BORN HULL 1891. YOUNGEST SON OF WILLIAM FREDERICK FORTNAM (1860-1930) & THE LATE MARY KATE FORTNAM (1863-1916), OF 127 GILLETT STREET, HESSLE ROAD, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). HE HAD ONE BROTHER, FRED AND ONE SISTER, HARRIET
WORKED AS AN APPRENTICE UPHOLSTERER, EMPLOYED BY MR HOPE, UPHOLSTERER, THORNTON STREET, HULL. HE MARRIED IRENE EDNA SULLIVAN (1892-1915), AT HULL ON 02/01/1915. THEY LIVED AT 14 BEAUFORT TERRACE, CAMPBELL STREET, HULL (ARMY ADDRESS). HIS WIFE DIED OF ECLAMPSIA IN CHILDBIRTH, THE SAME YEAR.
HE ENLISTED AT HULL, ON 18/01/1915. HIS ARMY RECORDS DESCRIBE HIM AS 5 FOOT, 2.5 INCHES TALL, 126 LBS WEIGHT, 36-38 INCH CHEST. SERVED WITH THE 13TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (4TH HULL PALS) IN EGYPT IN DECEMBER 1915 AND THEN FRANCE FROM MARCH 1916.
HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON 1ST MAY 1917, AGED 26. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH, IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 18TH MAY 1917. *
HIS BROTHER, FRED SERVED IN THE MERCHANT NAVY DURING THE WAR. HIS SISTER, HARRIET ANN HALL, LOST HER SON ROBERT WILLIAM HALL, SERVING AT SEA, ON THE S/S “ZAGLOBA”, ON 09/02/1943, AGED 21.
