BORN HULL 1881. LIVED HULL. SON OF JOHN (1839-1888) & JANE A SPINK (1848-1889), OF 3 CARR LANE, HULL. SON OF A BUTCHER. HE HAD ONE BROTHER AND FOUR SISTERS. HIS FATHER DIED IN 1888. HIS MOTHER DIED IN 1889. HE WAS RAISED IN THE SEAMAN ORPHANAGE, NEWLAND AVENUE, HULL, FROM THE AGE OF 8.
HE ENLISTED AT BEVERLEY AND WAS SERVING AS A REGULAR SOLDIER. HE WAS LIVING WITH HIS SISTER, CLARA ONION, AT SIDMOUTH, DEVON, IN 1911.
HE MET HIS WIFE, LAURA, WHILST SERVING IN THE INDIAN ARMY. SHE WAS BORN AT WYNAAD, INDIA, HER FATHER WORKING THERE AT KOLAR GOLD FIELD, MANGALORE, MADRAS.
HE WAS SERVING AS A STAFF SERGEANT, IN KAMPTEE, INDIA, WHEN WAR BEGAN.
HIS REGIMENT RETURNED TO ENGLAND AND WAS THEN SENT TO THE MIDDLE EAST. HE WAS A STAFF SERGEANT, ATTACHED TO THE SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT CORPS. HE CONTRACTED BLACK WATER FEVER AND DIED AT BASRA HOSPITAL, IRAQ, ON 16/08/1915, AGED 34.
HE LEFT WIDOW, LAURA ANNAMARIA HEMLY (1878-1924) AND DAUGHTERS, ETHEL AND CLARA. SHE MARRIED AGAIN ON 22/12/1915, TO SERGEANT, FREDERICK HERBERT BLOOMER (1887-1949).
