Cloth hall Lakenhalle Ypres WW1

[crazylibrarian]

Albert Henson born Kimberley Nottinghamshire 1876 died 1947 residing at the time  Deerdale Lane, Ollerton/Bilsthorpe Newark.  occupation at time of death - Forestry Commission.

1911 census shows Albert (head) 35 years old and a Miner at coal store married to Cecelia (nee Bradder) aged 20 with one child Herbert under one years of age.

Stories passed down through family have suggested that my Great Grandfather above served in Ypres in WW1 and that he stayed around the Cloth Hall in Lakenhalle while serving on the Western Front?  Great Grandmother passed this information on to my mother - and the story goes that it was cold and that he and his comrades kept themselves warm using all the woolen/fur? from the factory.  He served in the Sherwood Foresters and apparently suffered injuries to his finger nails/hands

I do not doubt the Cloth hall story but I'm concerned about his age - At the outbreak of war he would have been 38 and then over 40 at time of certain battles over in France.  Surely he was too old for frontline service?  I have searched enlistment records etc and can't find him or a medal index card - I'm beginning to wonder if he served at all?  can any military buff help me put this into some perspective please?  Did older men fight in WW1?

Thank you in anticipation

Angela

[apwright]

You are in luck! Part of your Albert Henson's service record is on Ancestry.
Looks like he knocked a few years off his age to join up, as he declares himself to be only 33 yrs & 312 days old on enlisting on 14 Nov 1914.
He was Private (no. 19109) in 12th (Pioneer) Bn The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment).
He served with them in France & Flanders from 3/11/15 until 22/8/16, when he was wounded (GSW right forearm) and repatriated. He was discharged "no longer physically fit" on 9/2/17.

His next-of-kin information proves he is your man, as it lists his marriage to Cecilia Bradder at St John's, Mansfield, on 3/12/10 and the births of Herbert 16/1/11, John Charles 10/1/13 and Winifred ?Cecilia (date illegible). Home address 93 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, on enlisting, and 61 Branlow Rd, Mansfield, on discharge.

http://1914-1918.net/notts.htm

12th Bn were in 24th Division:
http://1914-1918.net/24div.htm

You wrote: "in Ypres in WW1 and that he stayed around the Cloth Hall in Lakenhalle"
The Cloth Hall was in the centre of Ypres. Lakenhalle is the Dutch/Flemish word for Cloth Hall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloth_Hall,_Ypres

Adrian

[crazylibrarian]

Dear, Dear Adrian,

Thank you so much for that information - I am relatively new to military research and although subscribe to Ancestry, just could not make a connection.  My mother adored her late grandfather as I loved my own grandfather, who fought in Ypres too - obviously my paternal grandfather, unlike my mother's grandfather, was only 18 when he enlisted in the Rifle Brigade/Machine Gun Corps.  I haven't to date found his enlistment as he was a 'taylor' from Durham and like the name 'Henson' is rife in their particular birthplaces!

Everything tallies up brilliantly - my great grandfather on my mother's side eventually became a forest ranger and did not return to mining.  My grandfather on my father's side returned to mining in Durham County.

The fact that they both served their country in WW1 and survived beyond it is remarkable - given the losses incurred.  My own grandfather suffered severe mustard gassing but survived and lived until 1974.  Great grandfather Henson lived up to 1947!

I work in a public library and find history fascinating - particularly WW1/2 - now I can say I had kin who experienced it. 

Thank you so very much

Angela