Bertram (Bert) Sheldon

Private

Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys Regiment) 31971 1/6th Battalion

 

Notes
Bertram Sheldon worked in the Factory and he left for military service on 29th October 1915 aged eighteen years old. He was born in Bonsall and his father also worked at Lea Mills as an overlooker.
It is clear that the Company did not know of his death in December 1916, when their records listed him as ‘missing’. Even in the lists compiled by the Company of applications for returns after the War continued to list him as ‘missing.

He is remembered on the Lea Mills Memorial and inside St James's Church, Bonsall

On the original, badly damaged, Lea Mills Roll of Honour there used to be a small photograph of Bert. This would probably have been taken from the set of three postcards produced showing most of the volunteers. The only possible unidentified Sherwood Forester photograph from that set is as follows:

leamills postcard photo

From postcard 1

Medal Card Index
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Newspaper Reports

Derby Daily Telegraph 29 November 1916
MISSING
Sheldon 31971 B (Bonsall)

Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 2 December 1916
WOUNDED, NOW REPORTED WOUNDED AND MISSING
Sherwood Foresters– Sheldon 31971 (Bonsall)

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Surname Sheldon
Forename Bertram
Nationality United Kingdom
Rank Private
Regiment/Service
Notts & Derby (Sherwood Foresters)
Unit 16th Bn
Date of Death 08/10/16
Casualty type Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A
Cemetery
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

 

war graves certificate for Bert Sheldon in WW1

Bertram is remembered on several war memorials –

Photos Peter Patilla

Lea Mills War Memorial

The war memorial plaque outside Lea Mills

St James Church Bonsall

St James Church, Bonsall

Memorial inside Bonsall Church

Bertram Sheldon named on the memorial inside St James Church, Bonsall


CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Slaley, Bonsall

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Sheldon Head 49 Hosiery work examiner Bonsall
Clara Sheldon wife 39   Bonsall
Elizabeth Sheldon daughter 24 Winder cotton mill Bonsall
Mary Sheldon daughter 11   Bonsall
Bertram Sheldon son 4   Bonsall
Henrietta Sheldon daughter 2   Bonsall

RG13 piece 3241 folio 5 page 2

1911: Slaley, Bonsall

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Sheldon Head 59 Overlooker hosiery factory Bonsall
Clara Sheldon wife 49   Bonsall
Mary Sheldon daughter 21 Mender hosiery Bonsall
Bertram Sheldon son 15 No work Bonsall
Henrietta Sheldon daughter 12   Bonsall
Anthony Sheldon son 8   Bonsall

RG14PN21054 RG78PN1255 RD437 SD2 ED18 SN99