Herbert North Bingham

Herbert North was the son of Joseph Bingham and Emma Bingham nee North. Herbert was born on 28 August 1870 (J/A/S Mansfield) and baptised in Pinxton on 8 January 1871. His father Joseph was born in South Normanton and his mother Emma in New Brinsley. The couple had at least eight children: North b 27 September 1866 (bap. 10 May 1868 Pinxton), John (bap. 10 May 1868 Pinxton), Herbert North b. 28 August 1870, Walter b. 1872 (O/N/D Mansfield), Elizabeth Slater b. 13 October 1875 (bap. 5 November 1875 Pixton), Sarah Hannah b. 1877, Ann Maria b. 6 January 1879 (bap. 9 February 1879) and Emma North (bap. 27 February 1881). All the children were born in Pinxton. In 1871 Joseph (27), a blacksmith, and his wife Emma (25) were living with their three sons, North (5), John (3) and Herbert (7 months), in Pinxton in the home of Emma's parents John North (56), a licensed victualler, and his wife Elizabeth (Bessie). By the time of the next census in 1881 Joseph (36) was living on Wharf Road, Pinxton, and listed as a licensed victualler and farmer of 8 acres. Seven of their children were in the home on the night of the census: John, Herbert (10), Walter (8), Elizabeth (5), Sarah (4), Ann (2) and Emma (2 months). Also in the household was Bessie North (61) Joseph's widowed mother who was of independent means, his niece Susanna Watts (21) who was a domestic servant and two female general servants. Their eldest son, North, was an apprentice confectioner in the household of Samuel and Sarah Boler at 1 Leeming Street, Mansfield. Herbert (24) married Annie Ancliff nee Burrow, the daughter of Francis Burrow, in Pinxton parish church on 26 February 1895 (1895 J/F/M Mansfield); both were resident in the parish. Annie (b. 1866 J/F/M Sheffield) had married Walter Ancliff (28) on 22 April 1888 in Codnor and Loscoe, Derbyshire, and they had one child, Florence May b. 1891 (J/A/S Mansfield). Walter died the year after his daughter was born (1892 J/A/S Mansfield) at the age of 32. According to the 1911 Census, Herbert and Annie had had seven children of whom only three were still living at the time of the census. Four children have been traced on either the census or baptismal records: Ethel North b. 8 November 1895 South Normanton (baptised 5 August 1896, Pinxton), Cyril North b. 26 July 1898 (baptised 4 September 1898) died 1899 (A/M/J Mansfield), Doris Kathleen b. 1902 (A/M/J Mansfield and baptised 4 May 1902, Pinxton) death registered 1904 (J/F/M Mansfield) and Arthur Frank b. 4 February 1906 Mansfield (J/F/M Mansfield). It seems likely that they included Florence May Ancliff as one of the seven children as only two of their own children, Ethel and Arthur, appear to have survived. The report of Herbert's death in the local paper in 1917 also said that he left two daughters and a son. At the time of Ethel's baptism in August 1896 the family was living in South Normanton and Herbert was an inn keeper; they were living in the same village and Herbert was in the same occupation at the time of Cyril's baptism two years later in September 1898. At the time of the 1901 Census, though, Herbert was the publican of the Crown Inn, Hucknall Torkard. In the home on the night of the census were his wife Annie, their surviving child, Ethel (4), Annie's daughter Florence (9) and Herbert's widowed mother-in-law, E Burrows (62), and a general servant. According to a 1904 street directory Herbert was then the licensee at the Portland Arms public house at 21 Albert Street, Mansfield. His older brother, North, was a baker and confectioner at 4 Leeming Street, Mansfield. By 1911 Herbert was the licensee of the Black Horse Inn, Somercotes. Also in the household on the night of the census were his wife Annie (45), their two surviving children, Ethel (15) and Arthur (5) and Annie's daughter by her first marriage, Florence May Ancliffe (sic) (19) a domestic. The name of a domestic servant, Annie Straw (14), was deleted from the census form; this might be because she 'lived out' so was not in the house on the night of the census. Herbert enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1915 but it is not known when the family emigrated to Canada, assuming that Annie and the children accompanied Herbert. The Probate record has Herbert's home address as Radisson, Saskatchewan, Canada, while the report of his death in the local paper in 1917 gave his widow's address as 25 Chaucer Street, Mansfield; it is also the address on the subsequent CWGC record. If Annie had emigrated to Canada she may well have returned home once it was known that Herbert would be serving in France since this would make home leave possible (according to the newspaper report of his death Herbert had had home leave in Mansfield a year before his death). The newspaper report noted that Herbert left three children - two daughters and a son - who were probably Florence, Ethel and Arthur. Arthur Frank died in 1990 (June Basford).

In the 1890s he lived in Somercotes and his occupation was inn keeper. In 1901 he was publican of the Crown Inn, Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire. By 1904 he was the licensee of the Portland Arms, Albert Street, Mansfield, then publican at the Black Horse Inn, Somercotes by 1911.

Enlisted in Canada c.1915

14th Canadian Bn Royal Montreal Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.

Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times, 11th May 1917: KILLED IN FRANCE. “PRIVATE H. N. BINGHAM. “Private Herbert N Bingham, brother of Mr North Bingham, of Mansfield, has paid the supreme sacrifice out in France. Deceased was at one time licensee of the Portland Arms, Albert-street, Mansfield, but eventually went out to Canada, where, when the call for volunteers for the Army was made, he enlisted. This would be about two years ago, and some twelve months back he was home in Mansfield on leave. His widow resides at 25, Chaucer-street. There are left two daughters and one son. From the officer commanding the 14th Canadian Battalion Royal Montreal Regiment, Mrs. Bingham has received the following communication: — “Headquarters, 14th Canadian Batt., “Royal Montreal Regt., May 2nd, 1917. “Mrs. Bingham, 25, Chancer-street, “Mansfield, England. “Dear Madam, — You have doubtless been informed before this of the death of your husband, Private H. N. Bingham, which occurred during our successful attack of April 30th, 1917. Your husband was a good soldier, and I can assure you that his loss is felt keenly by all who knew him. Canada has lost a good soldier, and all of us a brave and gallant comrade. “We hope, in the years to come when time will have somewhat lightened this serious blow, the fact that your husband died fighting bravely for his country may prove of some consolation to you. “I extend to you the sincerest sympathy of all ranks under my command. — Yours sincerely, “GAULT McCOMBE, “Commanding 14th Canadian Battalion.” Above item is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Mansfield Reporter, ‘Deaths’, 11 May 1917: 'Bingham. Killed in action, April 30th 1917. Private HN Bingham, 14th Canadian infantry, dearly beloved husband of Mrs Annie Bingham, 25, Chaucer-street, Mansfield, aged 47 years. We never knew what pain he had, We never saw him die; We only know he passed away, Without a last good-bye. But the bitterest blow is yet to come, When the heroes all return; And we miss, among the absent ones, the face of our dear one. From his sorrowing Wife and Children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Bingham Herbert North of Radisson Saskatchewan Canada private 14th Canadian battalion Imperial force died 30 April 1917 in France on active service Probate London 15 August to North Bingham [brother] picture palace proprietor. Effects £556 9s. 9d.