Charles Gidlow

Charles was the second son of William and Clara Gidlow nee Titterson. William was born in Melbourne, Derbyshire, and Clara in Nottingham on 20 January 1860. They were married in 1884 (A/M/J Nottingham) and had three children who were all born in Lenton: Arthur born February 1885 (1885 J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 10 November 1886 Lenton St Anthony, Charles b. 8 July 1886 (J/A/S Nottingham) bap. 10 November 1886 Lenton St Anthony and Annie b. 1888 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1891 William, a lace maker, and Clara (31) were living on Clapham Street, Radford, with their three children Arthur (6), Charles (4) and Annie (2). Also in the household was a boarder, Adeline Bull (20) a hosiery knitter. By 1901 the family was living at 27 Pine Street, Radford, Nottingham. William was now a shopkeeper and smallware dealer, Clara a slip winder, Arthur (16) a grocer's asistant, Charles (14) a wrapper at a manufacturing chemist and Annie (12) who was still at school. The family was still at the same address in 1911 but only William and two of his children, Charles (24) and Annie (22) who were both in the lace trade, were in the home on the night of the census. Clara was a patient at a convalescent home in Castle Donington, Derbyshire, while Arthur had married in 1908 and was living independently. William and Clara were still living at 27 Pine Street when the CWGC record was compiled. Charles married Beatrice Charlotte Smithdale in 1912 (J/A/S Nottingham). Beatrice was born in Yorkshire on 28 July 1892, the daughter of William Smithdale, an iron moulder, and his wife Ellen. She was baptised at Hunslet St Jude on 7 September 1892 along with three siblings, Ellen (b. 24 November 1882), Gertrude (b. 14 October 1886) and William Alfred (b. 7 January 1890). However, by 1901 the family was living in Nottingham at 31 Massey St Ann's; Beatrice (18) was a machinist. Charles and Beatrice had one child, Beatrice Ena b. 5 April 1914 (A/M/J Nottingham). At the time of Charles' death in 1917 they were living at 1 Heldey Villas, New Basford. Charles' widow married James Cockcroft in 1920 (O/N/D Nottingham). The Banns of Marriage had been read at St George, Leeds in August and September; James Cockcroft, bachelor of the parish of St George, and Beatrice Charlotte Gidlow widow of the parish of St Augustine New Basford. The CWGC record gave her address as 4 Oxford Row, Park Lane, Leeds. However, by 1939 James (b. 3 March 1895) a retired 'police fireman' and Beatrice were living at 'Craigmore', Alfreton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, with Beatrice's married daughter Beatrice Ena Robinson (m. John G Robinson 1938 O/N/D Leeds), a cashier bookkeeper at a department store. Beatrice Ena married secondly Joseph H Beech in 1953 (J/A/S Basford); she died on 7 June 1991 (probate record, 88 Russley Road Bramcote). James Cockcroft died in 1957 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Beatrice Charlotte probably died on 17 January 1982 (probate record Beatrice Charlotte Cockcroft of 2A Claremount Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham. Arthur Gidlow married Gertrude Tomlinson (b. 20 October 1884) in 1908 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1911 they were living at 136 Denman street, Nottingham, with their daughter Edith Annie (2); Arthur (26) was a grocer's asistant while Gertrude (26) was a beer off-licence manageress (at home). In 1939 they were at 38 Miall Street, Nottingham; Arthur was an elctric marine labourer. Also in the household was their son, Charles H [Harold]. (b. 6 February 1917) a munitions driller. They also had had a daughter, Gertrude Irene (Irene Gertrude) b. 1917 (J/F/M Nottingham) presumably the twin of Charles. Charles served in the Second World War. Arthur died in 1979 (A/M/J Nottingham). Annie married William Campion in 1922 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1939 the now widowed Annie was living at 137 Kennington Road, Nottingham with her daughter Joan (later Abbot) b. 5 January 1923 a hosiery machinist, son Charles William T [Terrance] b. 30 April 1925 a hosiery assembler (d. 1985 J/F/M Nottingham), and her widowed mother, Clara. Charles served in the Second World War. Annie married Samuel T Radford in 1939 (O/N/D Nottingham). Charles' mother, Clara, died in 1946 (J/F/M Nottingham).

In 1901 he was a wrapper for a manufacturing chemist but in 1911 worked in the lace trade

Formerly Training Reserve. Charles served in the 9th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was killed in action on 17 August 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 144 to 145). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his wife was his legatee Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 14 November 1917: ‘Gidlow. Killed in action, August 17th, 1917. Pte Charles Gidlow, Dublin Fusiliers, 1, Hedley-villas, New Basford. He sleeps beside his comrades in a hallowed grave unknown, but his name is written in words of love in hearts he left at home. From his broken-hearted wife and baby Ena.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 16 August 1918: ‘Gidlow. In loving memory of my beloved husband Charles Gidlow, late 1 Hedley-villas, killed in action August 16th (sic), 1917. He gave his life that we might live; too dearly loved to be forgotten. Wife and baby Ena.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 16 August 1918: ‘Gidlow. In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Charles Gidlow, killed in action August 16th (sic), 1917. A day of remembrance sad to recall. Mother, father, Nance [Annie], Gerty [Gertrude, Arthur’s wife] and Arthur (Egypt).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 1 February 1946: ‘Gidlow. On January 30th, Clara aged 86, beloved mother of Arthur, Annie, Gertrude [daughter-in-law] and Tom [son-in-law, Samuel T Radford]. Reunited with husband Bill, and son Charles, killed 1917. Life’s labour well done. Sons, daughters, grandchildren Edith [Gidlow], Ena [Beatrice Ena Gidlow], Irene [Gertrude Irene Gidlow], Harold [Charles Harold Gidlow] (BAOR), Joan [Campion], Terrance [Charles William Terrance Campion] (India). Service 9.30 Saturday morning Old Radford. Interment Beeston 10am.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)