Samuel Ulyatt

Samuel was the son of William Henry and Annie Ulyatt (née Smith). His father William Henry was born in 1873 at Southwell, the son of William and Rebecca Ulyatt. In 1891 William Henry was a farm servant working for George Green, farmer, at Stoney Houghton, Upper Langwith. His mother Annie Smith was born at Normaton on Trent, Nottinghamshire, in 1872 (source 1939 England & Wales Register). William and Annie were married at Southwell St Mary the Virgin (Minster) on 4 October 1894. By 1911 they had had nine children of whom only five had survived infancy. Six children were named on the census between 1901 and 1911: Robert and Samuel (b. 19 January 1898) who were born in Little Carlton Nottinghamshire, Richard b. Bathley Nottinghamshire 1900 d. 1901, and Rebecca, William and May who were born in Selston Nottinghamshire. Another daughter, Alice, was born in 1917. In 1901 William Henry, a coal miner hewer, was living with his married younger brother, James, also a coal miner hewer, in Inkerman, Selston. His wife Annie was recorded living at Hill Farm, Bathley, with their three children, Robert, Samuel and Richard who died later that year. By 1911 William and Annie and their five surviving children were living at Handstubbin, Selston. William was still employed as a coal miner hewer and his sons Robert and Samuel were both colliery horsekeepers (below ground). The family had returned to Normanton by the time Samuel attested in 1915. Annie completed a form for the army in November 1919 naming her son Samuel's surviving blood relatives: parents William and Annie, brothers Robert (24), William (12), Harry (8) and sisters Rebecca (14), Mary (9) and Alice (2) all of Normanton, Southwell. William, a dairy farmer, and Annie, together with their youngest child Alice, were still living in Normanton in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. William died in 1962 and Annie in 1966.

1911 - colliery horsekeeper (below ground). He gave his occupation as coal miner when he attested in 1915.

Normanton, Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Enlisted Mansfield

Samuel Ulyatt enlisted on 10th June 1915 at Mansfield. He was 17 years old (b. 19 January 1898) but gave his age as 19 years 143 days. He gave his occupation as coal miner and named his mother Annie of Normanton, Southwell, as his next of kin. Samuel was posted to the Sherwood Foresters and served at home until embarking at Folkstone for France on 31st March 1916. He joined the British Expeditionary Force at Etaples Base Camp on 2nd April 1916, joining his battalion on the 17th. Samuel was wounded (fracture left femur) on 29th June 1917 and died at the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station eight days later on 7th July 1917. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. XIV.B.2A). Samuel served at home for 293 days and in France for 1 year 100 days. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Lijssentoek Military Cemetery (extract): 'During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Greater love hath no man than this He died for his country' CWGC: 'Son of Mrs. A. Ulyatt, of Normanton, Southwell, Notts.' WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother Annie. Additional information supplied by his great niece, Joanna Dring