George Francis Widdowson

George Francis was the son of William and his first wife Mary Elizabeth Widdowson (née Mason). His father William was born in 1867 in Carrington, the son of Francis and Harriet Widdowson. His mother Mary Elizabeth Mason (known as Elizabeth) was born in 1866 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. They were married at Basford St Leodegarius in December 1887 and had four children, the youngest of whom died in infancy. The children were born in Carrington and the three youngest were baptised at the parish church of St John the Evangelist: Ethel b. 1889, George Francis birth registered 1892 (J/F/M) bap. 1 September 1895, Dorothy b. 1896 bap. 1897 and Harriet Lois b. 1900 (A/M/J) bap. 29 August 1900 d. 1900 (O/N/D). In 1891 William, a lace maker, Elizabeth and their daughter Ethel were living at Church Drive Basford, along with William's younger brother Frederick Widdowson (22), also a lace maker, his wife Fanny and son Walter. William and Elizabeth were living at 2 May Terrace in 1892 and 1896 when their children George and Dorothy were baptised and at 6 Loscoe Terrace, Church Drive, in 1900 when Harriet Lois was baptised. William's wife Elizabeth died in 1900 (reg. J/A/S) aged 34 and their youngest daughter Harriet died at the end of the year before her first birthday. William and two of his three surviving children, Ethel and George, were still living at Loscoe Terrace in 1901. Also in the household was his widowed father, Frederick (60) who too was a lace maker. William's second daughter Dorothy (4) was living at Alison Rise, Nottingham, with her uncle and aunt, Arthur and Elizabeth Hickling (née Widdowson m. 1898). William married secondly Elizabeth Horton in 1902. According to information provided on the 1911 Census they had had one child who had died. In 1911 William and Elizabeth were living at 504 Mansfield Road, Carrington, together with William's son George, a threader (lace) and father Frederick. Dorothy, a lace pattern girl, was still living with her aunt and uncle while Ethel had probably married Wallace Holmes in 1909 and she and Wallace, a hosiery bleacher, were living at Fern Terrace, Nottingham, with their daughter Ethel Vina Dorothy (10 months). George Francis married Florence May Stenson (b. 1892) in 1914 (O/N/D). They had a son, George Francis, on 1 November 1917 who died aged 4 months on 1 March the following year. George and May lived at 12 Hull Street, Sherwood.

1911 - threader (lace)

He enlisted in Nottingham.

20th Coy Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Formerly Lincolnshire Regiment (6883) George Francis Widdowson initially served in the Lincolnshire Regiment but later transferred to the 20th Company Machine Gun Corps. He died of wounds received in action on 4 October, at No. 37 Casualty Clearing Station, France, on 8 October 1917. He is buried in Godewaersvelde Cemetery, France (grave ref. I N 57). CWGC - History of Godewaersvelde Cemetery (extract): the village of Godewaersvelde is close to the Belgian border, about 16km from Ieper [Ypres]. 'The cemetery was begun in July 1917 when three casualty clearing stations were moved to Godewaersvelde. The 37th and the 41st buried in it until November 1917, the 11th until April 1918, and from April to August 1918, during the German offensive in Flanders, field ambulance and fighting units carried on the burials.' (www.cwgc.org)

George's father, William Widdowson, had a younger brother Frederick whose son Frederick Francis (Frank) served with the 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (266374) and was killed in action on 1 July 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC: 'Husband of F. M. Widdowson, of 12, Hull St., Sherwood Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 23 October 1917: ‘Widdowson. Died of wounds October 8th, 1917, received in action October 4th, Private George Widdowson, Machine Gun Corps, aged 25 years. All is dark within my dwelling, lonely is my heart to-day, for the one I loved so dearly has for ever passed away. Christ will link the broken chain closer when we meet again. From his heart-broken wife May, sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 October 1918: ‘Widdowson. In loving memory of Pte George Francis Widdowson, died of wounds October 8th, 1917. There’s one link death cannot sever, love and remembrance live for ever. Loving wife May.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 October 1919: ‘Widdowson. In loving memory of Pte George Widdowson, died of wounds October 8th, 1917. I hoped for a safe returning, once more to clasp your hand, but God postponed our meeting, we’ll meet in the better land. His loving wife May. Also our dear son, died March 1st aged 4 months.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Florence was his sole legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: widow Florence, child George Francis b. 1 November 1917 {d. 1 March 1918).