Harry Flavill Littlewood

He was born about 1885, the eldest son of George E., a coal labourer, and Ann Littlewood. In 1891 his parents, with their two sons, Harry Flavill (6) and Stenson Frost (2, b. Hugglescote), were living at 329 Forest Road, White Hill, Leicestershire, in the parish of Hugglescote. By 1901 Ann was widowed and living with her four sons, Harry (16), Stenson (12 b. Hugglescote), Walter (9 b. Ashby de la Zouch) and George E (1 b. Nottingham), in Nottingham at 81 Briar Street, Meadows. Also in the household on the night of the census was Ann's niece, Laura M Archer (5). Ann was working as a laundress and washerwoman 'on her own account'. She remarried, probably to Frank Turner in 1902 (Basford registration district J/A/S). In 1911 she was a certified midwife and living at 11 King's Meadow Road. On the night of the census her husband was not in the household; her two youngest sons, Walter and George, were living with her. Harry had married Jane Elizabeth in 1903 (registration ON/D Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at 23 Cremorne Street, Meadows, with their six children, Florence Leonora (6), Doris May (5), George Stenson (4), Walter Frederick (1) and Harry and William who were both 5 months old. Ann's second son, Stenson, had been married to Clarice Mary for 2 years and they had a daughter, Olive Annie. They were living at 2 Buckhorn Square, Loughborough, and he was employed as a wagon and constructional riveter. (Stenson was living at 28 Kingsmeadow Road, Meadows, Nottingham, when he died in 1943.)

In 1901 he was a stationery collier engine driver. He was a stoker (boiler) in a factory in 1911.

He enlisted at Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire. He was a resident of Nottingham.

He served in the Royal Garrison Artillery 265th Siege Bty. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (grave ref XIX.A.10). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Personal inscription on CWGC headstone: 'Eterenal rest' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 26 September 1917: ‘Littlewood. Killed in action, September 19th, 1917, Gunner Harry Flaviill Littlewood, eldest son of Mrs Turner, 11 King’s Meadow-road. Mother and brothers, and his little children.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) In memoriam published 19th September 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “LITTLEWOOD. – In loving memory of Gnr. Harry Littlewood, killed in action September 19th, 1917. Duty nobly done. – Wife and children. “LITTLEWOOD. – Killed in action, September 19th, 1917, Gunner Harry Flavill Littlewood, R.G.A., eldest son of Mrs. Turner, midwife, 11, King's Meadow-road. They miss him most who loved him best. – Mother, brothers Walter (in France), George (at sea), and his six little children.” Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Soldiers Effects: his mother, Ann Turner, was his sole legatee.