Tuesday 7 February 2017

First World War Wouldhaves Part 3

There were two other military personnel who were involved in the First World War with Wouldhave as a middle name rather than their surname. Both of the men detailed below had limited service during the war for very different reasons.

George Wouldhave Crowther

George was the second son of Thomas Frederick Crowther and Hannah Isabella Wouldhave (HA106).  He was born in 1892 in Jarrow. Thomas was a marine engineer and a member of the Masons.  He was working in the shipyards in Govan, Glasgow when he died on 31st January 1900.

In the 1901 census the family had moved back to the North East and were living at 75 Clayton Street, Jarrow. In 1911 the family were living at 54 Walter Street, Jarrow.  Hannah Isabella died soon after the census date (in June 1911), which left Joseph Crowther, the eldest son, aged 21 (born Dec 1890), as the head of the family.  Joseph married in July 1914 and was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

George was a drilling machinist at Palmers Works in Jarrow, where he had served his apprenticeship, and was living with his brother, Alfred Ernest Crowther at 8 Dee Street, Jarrow when he enlisted in Sunderland with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 20th September 1914.  He was discharged on 23rd October 1914 after serving 33 days. His papers state he was discharged under Kings Regulations para 392 part (iii) b, which is detailed below.  



Whatever the reason was for non-approval by the recruiting officer, George returned to his role as an iron driller.  Just over a month later he died of Lobar Pneumonia on 25th November 1915. Lobar Pneumonia is a communicable disease and it may be possible that George was showing symptoms that led to his discharge. The informant of his death was William Robson Wouldhave (WI113), his uncle. (Some time later William Robson Wouldhave's daughter Phyllis Mary Wouldhave (PH101) married Alfred Ernest Crowther, George's next of kin).

Joseph Henry Wouldhave Laidler

Joseph was the son of John Robert Laidler and Elizabeth Wouldhave (EL111). Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Henry Wouldhave (JO113) and Mary (nee Armstrong) (MA122).   Joseph Henry Wouldhave was born in Bishop Auckland and worked as a currier (leather processing).  He married in 1845 in St Andrew Auckland. In 1861 the family moved to Newcastle and lived in the All Saints area.  Elizabeth was born in 1858.  She married John Robert Laidler in 1879 in Newcastle.  Her father died suddenly in 1885.  The Newcastle Courant reported the sudden death of Joseph Henry Wouldhave, 63 years of age on Jun 19th.  "He was found in bed at his residence at 8 Wilkie St, Shieldfield.  A few hours earlier he had been seen alive and then appeared to be in good health."

Joseph Henry Wouldhave Laidler, presumably named after his grandfather, was born in 1893. In the 1901 census the family is living in South Shields and John Robert's occupation is Timber Measurer.  In the 1911 census the family is living in Greenside, Ryton and Joseph's occupation is Coal Miner.
 Joseph married Joanna Armstrong on 8th May 1915 in the registry office, Gateshead.  He attested later that year, following the outbreak of war, on 10th December 1915 joining the Northumberland Fusiliers.  His address at the time was Bond Street, Newcastle.  He was put into the army reserve the next day and remained there until he was mobilised in May 1918. He was living at 18 Wylam Road, Newcastle at that time.  He was demobilised on 2nd May 1919 from the London MT Repair (RASC) depot.
Joseph and Joanna had two children during his period in the army reserve, John Henry Wouldhave Laidler born in 1916 and John Robert Laidler in 1918.
Joseph and Joanna are both on the 1939 register in Chester le Street.  Joseph's occupation is now Omnibus Driver, possibly using some of his skills from his experiences in the war.