Harry Latham

Harry was the son of Henry Luke Latham and his wife Eliza Ann (née Cox). His father Henry Luke was born in 1851 in Old Basford, the son of John Latham and his wife Ruth (née Pasfield m. 1842 Aston Juxta Birmingham). His mother Eliza Ann Cox was born in 1853, also in Old Basford. His parents were married at Radford St Peter in July 1872 and had 12 children, seven of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were all born in Old Basford: Eliza Ann b. 1878, Harry birth registered 1882 (J/F/M), Ethel birth registered 1888 (J/F/M), William b. 1892 and Horace b. 1897. All the children were baptised at Basford St Leodegarius, Harry in January 1882 and Horace in August 1897. Henry, a brush maker, and his wife were living in 2 Queen Square, Queen Street, Old Basford, when the census was taken in 1891, 1901 and 1911. All five of their children were living at home in 1901: Harry, a lace bleacher, Ethel, William, Horace and their married daughter Eliza Daley, a lace mender, together with her husband Thomas, a market gardener, whom she had married in 1900. Eliza and Thomas had four children, one of whom died in infancy: Lily b. 1900 (bap. St Leodegarious November 1900), Elsie b. 1902, Thomas Charles b. 1904 d. 1905 and Thomas b. 1906. Their daughter Lily has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census but it is possible that she was living with her parents at 2 Queen Square but not recorded by the enumerator. By 1911 only William, a coal miner, Horace, who was school age, and their married daughter Ethel Deverine, an upholsteress (perambulator trade) and her daughter Nora Deverine were living with Henry and Eliza in Queen Square. Ethel had married Thomas Deverill in 1906 and they had two daughters, Norah Ruth (b. 1908) and Gwendoline (b. 1916). Eliza Daley, her husband Thomas, an electric car conductor (Nottingham Corporation), and their three children Lily, Elsie and Thomas, were living at 4 Queen's Square, Basford. Harry had married Emily/Emma (née Bearder, b. 11 January 1894) in 1910 and they had three children, one of whom died in infancy: Joseph Edward b. 1912, Nellie b. 1913 and Sarah AE b. 1915 d. 1916. In 1911, before the births of their children, Harry, a labourer, and Emma, a dressing room hand, were living at 21 Pump Street, Meadows, Nottingham, with Emma's widowed mother, Eliza Bearder. Henry Luke died in May 1915 aged 64. His widow Eliza died at their home in Queen's Square in 1923 aged 70. Harry's wife Emma was living at 5 North Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, when he was killed in 1916. She married secondly Frederick John Cozens, a soldier, at St Patrick's RC church, London Road, Meadows, on 6 August 1917. The following year they had a son, Frederick A Cozens (b. 1918 J/F/M d. May 1918). However, Frederick Cozens had married bigamously as his first wife, Ellen, whom he had married in 1914, was still living. Cozens was committed to the Nottingham Assizes in May 1918. (See 'Extra information'). Emma probably died in 1919 (burial 5 August), and it is likely that her two surviving children, Edward and Nellie, were then cared for by her widowed mother, Eliza Bearder. Both children survived into adulthood.

1901 - lace bleacher. 1911 - labourer.

12th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Harry was killed in action on 5 July 1916 and is buried in Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. I.B.2). CWGC - History of Kandahar Military Cemetery (extract): The cemetery is about 14km from the town of Ieper [Ypres]. 'Kandahar Farm was near the village of Wulverghem (now Wulvergem) and for much of the war, the front line ran a little east of the village. The cemetery was used by Commonwealth divisions holding this sector from November 1914 to April 1918, when it fell into German hands with the capture of Wulverghem and Neuve-Eglise (now Nieuwkerke). The two villages were recovered in early September and the cemetery was used again.' (www.cwgc.org)

Harry's brother Horace served in the 2nd Bn. Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment), 26874 Private, and died of wounds on 9 April 1917, aged 19. He is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Their cousin, Bernard William Latham (b. 1894), the son of their father's younger brother William (b. 1857) served with the 7th Bn. East Surrey Regiment (10451 Private) and was killed in action on 16 September 1916. Arras Memorial, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his widow Emily Latham (b. 1894) and children Joseph Edward and Nellie, residence Nottingham. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Emily (sic) Latham was his legatee and received payments for herself and her children. A payment on 1 November 1919 was made to Mrs Eliza Bearder, described on the record as Emily's mother-in-law. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths,’ 31 May 1915: ‘Latham. On the 30th inst., at 2, Queens-square, Queens-street, Old Basford, Henry Luke, the beloved husband of Eliza Ann Latham, in his 65th year. Peace after pain. Funeral Basford Cemetery, Thursday.’ Also 'In Memoriam' notices in 1916 and 1918. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 25 July 1916: Latham. Killed in action, July 5th, 1916. Private Harry Latham, Sherwood Foresters, beloved husband of Emma Latham, 5 North-street, Sneinton. One so sadly missed by all, who fought for England, home, and beauty, but comfort comes with that one thought, he did not shirk his duty. Sorrowing wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam,' 5 July 1917: 'Latham. Killed in action July 5th 1916. Midnight stars shine on the grave of one I loved but could not save. - From his sorrowing wife and children.' Nottingham Evening Post, 13 May 1918: ‘Bigamy Charge in Nottm. Soldier Marries Soldier’s Widow. At the Nottingham Guildhall to-day Frederick John Couzans, a corporal in the Lincolnshire Regiment, was committed to the Assizes on a charge of bigamously marrying Mrs Emily Latham of North-street, Nottingham, the widow of a soldier, on August 6th, 1917, his first wife, Ellen Couzans, then being alive … Mrs Latham said that her late husband belonged to the Sherwood Foresters, and was killed in France on July 5th, 1915. She received 24s. 6d. A week for six months, and after her husband’s death 22s. 11d. a week widow’s pay. There were two children of the marriage. On August 6th, 1917, she married prisoner at St Patrick’s, London-road, Nottingham. His name was given in the certificate as ‘Frederick Arthur Couzans, bachelor; After marrying prisoner she received a lump sum of over £31 from the government. In March 1917, the prisoner, who was in the Lincolnshire Regiment, came to her house along with her brother … He continued to visit her until, finding herself in a certain condition, she asked him what was to be done. He replied that they must get married … They were married at St Patrick’s on August 6th, after which she received an army allowance of 24s. 6d. A week. On December 30th 1917, a child was born and she then applied for extra army allowance in respect of it. The child died a day or two ago [Frederick A Cozens b. 1918 JFM d. 1918 AMJ]. The first intimation she had that prisoner was married was from the Army Pay Office … Prisoner, who offered no defence was then committed to the Assizes. He was allowed bail, a military representative saying that useful work could be found for him in the meantime.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 25 June 1918: ‘Women Deceived. Four Bigamy Charges at Notts Assizes. A Soldier’s Widow … Prisoner Frederick John Cozens (sic), 42, RFA admitted that he married her [Emily Latham] knowing his wife to be still alive. [married December 1914] … On prisoner’s behalf it was stated that he had a good character in the army and although he deserted that offence had been pardoned.’ Cozens was sentenced to eight months’ hard labour. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths,’ 29 October 1923: ‘Latham. At her residence, Queen-square, Old Basford, Eliza Ann the beloved wife of the late Henry Luke Latham, passed away October 27th in her 71st year. Peace after pain. Interment Basford Cemetery (-)day, 3pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Research by David Nunn