David Finch

David Finch was born in 1879 the son of William (died Nottingham 1904 aged 54) a bicycle hand and Hannah Finch (née Priest). His father was born at Radford in 1852 and his mother in 1856 at Bedworth Worcestershire. Married in 1875 at Nottingham, they had twelve children. David’s siblings to survive infancy were William b.1877 Clay Cross, Martha b.1883 Radford, Samuel b.1885 Radford (killed in action at Hooge 9/8/1915), Hannah b.1889 Radford, Mabel b.1892 Radford, John b.1895 Radford and Drucilla b.1898 Radford. In 1901 and 1911 they lived at 10 Brassey Street Radford Nottingham. David married Florence Gertrude Best, a sweet packer, in 1905 at Nottingham. They lived at 20 Windmill Street Radford Nottingham. In 1911 they lived at 20 Windmill Street Hyson Green Nottingham.

in 1911 he was a cycle frame filer.

Radford Nottingham

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A)

Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged), 23 October 1916: 'Finch. Killed in action, Sergeant David Finch (better known as Harrington), Sherwood Foresters, of 20 Windmill Street. Wife, Florence Finch.' David’s brother in law was also killed during the Great War : Gunner Thomas William Morley, 25th Divisional Ammunition Column, was killed accidentally on 5th August 1916. He is buried in Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. He was the husband of Mrs Hannah Leavesley (formerly Morley née Finch) of 49 Mitchell Street Radford Nottingham. Death notice published 24th October 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FlNCH. — Killed in action. September 13th, 1916.[1] Sergeant David Finch, Sherwood Foresters, of 28, Auckland-street, Radford, brother of Sergeant Samuel Finch, [2] killed in action, August, 9th, 1915, also brother-in-law of Gunner Thomas W. Morley, [3] 49, Mitchell-street, killed in action, August 5th, 1916. In a far and lonely battlefield, where the trees their branches bend, lie our loved ones, gone to their untimely end. Silently the shades of evening gather round our lonely door, silently they bring before us faces we shall see no more. Duty nobly done. — Broken-hearted mother, soldier brother Jack, & sisters.” [1] The Commonwealth War Graves Commission give his date of death as 16th September 1916. However, it is more likely that the date given by the family is correct – the war diary supports this. [2] Sgt. Samuel Finch, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action at Hooge on 9th August 1915. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate. [3] Gnr. Thomas William Morley, 25th Divisional Ammunition Column, was killed accidentally on 5th August 1916. He is buried in Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. He was the husband of Mrs. H. Leavesley (formerly Morley), of 49 Mitchell Street, Radford, Nottingham. Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918