five surviving children were still living at home: Sarah, John a fitter at an ironworks, Evelyn and Ernest. Their son Thomas had joined the Nottinghamshire Constabulary by 1911 and was living with two other police constables at the Police Station, Brook Street, Sutton in Ashfield. They were described as boarders in the household of another police officer Harry Button and his wife Ellen. Thomas' father died on 23 March 1917 and his mother on 15 November the same year; they were still living at the Rose & Crown Inn. They were buried in Smalley churchyard. Their daughter Sarah Ann was awarded administration of their Wills. Thomas's brother Ernest Victor Samuel served in the Royal Army Medical Corps (417085 Private) and was issued with Silver Badge No. B278062. He married Carrie Cureton née Hall (b. 1887) at Derby St Thomas in 1920. His wife was from Smalley and had married Charles Frederick Cureton in 1912 at Smalley St John; they had a son, Thomas Edward (b. 1914). Carrie's first husband had served in the 1/7th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers and died on 5 November 1918 (Ceir El Belah War Cemetery, Israel & Palestine). The CWGC record gave Carrie Kerry's address as Little Eaton, Derby.

Attended Smalley Boys' Endowed School (also known as Richardson Endowed Controlled Primary School) where he is commemorated on the school memorial at the entrance to the school. 1st Class Constable, Nottinghamshire Constabulary, employed at Sutton in Ashfield.

'C' Company, 1/7th Battalion. Army Service Record has not survived. From NCC and SF records, he enlisted in September 1914 (probably 7 September) and served in France from 27 February 1915. He was killed in action in the trenches at Kemmel on 1 June 1915; according to a report in the local paper he was shot in the head. He was buried in the Sherwood Foresters' cemetery at Kemmel, now the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. A.59). CWGC: 'Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year.'

WMA 14193: Commemorated on Smalley Boys' Endowed School, Main Road, Smalley, now Richardson Endowed (Controlled) Primary School. Dedication, '1914-1919. They gave themselves. Smalley Boys Endowed School (names)'. Rose and Crown, Smalley Common, Derbyshire. The Rose and Crown was at the Derby-Heanor/Ilkeston-Belper crossroads and was built by Samuel Kerry in 1768; the public house was run by the family until the 1920s. Mansfield Reporter, 11 June 1915: ‘Two more Suttonians Killed. Pc. Kerry Sutton in Ashfield. We regret to report that two more Suttonians have been killed at the front. They are Pc. Kerry, who was stationed at Sutton for five years before joining the colours. He was a native of Smalley, and was a very efficient officer and was highly respected. The other Sutton soldier who has been killed is Private Ralph Mills, aged 19, who lived in Forest Street.’ (ww. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 18 June 1915: ‘Robin Hoods Casualties. Two Killed and Four Wounded. An intimation has reached the headquarters of the Robin Hood Rifles that Private GF Martin (1380) was killed in action on May 31st whilst Lance-Corporal FA (sic) Kerry (2440) shared a similar fate the following day. Sergt. F Mackenzie, Private F Savage, and Private T Chambers were slightly wounded, but returned to service in a few days. Private S Swift was rather more seriously hurt, a gunshot wound through the knee necessitating his being detained in hospital.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 17 July 1915 and Mansfield Reporter, 23 July 1915 (extract): ‘Notts. Standing Joint Committee. Over 100 Policemen Join the Colours. The report of the Chief Constable (Capt. Tomasson) stated that during the past quarter … He regretted that Pc. AH Mitchell, who rejoined his regiment on the 4th August, was killed in action on April 30th, and that Pc. TA Kerry, who enlisted on the 7th September, was killed on the same day (sic-1 June 1915). Of the total of 104 members of the force who had joined the army four (sic) had been killed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Three other Nottinghamshire police constables had been killed by July 1915: George Ernest Chapman Coldstream Guards and Walter Slater Grenadier Guards (death confirmed 1916) both on 29 October 1914 and John George Ballard Grenadier Guards 7 November 1914. Mansfield Reporter, 3 September 1915 (extract): This item from, ‘tales from the Trenches’. Opens with the experiences of Private WG Brown, Robin Hoods, who was recovering in Bagthorpe Military Hospital, Nottingham, from a broken leg sustained when he was run over by a military motor cyclist. ‘Not without sadness did he recall the death of Corporal Kerry, who, he stated, was formerly a police-constable in Nottingham. The plucky NCO was doing considerable execution with his rifle when he was shot through the head. Private Brown was one of the party who went out to get the corporal’s body, and they were extremely grateful that the enemy never once sent up any lights. The men of the platoon to which Corporal Kerry belonged were sincerely grieved at his untimely end, for he was one of the most popular men in the battalion.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Kerry Thomas Anthony of the Rose and Crown Inn Morley died 1 June 1915 in Belgium Administration Derby 18 April to Sarah Ann Richardson (wife of John Jesse Richardson). Effects £51 13s. 4d. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Mother, Elizabeth Kerry, legatee and in 1919 a second payment was made to his married sister Sarah Ann Richardson; his mother having died in 1917.