Donald Arthur Poole

Donald Arthur Poole was the eldest son of Arthur and Emily Poole (née Calvert). His father Arthur was born in Nottingham in 1856, the son of Joseph Poole. In addition to his commercial activities, Arthur was in the Freemasons and also served in the Robin Hood Rifles, 1st Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteers, for over 30 years, retiring in the rank of major and qualifying for the Territorial Decoration (TD). His mother Emily was born in Gainsborough in 1858, the daughter of William Calvert, a builder, and his wife Margaret. In 1881 Emily, a milliner, was living with her parents and her seven siblings at Trent Street, Gainsborough. Arthur and Emily were married at Gainsborough All Saints on 9 May 1882 and had three sons, born in Nottingham, one of whom died in infancy: Donald Arthur b. 1883 bap. Nottingham St Thomas 21 March 1900; Sydney Calvert b. 1890 (J/A/S) bap. Nottingham St Stephen 14 September 1890 d. 1890; and Leonard Calvert birth registered 1901 (J/F/M). In 1890 when their second son Sydney was baptised, the family was living at 32 Melbourne Street, Nottingham, and was still at the same address when the 1891 Census was taken: Arthur, a baker and confectioner (employer), Emily and Donald (7) together with Emily's unmarried sister Elizabeth who was 'living on own means.' Sydney had died the previous year before his first birthday. By 1900 when Donald was baptised, the family had moved to 148 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, and were recorded there on the 1901 Census: Arthur a baker and confectioner, Emily, Donald a confectioner, and Leonard. Also in the household was a housemaid. Arthur and his wife were appointed club manager and manageress at the Masonic Club, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham. Their son Donald was initiated in the Newstead Lodge No. 47 in 1908, giving his address as the Masonic Hall [Goldsmith Street], and the family, together with two female domestic servants, was recorded there in 1911. Donald gave his occupation as baker. On the night of the census the youngest son Leonard was in the home of his uncle and aunt, John and Mary Jane Scottern (née Calvert), at Huntingdon Street, Nottingham. Arthur and Emily later moved to 16 Market-place, Carrington. Emily probably died in 1933 and Arthur died at their home on 24 January 1935. Both are buried in Nottingham (Church) Cemetery. Leonard survived his parents.

1901 - confectioner. 1911 - baker. Freemason (Newstead Lodge No. 47), initiated 1908 occupation confectioner.

Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham

2/7th (Robin Hood) Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Formerly 6451. Served 'B' Coy and possibly transferred to 'D' Coy when the 2/7th Bn. was absorbed in the 1/7th Bn in February 1918 and renamed 7th Bn. The 7th Bn. Notts & Derbys replaced the Robin Hood Rifles, 1st Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteers, on the formation of the Territorial Force in April 1908. The 2/7th Bn (TF) was formed at Nottingham on 19 September 1914 as a second line unit. It served in Dublin from April 1916 (Easter Rebellion) then mobilised for BEF France, disembarking Le Havre on 27 February 1917. The battalion was absorbed by the 1/7th (Robin Hood) Bn. on 6 February 1918 and renamed 7th Bn. The battalion transferred to 178th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. Few of Donald's military records survive, but it is likely given his father's connection with the Robin Hood Rifles, that he also served in either the Volunteers or the later 7th (Robin Hood) Bn. (Territorial Force, 1908). Donald was killed in action on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring offensive. The battalion suffered heavy casualties that day, with 26 officers and 629 other ranks posted 'Killed in Action, Wounded in Action or Missing in Action.' Donald is buried in the H.A.C. [Honourable Artillery Company] Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, France (grave ref. 8.A.24). The history of the cemetery suggests that Donald's grave was brought in either from battlefields in the area or smaller burial grounds after the Armistice. (See below) Donald was initially reported missing in action on 21 March, and there is a record of a British Red Cross Society/Society of St John 'Missing/wounded' enquiry four months later on 2 August 1918. His death was later officially accepted as having occurred on 21 March 1918; a notice of Donald's death was published in the local paper on 6 December suggesting that this was when his family received official confirmation of his death. CWGC - history of H.A.C. Cemetery (extract): The village of Ecoust-St.Mein is located between Arras, Cambrai and Bapaume. 'The enemy positions from Doignies to Henin-sur-Cojeul, including the village of Ecoust, were captured on 2 April 1917, by the 4th Australian and 7th Divisions. This cemetery was begun by the 7th Division after the battle, when 27 of the 2nd H.A.C. who fell (with one exception) on the 31st March or the 1st April [1917], were buried in what is now Plot I, Row A ... Rows B, C and part of D were made in August and September 1918, when the ground had been recaptured by the 3rd Division after five months enemy occupation. The 120 graves thus made were the original H.A.C. Cemetery; but after the Armistice graves were added from the battlefields of Bullecourt and Ecoust and from a number of smaller burial grounds [listed].' Several of these burial grounds included graves of casualties who died in March 1918. There are now 1921 casualties buried in the H.A.C. Cemetery.

