Samuel Harry Wagstaff

Samuel Harry/Henry was the son of John and Martha Ann Wagstaff. He may have been born on 27 May 1870 (RND record) although there is a record of the birth of a Samuel Henry Wagstaff in 1868 (registered J/A/S, Basford). His father was born in Selston and his mother in Hartshill, Worcestershire. They had at least five children: Samuel, Sarah Frances (b. 1871), Martha Mary (b. 1872), Ruth (b. 1873) and Edward (b. 1874). John was an ironworker and in 1881 he and his wife and their five children, Samuel (12) a coal miner, Sarah (9), Martha (8), Ruth (7) and Edward (6) were living in Selston. His parents were still living in Selston in 1891 but only Ruth and Edward were in the family home on the night of the census. Samuel was a regular soldier and served in the 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment (1957 Private) from 1 June 1885 to 31 December 1892, a total of 7 years 247 days. (ex-6714 Private Notts & Derby Regt.) He volunteered on the outbreak of war and transferred to the RMLI, being demobilized on 9 April 1920. His address on demobilization was 25 Bentinck Street, Annesley Woodhouse, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, which was the home of his married sister, Sarah Frances Barnett. There is no firm evidence that Samuel ever married. However, all four of his siblings married. Sarah Frances married Edward Barnett in 1891 (registered J/A/S, Basford). In 1911 Sarah (4), abnd Edward (41), a coal miner, were living at 32 Bentinck Street, Annesley Woodhouse, with their four children; Linda (19), Albert (16) Arthur (12) and Frances Lavinia (7). All the children were born in Kirkby in Ashfield. Sarah died in 1951 aged 81. Martha Mary was married in 1891 to George Scothern (marriage registered J/F/M, Basford). In 1911 they were living on Mansfield Road Selston. George (42), a coal miner, and Martha (39) had 11 children between the ages of 18 and 9 months; Samuel Edward (18), John George, Harold, Jartha Mary, Francis, Albert Edward, Bernard, Nellie Patricia, Ernest Lionel, Linda and Lillian (9 months). Martha died in 1945 aged 73 (death registered June, Basford). Ruth married John Samuel Massey in 1896 (marriage registered J/A/S, Basford). John was a colliery banksman and in 1911 they were living on Hodgkinson Road, Annesley Woodhouse, with their five daughters, Minnie (15), Frances, Ruth Tryphena, Ethel May and Martha (1). All the children were born in Annesley Woodhouse apart from Martha who was born in Kirkby. Ruth died in 1921 aged 47. Edward was married to Annie Harvey in 1896 (marriage registered J/A/S, Basford). Edward was a coal miner loader. He died in 1909 leaving a widow and three children. In 1911 Annie was living at 13 Sherwood Street, Annesley Woodhouse, with her two sons, William Henry (14) and John Edward (13) both of whom were working in coal mine gangs, and her daughter Rachel Annie (7).

In 1881 he was a coal miner. He joined the army in 1885 and served for 7 years. He enlisted in September 1914 and was demobilized in 1919. At the time of his death in 1920 he was a coal miner loader.

Formerly served 7 years 247 days as 1957 Private 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment, 1 June 1885-31 December 1892. Ex-6714 Private Notts & Derby Regiment. He enlisted at the age of 44 on 8 September 1914 and transferred to RMLI short-service on 16 September 1914. He served with the Portsmouth Bn. MEF (Dardanelles) from 28 April 1915-9 September 1915 (evacuated sick); HMS Hindustan, 18 April 1916-6 January 1917; HMS Victory (Dockyard Guard) 7 January 1917-12 April 1918; HMS Ambitious, 10 May 1918-3 March 1919. He was demobilized on 9 April 1919 and died of influenza the following year on 19 April 1920. Wagstaff was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'

Samuel is not listed on CWGC as he died after demobilization and his death was not attributed to war service although he is commemorated on the Kingsway Cenotaph, Kirkby in Ashfield. His death was registered in the June Quarter of 1920 (Basford); it was recorded that his brother-in-law, E Barnett, was present at his death. The record gives his age as 52 although his DOB was given on the RND record as 27 May 1870 which would make him 49 years old. However, there is also a record of the birth of a Samuel Henry Wagstaff registered in 1868 (J/A/S, Basford).