William Hooton

William was the son of Frank and Louise Hooton (née Boot). His father Frank Hooton was born in Radford in about 1860 his mother Louise Boot on 1 June 1863 also in Radford. They were married in 1883 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had ten children three of whom died in infancy. Their surviving children, who were born in Lenton, were: Florence b. 1885, William b. 1888, Auborn Herbert b. 1891 (birth registration 'Onborn'), Louisa Ivy b. 14 March 1899, Arthur b. 1900, Henry (Harry) b. 16 March 1903 and Harold b. 24 August 1905. In 1891 Frank (31) a general labourer, and Louise (27) were living in Cloister Square, Priory Street, Lenton, with their children Florence (5) and William (2). The family was still living in Cloister Square in 1901. Frank and Louise now had five children: Florence a tailoress, William, Aubron (10), Louisa (2) and Arthur (under one year). William enlisted in the Army in 1906; his service record gives his parents' address as 4 Warwick Street, Lenton. In 1911 he was serving in India with 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers while his parents were living at 22 Lace Street, Old Lenton, with four of their seven children: Aubron a joiner, Louisa, Arthur and Harry (8). Frank died in 1934 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his widow Louise was still living at 22 Lace Street. Also in the household were her married son Henry, a capstan lathe hand, his wife Ethel M. (née Hudson, b. 12 May 1904) whom he had married in 1929, and their son Alan W. (b 26 July 1931). The record of one member of the household remains closed but was probably Henry and Ethel's daughter, Brenda M. (birth registered 1935, J/F/M). Louise died in 1958. Henry died in 1967. Of William's five other surviving siblings: Florence married Arthur Pilgrim on 23 June 1912 at Lenton parish church. Arthur attested in 1915 naming Florence, of 22 Lace Street, as his next of kin. He was moblized on 1 June 1916 and posted to the South Staffordshire Regiment, then transferring to the 2nd HS Bn North Staffordshire Regiment (34934) on 1 November 1916. He had an operation in November 1916 while serving in Guernsey and was recommended for light duties only. Arthur transferred to the Army Reserve on 14 February 1917 but recalled to the Colours in the September before being dicharged on 24 October 1917 as no longer physically fit for war service. Arthur died in 1939 and the probate record gave his address as Forest Road, Mansfield. Florence and their son Clifford (b. 20 March 1912), a school teacher, were living at the same address when the England & Wales Register was compiled later that year. Florence died on 29 October 1970; she was still living on Forest Road. Aubron married Florence Hutchinson in 1914 and they had at least two children, Doris I b. 1916 and Dennis Herbert b. 26 December 1920. d. 1974). Aubron served in France in the war, probably with the Royal Engineers (Osborn H Hooton, 158830 Corporal). His wife Florence died in 1922 and Aubron married secondly Lilian A Geraghty (b. 29 December 1903, d. 1989) in 1925. In 1939 Lilian and Aubron, a joiner, were living in Beeston. Also in the household were their son Dennis, an apprentice joiner, and two others whose records remain closed. Aubron died in 1963 (reg. Ouborn H Hooton). Louisa Ivy married Joseph H Scarlett (b. 16 December 1897, d. 1962) in 1921. In 1939 they were living on Gregory Street, Lenton, with their children Louisa Elizabeth (b. 30 March 1921, later Stables, d. 1997) a hosiery machinist, Florence May (b. 13 October 1923, later Hardy d. 1985) a process hand (chemist manufacture) and Frances (b. 30 July 1928, later Keen, d. 1985) and three others whose records remain closed. Joseph was a leather shaver and Louisa a charlady. Louisa died in 1953. Arthur married Rosanna Weston in 1928. In 1939 they were living in Beeston; Arthur was a railway shunter. He died in 1978. Harold probably married Elizabeth. In 1939 they were living in Long Eaton with their daughter Doreen (b. 26 January 1934); Harold was a steel rolling mill operator. He died in 1993.

He was a leather dresser working for T Bailey, leather manufacturer of Lenton, when he enlisted in the army in 1906.

Enlisted Nottingham

William attested in the Militia/Reserve Division on 21 August 1906 at the age of 17y 11m. He joined the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (1564 Private) and completed 49 days' training before being posted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 15 October 1906. In 1911 he was serving with the 1st Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers in India. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 6 October 1914 and so was an 'Old Contemptible'. Three weeks later on 22 October 1914 he was was killed in action at Ypres. William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 19 and 33).

Nottingham Evening Post, 17 December 1914: ‘Lance-Corporal W Hooton, Royal Scots Fusiliers, of Lace-street, Dunkirk, Nottingham, who was killed in action October 22nd at Ypres, saw eight years’ service. His age was 25.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’ 22 October 1915: ‘Hooton. In loving memory of Lance-Corpl. William Hooton (9137), Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action at Ypres, October 22nd, 1914. No useless coffin enclosed his breast, nor in sheet nor in shroud they bound him; but he lay like a warrior taking his rest, with his warrior clak around him. From his loving brother Ouborn and Florrie’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 23nd October 1916: “HOOTON. — In loving memory of Lance-Corporal William Hooton, Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action, October 22nd, 1914, late 22, Lace-street, Dunkirk, Nottingham. No mother's care did him attend, nor over him a father bend, sister by shed a tear, nor brother his last word to hear. Dying in a foreign land, no father by to hand, no mother near to close his eyes, far from has native land he lies. — From sorrowing father, mother, brothers, and sisters.” Courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 ‘In Memoriam’ notices from his mother, father, sisters, brothers, and from his brother Ouborn (sic) '(in France)' and sister-in-law Florrie were published in the Nottingham Evening Post on 22 October 1917, 1918 and 1919. Aubrun and Florrie also inserted a notice in the newspaper on 22 October 1920.