Harry Stretton

Harry was the son of William and Mary Stretton (née Cross). Both his parents were born in Basford and were married in 1872. According to the information William provided on the 1911 Census they had been married for 39 years and had had 13 children of whom only 11 were still living. Twelve children have been traced from census and birth registration records: Eliza b. 1873, Louisa b. 1875 d. 1875 , Clara b. 1876, Harry b. 1878, Herbert b. 1880, Fred b. 1882, Ernest William b. December 1883 (reg. 1884 J/F/M), Frank b. 1885, Mabel Mary b. 1886, George Edgar b. 1889, Arthur b. 1892 and Grace Ida b. 1896. All the children were born in Basford. In 1881 William (28) a bricklayer and Mary (26) were living at 7 Browns Croft, Basford, with their four surviving children, Eliza (7), Clara (4), Harry (2) and Herbert (10 months). A fifth child, Louisa, had died in 1875. Also in the household was William's brother, James (17) a bricklayer's labourer. By 1891 the family had moved to 25 Cheltenham Street, Basford, which remained the family home until William's death in 1926. William and Mary had nine surviving children who were in the home on the night of the census: Eliza (17) a lace finisher, Clara (14) a lace mender), Harry (12), Herbert (10), Fred (9), Ernest (7), Frank (5), Mabel (4) and George (1). A son, Arthur, was born the following year and the youngest child, Grace, in 1896. William and Mary's eleven surviving children were living with them in 1901: Eliza (27) a lace pattern overlocker, Clara (24) a lace finisher overlocker, Harry (22) a bricklayer, Herbert (20) and Fred (18) who were both wicker chair makers, Ernest (17) a hosiery bleacher, Frank (15) a cabinet maker's apprentice, Mabel (14) a lace finisher, George (11), Arthur (8) and Grace (5). By 1911 only six of William and Mary's children were still living at home: Harry (32) a bricklayer, Fred (28) a basket maker, Ernest (27) a hosiery bleacher, Frank (25) a chair maker, George (21) a joiner and Arthur (18) a grocery shop assistant. Harry married Elizabeth Pendleton in 1915 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1919 Elizabeth was living with her parents at 2 Wilton Terrace, Old Basford. She did not remarry and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled she and her widowed father, Theophilus Pendleton, were living in Eastwood with her married sister. Harry's mother Mary Stretton died in 1922 and his father William on 6 April 1926. His brother Fred served with 2/5th North Staffordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 21 October 1917 leaving a wife and one child. (See record on this ROH) Their sister Grace married Lance-Corporal Alfred Lisle Martin, RAMC (BEF), at Queensberry Street Baptist Church, Basford, on 19 September 1917

He was a bricklayer.

He enlisted in Nottingham and was living in Old Basford, Nottingham

Harry served in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) and was in France from 11 November 1914. He was reported missing in action between 13th-16th September 1916; his date of death was accepted for official purposes as 16 September. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial. The date of death on the medal index card is 13 September. Harry qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Harry's brother Fred served in the 2/5th Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment) and was killed in action on 21 October 1917; he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour). Harry's brother-in-law, Fred Pendleton, his wife's youngest brother, served with the 1/6th West Riding Regiment (41193 Private) and was killed in action on 11 April 1918. He is also commemorated on the St Aiden war memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His widow, Elizabeth, was his sole legatee Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 October 1916: ‘Stretton. Killed in action September 13th to 16th, Pte. H Stretton, Sherwood Foresters. Silently mourned. Mother, father, sisters, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 13th September 1917: “STRETTON. – Killed in action between September 13th and 16th, 1916, Private H. Stretton, Sherwood Foresters. The heart that mourns sincerely mourns silently and low. – From his loving wife.” Above extract courtesy of Jim Grundy via face book pages of Small town Great War, Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 21 October 1918: ‘Stretton. In loving memory of Pte. Fred Stretton, North Staffs, killed in action October 21st 1917. also Pte Harry Stretton, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action Sept. 13th-16th, 1916. Mother, father sisters, brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Marriages’, 20 September 1917: ‘Martin-Stretton. On the 19th inst., by licence at Queensberry-street Baptist Church, Old Basford, by the Rev. J Chamberlain, Lance-Corporal Alfred Lisle Martin, RAMC BEF, to Grace Ida Stretton both of this city.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 8 April 1926: ‘Stretton. On April 6th, William Stretton, the beloved husband of the late Mary Stretton and son of the late Thomas Cox Stretton, of Old Basford, Nottingham. Interment General Cemetery, (-) Friday, 230pm. Peace, perfect peace.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Stretton William of 25 Cheltenham-street Old Basford Nottinghamshire died 6 April 1926 Administration Nottingham 31 August to Herbert Stretton wicker manufacturer. Effects £408 13s. 4d. Nottingham Evening Post, 25 October 1927: ‘Died under Anaesthetic. Basford Man’s Collapse During Operation. The City Coroner (Mr CL Rothera), to-day held an inquest at the General Hospital, Nottingham, on Frank Stretton, 41, of Bowness (-), Stockhill, Basford, who died in the institution on Sunday under an anaesthetic. It was stated by Ethel Stretton, the widow, that her husband had been ill for the last (-) months and had been a patient on (-) occasions at the General Hospital. He was sent home from the hospital on Friday (-) but early on Sunday morning he complained of very severe abdominal pains. Witness sent for a doctor who said that her husband’s only chance was to be taken back to the hospital. The medical evidence was that when Stretton was sent home on Friday, he had been relieved, but would have to become an out-patient at the hospital. On his return to the hospital on Sunday morning he showed signs of general peritonitis. His only chance was to undergo an operation, and a general anaesthetic was administered. During the operation the patient suddenly collapsed and died. Death was due to general peritonitis and the Coroner returned a verdict accordingly.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 21 & 22 October 1940: ‘Stretton. Herbert, aged 60, 39 Brooklyn-road, Bulwell, passed away October 19th, 1940, after a long illness bravely borne. Interment Bulwell, Wednesday 2.30. Wife and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Stretton Ernest William of 68 Wilton Street Old Basford Nottingham died 18 May 1964 at Park Lane Old Basford Administration (with Will) Nottingham 13 July to Ada Stretton widow. £546 Probate: Stretton Arthur of the Hollies Nursing Home Third Avenue Sherwood Rise Nottingham died 9 May 1974 Probate Nottingham 25 June £6901