WILD, William

He joined up in 1916. 8984 Pte. 28 County of London Bn London Regiment, (this was the prestigious Artists Rifles Company). By April 1917 he is 2/Lt in the R.F.C. April 1918 promoted to full Lt., in the R.A.F. He was awarded the CROIX DE GUERRE with Palme by the French in Nov 1918.  b 15/8/1898 at ‘Hanging Cote’, Hathersage Booths. Son of Arthur Wild & Mary Elizabeth Cotterill.  (His father was listed as a Brass Founder, Quarry Owner & Supplier of Fire Resistant goods. His company was William Wild & Sons Ltd. Brass Founders & Refractory Material Merchants of Sheffield & Holyhead). The family subsequently moved to Hawthorne Dene, Hathersage. William was educated at Holmleigh Preparatory School Hathersage, Buxton, and later Repton, until March 1915. 1919 Voters register address; Hawthorndene, Hathersage.

Tragically William committed suicide in Sept 1924. His body was found by Thomas Smith of Hathersage. A Scout patrol leader, Harry Daniels swam out and recovered it from water in the bottom of the local Bole Hill quarry. He had shot himself in the head. He had suffered a wound to the arm in the war, and although it didn’t cause him any pain, it was continuously discharging. The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide while suffering from depression (see Shields Daily News 16/9/1924). These days this would be considered classic case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and surely a strong argument for him being a classed a war casualty? Then in July 1930 his 70 year old father’s body was found in the loft after taking poison. The ashes of both bodies were later spread at sea near Sheritan Cliffe off Flamborough, where Mr Wild used to sketch.

WILD, Oswald

54413  Pte 11 Bn Notts & Derbys. (DC 14/8/1917 listed as Ill in Hospital). Discharged ‘physically unfit’ 1/12/1917. b 1885 Hathersage. 1891C living at Longshaw Lodge, son of William Wild and nephew of Tomas Wild who had been a regular soldier himself and is mentioned in ‘The Wisest Dogs in the World’ a book about the origins of Longshaw Sheep Dog Trials. 1911C; Oswald was still living at Longshaw Lodge Cottage, a  millstone maker, with his father William and mother, Ann Wild. In 1913 Oswald married Annie Elizabeth Pepper at Sheffield, (b Beighton 1887 and who on 1911C was living/working as a domestic in Nether Padley. Her brother and Oswald’s brother-in-law, James Robert Pepper (b 1897 and lived at 5 Court, 1 House, Peel Street, Sheffield), was Pte 26442 1/4th Y & L. KIA 20.10.1917 – Remembered on Tyne Cot Memorial.

WIGGETT, Frank

 59634 Motor Cyclist  R A F/ R F C. (DC 21/9/1918; ‘Frank Wiggett, Royal Air Force, returned from leave on Friday’).  b 1898 Hathersage.  1911C; living at School Lane, Hathersage. d 23/1/1974 buried in Hathersage churchyard. Probably brother of James Arthur below?

WIGGETT, Charles Lawrence

Щ (ß Laurence) No military details have been discovered, although there is a picture of him an indistinct army uniform on a family tree website.  He was b 1895 Hathersage, the Illegitimate son of Florence Wiggett. He is on the 1911C living with his grandparents Alfred and Hannah Smith at “Booths”. His mother Florence, also b Hathersage, married James Fox  in 1898 and had a further six children, while living in Sheffield. Charles had an uncle, John Wiggett b 1885 at Hathersage. 1911C shows his grandparents ‘Smith’ had been married 40 years, He married Annie Elmore in Sheffield in 1918 and had a daughter Beryl in 1917. He died in Sheffield in 1951, age 57.

WHITWORTH, Lily Beatrice

b 1880 Sheffield. 1911C at Broomhall Place, Sheffield. Quartermaster/ nurse at Longshaw Red Cross hospital, who also did Air Raid Duties at the Children’s Hospital, Sheffield.

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WHITE, Thomas

42307 (4207) Pte. East Surrey. Queens Royal West Surrey Regt. 1915 at time of enlistment he is living at Hammersmith. 22/5/1917, discharged early on medical grounds “aggravated by active service”. He died 30/3/1918 age 32 so could well be considered a War Casualty?  b 1885 Hathersage. 1901C living at Downing Row, a stone mason like his father Thomas, 1911C living at Eyam. Brother of Henry, his mother was Sarah Wiggett.

WHITE, Henry

ă 187625 Pte. 25 Works Bn (Labour Coy) D L I, transferred to Labour Corps. b 1877 Hathersage, 1901C living at Downing Row, a stone mason like his father Thomas, 1891C  & 1901C at Downing Row and also at Bank Top, Hathersage. 1918 Absent voters address; The Dale. His wife was Emily Gertrude and his mother was Sarah Wiggett. Brother of Thomas.

WHITE, Arthur

✟ ≠ 2051 Sgt 1/8 Bn Prince of Wales Own West Yorks.  Killed 15/8/1916, his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, France.  b 1879 Hathersage, father Joseph was a stone mason. Both Arthur b 1879 and brother William b 1877 were born at Hathersage, but by 1891 William was dead. 1881C the family were living at Holbeck Leeds. 1911C Arthur still living in Holbeck. Arthur’s widow was Nancy White of 5 Spa Street, Holbeck.

WHEEN, Reginald Edward

(Spelt ‘WHEIN’ on Wesleyan Memorial). ⚜ ă Д Lt 49 Leicester Regt. He was an Assistant Scout Master with Hathersage Scouts and on the Scouts Board shown as Lt in Notts & Derbys, but in his medal record and on the absent voters list it is ‘Leicesters’. Served in France from 26/4/1917. (DC 27/7/1918, home on leave).   Was in Milton Grange Military Hospital, Liverpool at one stage. He had not yet been demobilised on a 13 October 1919 Scout’s certification. b 1895 Sheffield, family living in Baslow at 1901C,  not found on 1911C. Medal card and absent voters list gives his address as ‘Brightlands’, Park Edge, Hathersage. Son of Kate Creswick Wheen and brother of Marie Creswick Wheen.