Francis Joseph Chadwick

Francis Joseph was the son of Samuel Joseph Chadwick and his second wife Gertrude (née Whitworth). His father Samuel was born in Ilkeston in 1868. Samuel married Mary Helena Haddican in 1891 at the Roman Catholic chapel, Ilkeston, but she died four years later in 1894 aged 25. His mother Gertrude was born in 1873 in Nottingham, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Whitworth. In 1891 Gertrude was a teacher at the Convent of Notre Dame, St Giles, Northampton, while her widowed mother, who was working as a dressmaker, was living on Raleigh Street, Nottingham, with her unmarried sister, Ellen McCann. Samuel and Gertrude were married in 1896 and had six children three of whom died in infancy or childhood. Their surviving children were Francis Joseph b. 1897, Thomas Whitworth b. 1901 and Mary Gertrude b. 1904 who were all born in Ilkeston. Two children who died young were probably Mary Gertrude b. 1898 d. 1899 and Mary Cecilia b. 1905 d. 1905. Samuel, a brewery agent, and Gertrude, a certificated schoolmistress, together with their son Francis were living on Graham Street, Ilkeston, in 1901. Also in the household was Gertrude's mother, Mary Whitworth. The family had moved to Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, by 1911. Samuel was now a wine and spirit dealer and a stout bottler while his wife was assisting in the business and Mary Whitworth was described as a 'housekeeper'. Also in the home on the night of the census were Samuel and Gertrude's two youngest children, Thomas and Mary, together with Mary Whitworth's sister, Ellen McMann, a paper bag maker, and a female general domestic servant. Francis (13) was a boarder/student at Ratcliffe College, Leicester. The CWGC record gave Samuel and Gertrude's address as Field Road, Ilkeston, but on Samuel's retirement they moved to Skegness where they were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register. Gertrude was killed on 27 July 1942 in an air raid on Skegness which destroyed their home, 'Stella Maris', Lumley Avenue. Samuel died in Stillington, Yorkshire, on 2 April the following year. (See 'Extra information.')

Educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester. Member of University College Nottingham OTC.

2nd Bedfordshire Regiment Francis served in France from July 1916 and was killed in action on 12 October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 2C).

WMR 14236: Ilkeston Cenotaph, Market Place, Ilkeston DE7 5RN - Chadwick FJ CWGC: 'Son of Samuel Joseph and Gertrude Chadwick, of Field Rd., Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester.' Nottingham & Midland Catholic News, 11 November 1916: ‘Catholic Casualties. Lieutenant Francis J Chadwick, 2nd Bedfords, was killed in action on October 13. Born at Ilkeston, Derbyshire, nineteen years ago, he was educated at Radcliffe College, He joined the Nottingham University OTC and went to the front in July.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Chadwick Francis Joseph of 36 Nottingham-road Ilkeston Derbyshire lieutenant HM Army died 12 October 1916 in France on active service Administration (with Will) London 24 March to Samuel Joseph Chadwick wine merchant. Effects £156 17s. 9d. Skegness News, 29 July 1942: ‘Bombs on East Coast Resort. Damage to Residential Area. Raider’s Morning Attack. Casualties and Damage to Property. A residential quarter of an East Coast resort suffered considerable damage in the early morning of Monday, when an enemy raider, one of a number which were reported to have crossed the coast, taking advantage of a low cloud, dropped a number of high explosive and time bombs. The raider made a low level attack, and in addition to bombing, subjected the resort to a spattering with machine gun and cannon fire … A Mrs Chadwick was also inside a property which was demolished and was only extricated when life was extinct.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Her funeral at the Roman Catholic Church was later reported in a local paper; the service was attended by her two surviving children, Thomas and Mary [Fletcher], and their spouses; her husband was too ill to attend. Skegness Standard, 7 April 1943: ‘The death has occurred in Yorkshire of Mr Samuel Joseph Chadwick, who formerly resided in Lumley Avenue, Skegness, for several years. Mr Chadwick was tragically bereaved of his wife when a bomb shattered their Skegness home several months ago.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)