William Bonnington

William Bonnington was born in 1888 at Hucknall and was the son of the late John a coal miner and Ann Bonnington née Clifton of Hucknall. His father John was born in Hucknall in 1837 and his mother Ann Clifton was born in 1839 at Greaskey she died in 1918 they went on to have the following children, John b1872, Elizabeth b1875, Sarah Ann b1877 and William b188, all were born at HGucknall. William was the husband of Florence (née Short) Bonnington and the father of Elsie May and William Bonnington of 16 Brook Street, Hucknall. He married his wife Florence Short (born 24th September 1886 ) on 9th May 1909 at the Wesleyan Reform Church at Hucknall Torkard, they went on to have two children Elsie May born 6th October 1909 and William Stanley born 12th August 1911 both were born in Hucknal Torkard In the 1911 census the family are living at 25 Seldon Place, Beaumont Street and were shown as William 23 yrs a warehouse man he is living with his wife Florence 24 yrs and their daughter Elsie May 1 year of age. Following his death his widow Florence was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week which commenced on 10th January 1916. Florence later married Levi Rigley in 1920 and they lived at 16 Brook Street Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire.

He was a warehouseman.

25 Seldon Place, Beaumont Street, Hucknall Torkard

Gunner William Bonnington enlisted on 8th December 1914, he was 27 yrs and 7 months old he gave his address as 25 Seldon Place, Beaumont Street, Hucknal Torkard, his occupation was that of a machine repairer. His next of kin was his wife Florence of the same address. On 12th December 1914 he joined the RGA at Newhavan. On the 2nd July 1915 he was released from military duties for employment with the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. On 11th July 1915 he was admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich and died there the following day. An inquest into his death was held by the coroner on 15th July when the cause of his death was given as cirrhosis of the liver, kidney and spleen and pulmonary congestion. His body was returned to his family and he was buried in the parish church graveyard in Hucknall on 17th July 1915 being given a military escort .

Gunner William ‘Billy’ Bonnington, Royal Garrison Artillery, died on 12th July 1915. He is buried in the parish church graveyard in Hucknall. He received a moving tribute from his former comrades see following article published in the Hucknall Dispatch on 22nd July 1915. :- “A SOLDIER’S FUNERAL. “HUCKNALL MAN’S SUDDEN DEATH AT WOOLWICH. “As reported in our last issue, the death occurred at Woolwich Hospital last week of Gunner W. Bonnington, who enlisted in Nottingham (where he was residing) last December [1914] in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He had just completed his training and was put on active service in the garrison at Woolwich. “He had only been there three days, when he was taken ill and removed to the hospital, where he died shortly afterwards, rendering it necessary to hold a post mortem on the body, which did not reach Hucknall (his native place) until Friday afternoon. [16th July 1915] “The funeral took place from the home of Mrs. Bonnington (where he was brought up) in South street on Saturday, [17th July 1915] a military escort attending from Bulwell Hall, numbering 24 of the Mechanical Transport Service. The coffin was borne by soldiers to the Parish Church, where a most impressive service was conducted by the Rev. T.G. Barber, vicar. Afterwards the body was laid to rest on the south side of the church, almost under the shadow of the home where he was brought up. A few beautiful floral tributes bedecked the coffin, and then the mourners wended their way to the little home in South street, headed by the widow (with a boy, aged four, and a girl, aged six, on either side of her). With the absence of clatter of home’s hoofs and funeral coaches there was a solemnity about that little procession one seldom sees in these days, and many hearts were touched by the scene. “Gunner W. Bonnington was 28 years of age, and was well-known and respected by a wide circle of friends in Hucknall. The same may also truthfully be said of his workmates in Nottingham who sent a wreath to convey their grief at the loss of a respected comrade. The wording was as follows:- “Who plucked this tender flower?” said the gardener. “I,” said the Master. “The gardener held his peace. “Dear Billy – We Sneinton friends offer this wreath as a sincere tribute of respect we have and always will have of you. You were always a good lad. Farewell.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918