Project Description

WILLIAM HENRY BUXTON 1889–1944

Army Service Corp

Born 29th October 1889, Thorneywood, Nottingham

Married on December 17th 1915 to Annie Lizzie Rushton at the Register Office, Bingham

Children Daisy born 1921 and William born 1922 in Bingham district

Died 1944 at Blaby, Leics.

1891 Census

Age 1 living with father Henry John 24, a carter, mother Clara 24 and uncle Walter Buxton 18, a butcher, at Howe Lane, Castleton, Derbys.

1901 Census

Age 11, at school, living with his grandmother Ann Buxton, sister Caroline 9 and uncles Chris and William Buxton at 5 Thorneywood Lane, Nottingham. William’s father had died in 1892 and his mother married Walter Parr in 1898.

1911 Census

Living with his grandmother, Ann Buxton, sister Caroline, machinist, and uncle Christopher, carter, at 5 Thorneywood Lane, Nottingham. Occupation: butcher. His mother Clara, step-father Walter and three young step-sisters were living next door.

1914 Electoral Register

Address Notts. County  Asylum.
He was employed at Notts. County Asylum (Saxondale); he is listed in their records as an employee who left to serve in the Armed Forces.

Military Service

Rank: Private

Service Number: 030319

Military Unit: Army Service Corps

Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 26.5.15. Total war service abroad 3 years 3 months

Attested: 12th Nov 1914 in Nottingham, age 25

Address: Notts. County  Asylum

Occupation: butcher

Height 5ft 8 ins, chest 39 ins, weight 158lbs.

Next of kin given as mother, Clara Parr 3 Thorneywood Lane, Nottingham. After his marriage in 1915, next of kin changed to Annie Lizzie Rushton, Rose Cottage, Radcliffe on Trent.

17.12.14: Aldershot

12.11.14 to 25.5.15: Home

30.1.15: Promoted Corporal

3.2.15 : Transferred to 12th Division Mechanical Transport Company (Supplies)

26.5.15: France

13.12.15 to 21.12.15: Leave

12.1.17 to 22.1.17: Leave

22.1.18 to 5.2.18: On furlough from overseas

6.2.18 to 30.3.19: France

3.12.18 to 17.12.18: Leave

30.3.19: Transferred to UK for release from Service

29.4.19: Transferred to Class Z for demobilization

Medals Awarded: 1914-15 Star British War and Victory

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Rose Cottage, Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Other Information

His uncle Walter Buxton, butcher and farmer of Marlock House, Lowdham, supplies a reference on the military record as to William’s character and previous occupation. Walter states that his character is ‘sober, honest and good in every way’ he is an ‘all round butcher’ and ‘he can slaughter bullocks’. He adds that William had been employed by him as a butcher for 4 years.

It is clear from an article in the Nottingham Evening News that William Buxton worked at the Asylum in September 1912. Both he and Ernest Bemrose were witnesses at an inquest into the death of a patient.

Buxton returned to work at the hospital after the war. He was one of seventy-three staff to lose their jobs following a nurses’ strike from 11–12 April and was dismissed on 13 April by Notts County Council for ‘misconduct’. Buxton was on leave during the strike and was not involved in strike action. Nevertheless he lost his job, possibly if he was known to be a member of the National Asylum Worker’s Union.

From the 1922 Electoral Register

Address: The Harlequin, Radcliffe on Trent

From the 1939 Register

Address: Main Street, Melton, Leics.

Occupation: fish, fruit and vegetable roundsman

Special Constable

Household: wife Annie born 10.2.1893, and daughter Daisy, domestic servant. Daisy’s married name Butler.

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Worked at Notts. County Asylum in the parish of Radcliffe on Trent and lived in the village during the war years.