CWGC additional information: 'Son of Maj. Arthur Poole, T.D. and Emily Poole, of 16, Market Place, Carrington, Nottingham.' Freemason memorials: Book (1921) Masonic Roll(1914-1918) and Memorial (1940) Scroll – WW1 Roll of Honour: Donald Arthur Poole. (www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk) Family headstone Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: 'In memory of our beloved son, Sergt DA Poole, 1/7th (sic) Sherwood Foresters R.H.s, fell in France, March 21st 1918 in his 34th year. ‘Not too much we’ll sorrow - for it’s both ‘Adieu’ and ‘Au revoir'' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 6 December 1918: ‘Poole. Killed in action, March 21st, 1918, 19645 (sic) Sgt. DA Poole. ‘D’ Company, 1/7th Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hoods), aged 34.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam, 21 March 1919: 'POOLE. – In loving memory of Sergt. D. A. Poole (Don), fell in action in France March 21st, 1918. An aching void that naught can fill. – Dad and mam.' 'POOLE. – In loving memory of Sergt. D. A. Poole (Don), killed in action in France March 21st, 1918. Could we but hear his cheery voice say “Carry on.” – Brother Len, aunt Jen.' Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 20 March 1920: notices from 'brother Len and Aunty Jen, and Mam and Dad.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 21 March 1921: notices from ‘Dad, mam' and 'Brother Len and Aunty Jen.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam', 21 March 1925: ‘Poole. In loving memory of Sergt. DA Poole (Don), fell in France, March 21st, 1918. An ever-cherished memory.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father Arthur was his legatee. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 25 January 1935: ‘Poole. On January 24th, at 16 Market-place, Carrington, Arthur, aged 78 husband of the late Emily Poole. Funeral, 2.45 Saturday, Church Cemetery, Nottingham.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 25 January 1935: report of the death of Arthur Poole which included the information that, ‘For a great part of his life Mr Poole carried on business as a baker, and he was identified prominently with the Master Bakers’ Union. During his 32 years as a Volunteer with the Robin Hoods he served as captain and quarter-master and retired with the rank of major.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 26 January 1935 (extract): ‘The Late Mr. A Poole. Representative Gathering At Funeral. The funeral of the late Mr Arthur Poole of Market-place, Carrington, a well-known Nottingham Freemason, and a member of the old Volunteers for about 32 years, took place this afternoon at the Church Cemetery, Mansfield -road, Nottingham … [family mourners] … Among the general mourners were Major and Quartermaster DM Lindsay, MC, representing Lieut-Colonel AA Walton and the officers of the Robin Hoods, Captain E Skinner, and Mr JA Fletcher (late of the Robin Hoods), and Mr H Mee (representing Colonel WR Rook, formerly of the Robin Hoods.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)