Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Herbert Wainwright was my father-in-law.
Born 5th March 1890 at Netherton Green/Village.

He served in the First World War in France, Belgium and Egypt.
Apart from "working with horses" - he was an agricultural labourer - and a photograph showing a cap badge, that is all the info we have. He never spoke of his experiences; which I understand was quite a common fact.

The cap badge suggests he was in the Machine Gun Corps, but I don't know how the Corps was annexed(??) to regiments, so I can't find out even with which regiment he enlisted!!

A search on Ancestry found nothing in the military records.
I have heard that some WWI records were destroyed during WWII

Where do I go from here?? Suggestions please

The National Archives Documents Online shows two Herbert Wainwrights, Machine Gun Corps, both Privates.
You can see them for £2 payable by card, of free via Ancestry. The card will show what campaign medals they earned and perhaps what theatre of war they served in, but little more.
The Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) was formed from specialists in battalions and in general their unit was numbered to match the Division in which they served. Depending on when he enlisted, he may have been recruited diret into the Corps. Their badge was crossed Vickers MGs under the crown.
Googling will tell you more, or the Long, Long Trail website.
You are right about the destruction of records during the WW2 blitz. Only about 1/3 survive.

Hi guys
The 2 listed in Anc## (same document) bn abt 1891 address
69 Thelwall Lane Latchford Warrington.
He was a Tanner's Labourer and at only 24yrs of age was a widower.
Also previously served with the South Lancs Territorials.

Not sure if he's the right Herbert??
Tina

Morning folks,

Sorry, Evening Tina!!

My Herbert moved from one side of Netherton Green to the other when he got married. Pickfords never made a fortune from him!!

Guess his records were in the bit that was destroyed. Ho hum

Thanks for your effort & comments anyway

Thanks B.L
Have you got him in 1911 at all?

Tina

Hi Tina,

No. I hadn't bothered as I know he was living at Netherton Green , but not quite sure of the house number. But can check that out by a quick visit on the way to Liverpool one day.

Pop died in 1972 and had lived at 45 NG since Jan 1925 when he married.
My wife was married from that house.

Strange how things have changed in such a short time. Our three are scattered all over England. I think people doing this hobby in fifty years time will find it so much more difficult - even if they do have on line data!!

'Lo tis me again B.L
Would Netherton Green come under West Dby district in 1911?
There's a Herbert aged 21
Edward 24 and Henry 55.
Sorry don't have any credits to take a further look.

Tina

Hi Tina,

Yes, 'tis he.

His father, Henry married Mary Rothwell in 1886, but she died 25 Dec 1906 when Pop was 16. Henry remarried = but haven't researched that bit yet.
Henry died in Jan 1930 in an ambulance on the way to hospital. Buried at St Helen's Church, Sefton 9th Jan 1930.

Pop's brother Edward married but died without issue, so sadly this Wainwright line finishes with my wife, Natalie. Her sister died two years ago.

Thanks for reply B.L
So sad about the family line.
There is a marriage after 1911 census was taken
June qtr W Dby to Martha Hartley
Lancs BMD have the marriage at St Paul North Shore Kirkdale as Hastley.
Would the location be correct?
Where there any offspring from 2nd marriage?
I know Henry was clocking on but didn't mean a thing back then (or now )
If there were, you would have known, I'm sure.

Tina

Tina,

You are just too good to me rooting out all this info.

The MH name does ring bells but coincidentally St Paul's North Shore was the church I went to as a kid (Cubs etc!!). We lived in Kirkdale until I was eleven.

I am fairly sure that there were no further children by Henry W; I'm sure we would have known about them.

Oh B.L
We don't say "rooting" out downunder

Just having a lend

Tina

Oh dear!!

An unfortunate use of a colloquialism, I gather

An alternative might be "digging out"??

I made a similar faut pas in Canada many years ago, when I suggested that I "would knock my aunt up", as we were going out early the following morning!!

In Liverpool and other northern towns, there were men, who rode around on bicycles, knocking on bedroom windows with long poles to wake them up. Hence knocking up!!

Hey even in Liverpool if you knocked up one of the girls you wouldn't be first prize with her mother

Mary,

You are obviously just a slip of a girl if you don't know about "knockers-up"!

We've certainly gone off the topic here
I always enjoy the banter

Tina

Just behaving myself - - badly!!

Don't we all B.L
So you think Martha H could be wife number 2?
If there were no kiddies, I don't suppose you will want to spend a lot of time looking for her.
As you said, with the Kirkdale connection, it looks like she's the one.
Have you got all you need about Pop's mother?

T.S

Hi Tina

Your a star

Yes, I think I have for the moment, thanks.

We are off to the Isle of Arran for ten days, come Saturday, so may well be incommunicado.

Just hope this londerful Spring weather holds

C U soon

Have a bonzer time B.L
Bring back lots of Arran jerseys/guernseys not sure of correct name
So much history/beautiful seafood, jealous!!

Tina

BurscoughLad wrote:Mary,

You are obviously just a slip of a girl

Of course I am! in my mind anyway

Have a great time, hope this weather lasts for you!