Arthur Housley

Arthur was the son of John and Mary Ann Housley nee Staples. His father, John, was the son of John and Mary Housley of Underwood, Selston, and born in about 1851. His mother, Mary Ann, was the daughter of William and Sarah Staples and born in Gratton, Northamptonshire; she was baptised in Gratton on 9 April 1852. John and Mary Ann were married in 1875 (A/M/J Basford) and had at least six children: George b. Underwood 1874 (O/N/D Basford), John b. Newthorpe birth registered 1876 (J/F/M Basford), William b. Newthorpe 1877 (A/M/J Basford), Arthur b. Underwood birth registered 1879 (J/F/M Basford), Annie b. Greasley 14 August 1881 (J/A/S Basford) and Mary Ann b. 2 October 1883 (O/N/D Basford). In 1881 Arthur's parents, John (39) a carpenter, his wife Mary (29) and their sons George (6), John (5), William (4) and Arthur (2), were living on Palmerston Street, Selston, with John's widowed father, John Housley (55 bap 11 January 1824 Selston, parents Samuel and Sarah), a labourer. Their daughter Annie was born later that year on 14 August and Mary Ann two years later on 2 October 1883. It is likely that their mother Mary Ann died in 1883 (O/N/D Basford) aged 33 and their father John in 1890 (O/N/D Basford) aged 39. In 1891 five of the six children, George (16), John (15), William (14), Arthur (11) and Mary Ann (7), were still living with their grandfather John Housley (67) but the family had moved to Underwood. Annie, who would have been about 10 years old, has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census. Also in the houshold was a boarder, Frederick Housley(57 b. Selston), a labourer. John (77), now 'living on own means', was still in Underwood in 1901; four of his grandchildren were still living with him: John (25), William (24) and Arthur (22) who were all coal miners, and Annie (20). It is likely that the oldest sibling, George, had died in 1892 (J/F/M Basford) aged 17. By 1911 only John (35) and Arthur (32) were still living with their grandfather at New Street, Underwood, their sisters Annie and Mary Ann had married in 1905 and 1910 respectively. Their grandfather died on 2 May 1913. In 1919 John completed a form for the Army naming Arthur's surviving blood relatives. Arthur had not married and both parents were dead. Brothers: John Housley (43) New Street Underwood Jacksdale and William Housley (42) 97 Watch House Lane Bentley Road Doncaster Sisters: Mrs A [Annie] Lindley (39) Glen Villa, Cordy Lane, Eastwood Notts; Mrs C [Charles-Mary Ann]Fields (37) 43 Rye Hill Cottages, Kirk White Street [Meadows] Nottingham Of Arthur's surviving siblings: John was still living at New Street, Underwood, in 1919. William was living at 97 Watch House Lane, Bentley Road, Doncaster, in 1919. Annie married Albert Lindley in 1905 (J/A/S Basford and in 1911 they were living on Cordy Lane Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, with their daughters Mabel (5) and Annie (1), both of whom had been born in Selston. In 1919 they were living at Glen Villa, Cordy Lane, Eastwood. By 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Annie and Albert (b. 24 September 1882) a coal miner ripper, were living on Sherwood Drive, New Ollerton, Nottinghamshire. Also in the hosuehold was Arthur Lindley (b. 18 February 1920) a hardwear dealer. Mary Ann married Charles S Fields in 1910 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at43 Rye Hill Cottages, Kirk White Street, Meadows, Nottingham. Charles (32) was a labourer. They were still at the same address in 1919 and still in Nottingham in 1939. Charles (b. 22 December 1877 d. 29 May 1940), was a road sweeper. Also in the household were their sons Frederick (b. 6 April 1912 d. 30 October 1973) a confectioner, and Joseph (b. 24 March 1915) a furniture salesman. Joseph served in the Royal Corps of Signals (2347022 Signalman) in the Second World War and was killed on 9 September 1942 aged 28 (Heliopolis War Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt). Mary Ann died on 28 March 1962.

He was a collier-hewer and worked at Selston Colliery

Albert enlisted in March 1916 and underwent training at Yarmouth and Winchester. He embarked at Southampton for France on 30 July 1916, disembarking at Le Havre the following day. He joined 128 Heavy Battery RGA on 3 August 1916. He was awarded leave to the UK (with ration allowance) from 28 August 1917 to 7 September 1917. Arthur was killed by shell fire on 24 April 1918. His body was exhumed c. 1921 and buried in Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme (grave ref. IV.M.3). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal; the medals and commemorative scroll were sent to his brother, John.

Probate: Housley John [grandfather] of Underwood Selston Nottinghamshire died 2 May 1913. Probate Nottingham 14 January to Arthur Housley miner. Effects £351 7s. 9d. Text of article which appeared with a photograph in a local paper: ‘Underwood Gunner Killed: Gunner A Housley RFA (sic). Official news reached Mr J [John] Housley, of Underwood, on May 13th that his brother, Gunner A Housley, had been killed in action on April 24th, and the news occasioned a feeling of profound sympathy locally, where the deceased was highly respected. An earlier intimation of the sad occurrence was conveyed to Mr Horsley in a letter from the Major, dated May 3rd, as follows:- ‘I am sorry to have to tell you that your brother, Gunner A Housley, was killed in action on April 24th. He was killed instantaneously at his post by a shell which knocked out at the same time the gun which he cared for so well. I have known your brother since he came out to France and joined this battery, and I feel the loss myself very much. He was a fine soldier without fear. He was an excellent limber gunner, and is much missed in the battery. Please accept our sympathy.’ Deceased, who was 39 (sic) years of age, and worked at Selston Colliery, joined up in March 1916, and after eighteen weeks’ training at Yarmouth and Winchester, went out to France on July 31st. He was engaged in the Ypres sector, where he remained until coming home on leave, and during the heavy fighting in the early summer of last year the battery to which he was attached was mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig. Returning once more to the war zone, Gunner Housley was again in the thick of the fighting until killed at his post.’ Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Arthur's legatees were his four surviving siblings: John, William, Annie Lindley and Mary Ann Fields. Probate: Housley Arthur of New-street Underwood near Jacksdale Nottinghamshire private in HM Army died 24 April 1918 in France. Administration (with Will) Nottingham 19 November to Mary Ann Fields (wife of Charles Sylvester Fields). Effects £327 14s. 1d. His possessions were returned to his brother John in August 1918, they comprised letters, photos, cards, purse, four foreign coins, coin-farthing