WORLD WAR I
Bingham War Memorial
Service Record
| 98531 | Corporal Frederick James Widdowson | Royal Field Artillery | b. 1891 |
| Medal card | Awarded Victory, British, 15 Star medals | Specially enlisted as a Shoeing Smith Discharged 6/2/1919 | |
| Service record | Enlisted: 24/4/1915 address Market Place Bingham; occupation
Shoeing Smith. Next of Kin: wife Lily Sabina, Market Place, Bingham. Passed test shoeing horses. Reference from employer (Father) says he is honest, sober, hardworking, a good all round man. Joined 21st Battery RFA. Expeditionary Force France 24/9/1915 Attestation gives age as 24yrs. 4mths. Height: 5’4”; Weight 126llbs; Chest: 36” expanding 2” Health good. Tip of forefinger on right hand missing. 26/4/17 Reported absent from billet after 9-00am while on active service. This was considered a serious offence. Punishment 2 days F.P.2 (Field Punishment). This meant he could be tied or handcuffed for up to two hours a day and also do ‘heavy manual duties’. Some sites say that he could be made to drill in full kit. He would also lose pay. 7/2/17 A Miss M Poulter, of Fleet Hampshire, wrote enquiring if FJ Widdowson, 98531 Shoeing Smith A Btty 110th Brigade RFA 26th Division, was still alive, as she had not heard from him in eight months. She had written on 22nd February 1916 as well saying she had not heard from him since November. 23/11/18 he was given 14 days leave with rations; it was extended to 20/12/18 because of ‘Urgent Private Affairs’. Embarked for UK 10/2/19 for release as a ‘Pivotal Man’ i.e. someone perceived as being capable of helping to build Britain’s industry after the war. Released at Clipstone Dispersal Station. |
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| Roll of Honour | Served on Western Front | ||
Family history etc
| Corporal Frederick James Widdowson, known as James | |||
| B. 1891 | East Bridgford | ||
| Census 1901 | Living in Cropwell Butler with: Father: Frederick b. 1872 Cropwell Butler Mother: Amelia (neé Fewkes) b. 1877 East Bridgford Siblings: Jack, b. 1883 Ernest, b. 1896 Crowell Butler Emma, b.1897 Cropwell Butler |
Blacksmith own account |
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| Census 1911 | Living in Cropwell Butler with: Father: Frederick Mother: Amelia Siblings: Emma Grace b. 1904 Cropwell Butler Leonard b. 1907 Cropwell Butler |
Blacksmith/ farmer Blacksmith Self employed |
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| 1914 | September 12th 1914: Married Lily Sabina Howitt B. 5/5/1894 Syerston Children: Leonard H Bingham 1920 Frederick Bingham 1923 Kenneth Bingham 1924 |
Dressmaker 1920 Father Frederick listed as Cycle Agent and Repairer 1924 Father Frederick listed as Motor and Cycle repairer |
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| Service record | Lived Market Place, Bingham (April 1915), then The Plough, Cropwell Butler (February 1919) 1920 – Market Place Bingham |
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| Kelly’s Trade Directory |
Frederick listed as cycle agent in Bingham in 1922 and 1932. | No address given | They probably lived “over the shop” when he was
a cycle agent. End of trading may have been at same time as move to Council House and change to AA job in 1931. |
| Electoral Register | 1921-1930 Market Street, Bingham, Frederick and Lily 1931 Council Houses, Nottingham Road, Frederick and Lily |
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| 1939 Register | 7 Nottingham Road, Bingham: Frederick James Widdowson, b. 29 Dec 1891, married Lily Sabina, b. 3 May 1893, married Leonard Howitt Widdowson, b. 19 Aug 1920, single Two closed records Lavinia Miller, b. 4 May 1884, widowed |
AA Motor Patrol Unpaid domestic duties Electrical Assistant Frederick and Kenneth House Keeping Matron |
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| 1965 1971 |
Frederick James died Jun. qtr, Nottingham Lily died Bingham Sep 1971 |
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