BAGSHAW, WILLIAM

William Ralph Bagshaw was born in Uttoxeter, but his home at the time of his death was 1 Park Avenue, New Longton, Lancashire.

He married Sarah Jane Pearson, spinster, at Lancaster on 6th August 1906. They had two children (Ralph and Pamela) and William gained a step-daughter (Bertha).

Bertha was about 4 years old when she became his step-daughter:

On 17th September 19147 he enlisted for one year, or the duration of the war (whichever was greatest) and his Attestation form shows that he had previously served with the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment for 12 years (time expired).

He gave his occupation as ‘Chemist’s Assistant, his age as 40 and his marital status as ‘Married’.

William’s report from his Army Medical on 17th September 1914 tells us that he was 5ft 6.5 inches tall, weighed 115 lbs and had a chest measurement of 33-35 inches. His eyes were green, he was fair-haired and he had various tattoos on both arms. He also had a scar on his left jaw.

He gave his religion as Church of England.

He was passed fit for service, with perfect vision and re-joined his old regiment as a Private, number 4540, in ‘F’ Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Lancashire Regiment (King’s Own).

William’s Records in the National Archives allow us to construct his service history with the King’s Own Regiment as follows:

Note that for a short while he was appointed ‘(unpaid’) as a Lance Corporal, but reverted back to Private after committing ‘misconduct’ of some nature.

William died at 11:05am on 24th September 1915 in Ford House Military Hospital, Plymouth. (4th Southern General Hospital). The cause of death was recorded as V.D.H. and Double Pneumonia.

He was about 41 years old.

William was buried in Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery – Grave Mil. Con. 3626.

At the time of William’s death Bertha was 12 or 13, Pamela 6 or 7 and Ralph 4 year old. They were taken-in by William’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Alice Morton of 18 Sheraton Street, Shotton Colliery, Durham and subsequent documents in William’s National Archive files refer to her as the children’s guardian.

For the purpose of his Pension, William was credited with 1 year and 8 days’ service. His Pension Records include a letter to the ‘Guardian of the Children’ dated 10th March 1916, stating that a Pension of 15 shillings had been awarded for the three children, with effect from 20th March 1916.

In 1920, Mrs. Morton completed the usual form to notify the War Office of all surviving relatives. This was to enable the next of kin to claim his memorial plaque and scroll. In this form she stated that she did not know anything about his brothers and sisters and that both of his parents and his wife were all ‘dead’.

On the 15th of March 1920 a letter was sent from the Infantry Record Office to the Chief of Police for Shotton Colliery, Durham, asking for a visit to be made to Mr. Ralph Bagshaw. Unfortunately the original document was badly damaged during the Blitz of London in the Second World War and it is not possible to read why they deemed this visit necessary.

According to his Probate Record, William’s Estate amounted to £286 17s 2d. This was distributed to his Agent, Ernest Badshaw, on 28th November 1917.