Frederick Shipman

Frederick was the son of Alfred Shipman and Mary Ellen (also Ellen Mary) Shipman nee Harris. His father was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and his mother in Nottingham. They were married in 1884 (A/M/J Nottingham). Ellen Harris already had a son, Arthur Albert Harris, birth registered 1880 (J/F/M Radford), and in 1881 they were both living with her parents, George and Eliza Harris, at 8 Ilkeston Road, Nottingham. Later census records give Arthur's surname as either Harris or Shipman and although he is usually described as Alfred Shipman's son in 1911 Arthur was using the surname Harris and was described as Alfred's stepson. The 1911 Census record completed by either Alfred as head of household or his wife, gave the information that they had been married for 27 years and had had nine children of whom only six were still living. Six children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911: Arthur Albert Harris/Shipman, Helen b. 1884 (O/N/D Nottingham), Florence (Florrie) b. abt 1887, Lilian b. 1893 J/A/S Nottingham, Frederick b. 1888 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Alfred Leonard b. 1890 (A/M/J Nottingham). All the children were born in Radford, Nottingham. In 1891 Alfred (30), a slater, and his wife Ellen (32) were living at 8 Ilkeston Road, Radford, Nottingham. In the home on the night of the census were Arthur (11), Helen (6), Florrie (4), Frederick (3) and Alfred (1) and the widowed Eliza Harris (69), Alfred's mother-in-law. By 1901 the family was living at 12 Holden Street, New Radford. Alfred (39) was still working as a slater while Mary (42) was working as a lace mender. Also in the household were Helen (16) and Florence (14), both hosiery makers, Frederick (12), Alfred (11) and Lilian (7). On the same census, Arthur Harris (21) a solicitor's assistant, was recorded living at 16 Holden Street, Radford, with his maternal grandmother, Eliza Harris (78). Frederick joined the Sherwood Foresters in August 1906 at the age of 18. He named his parents and two brothers as his next of kin who were living at 58 Ilkeston Road, Nottingham. In 1911 Frederick was serving as a musician with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters in Devon and based at Crownhill Hutments, Crownhill. His parents were living at 16 Moorgate, New Radford, in 1911. With them in the household on the night of the census were Alfred (21) a bobbin and carriage maker, Lilian (17) a pinafore machinist and also Arthur Harris (31) a wood sawyer, described as Alfred's stepson, and George Harris (38) a general labourer, who was Alfred's nephew by marriage. During his transfer to the Reserves and temporary return to 'civvy street' he married Mabel Gale of 13 Smith Street, Radford. They were married at Nottingham Register Office on 16 October 1912 (O/N/D Nottingham) and their only child, Florence May was born the following year on 21 April 1913 (A/M/J Nottingham). Mabel was still living at 13 Smith Street in 1915. Mabel married John Wilson, a tripe dresser, of 70 Trent Road, Sneinton, in the summer of 1915 (J/A/S Nottingham). There was a child, or children, of the marriage. Mabel Wilson was living at 556 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, when in March 1920 she completed a form for the army listing her late husband's surviving blood relatives: Wife: Mabel Wilson, 556 Mansfield Road, Sherwood Child: Florence May Shipman, 556 Mansfield Road, Sherwood Father and mother: Alfred and Ellen Shipman, 16 Moorgate Street, Radford Brother: (illegible) Shipman (27), 1 Holden Street, Radford Sisters: Florence Shipman, Sheffield; Nellie (?Helen) Shipman (32), Vernon Road, Basford; Lilian Shipman (25) 14 Moorgate Street, Radford. Frederick's mother, Mary Ellen Shipman, died on 26 November 1921 (Dec Nottingham) aged 63.

His occupation given on attestation as bobbin maker but later, while in the Reserves, Frederick worked as a railway goods porter

58 Ilkeston Road, Nottingham

On 10th August 1906, at 5'4", weighing 119lbs, brown hair, brown eyes and fair complexion, Fredrick Shipman, aged 18 years and 4 months, attested in the Notts & Derby Regiment. While serving, Private Shipman was awarded 10 days detention by his CO in October 1909 with loss of pay and pension for 'using obscene and threatening language to a NOC and (i) resisting arrest (ii) drunk'. He served from 10th August 1906 until 10th July 1911 then transferred to the Reserves under KR para 366. His military history record gives home service from 10 August1906 to 8 September 1914 then 42 days from 9 September 1914 to 20 October 1914 with the British Expeditionary Force. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. From the Army documents the unofficial confirmation of his death was notified by letter sent by 9922 Pte F Smith and 9543 Pte Brown. A letter from the War Office dated 26 July 1915 to Officer i/c Records Infantry, Lichfield, states "the unofficial report of this soldier presumed dead dated 15th October 1914 has been accepted for special purposes. Will you please notify next of kin accordingly, and prepare the usual papers." Frederick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 31 July 1915 : ‘Shipman. Killed in action, October 20th, with the British Expeditionary Force, Private Frederick Shipman, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, aged 26 years, late of Holden-street, Nottingham. He gave his life to save others. Wife, father, mother, brothers, sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow, Mabel, was his legatee. Mabel received a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and child with effect from 9 August 1915. Probate: Shipman Ellen Mary of 16 Moorgate-street Nottingham (wife of Albert Shipman) died 26 November 1921 Probate Nottingham 13 December to Thomas Albert Lamb joiner and undertaker Effects £81.