WILFRED HOUSELEY 1898–1955

Photographs from family collection

Brother of Walter Reginald

Born 14th June 1898, Orston, Notts.

Married 28 January 1928 to Dorothy Jane Foster, St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe. Two children, Wilfred born and died 1929 and AudreyV born 1931.

Died 2nd February 1955 at Fairfield, Bingham Rd, Radcliffe on Trent age 57

Buried in Radcliffe Cemetery, grave reference B092

1901 Census

Age 2, living at Orston Grange, Notts. with his father Frederick 48, a farmer, mother Sarah 40, (née Hoyte), brothers Edwin Evelyn (known as Evelyn), 18, a schoolteacher, Cyril 17, a farm worker, Walter Reginald, age 6 and sisters, Lucy 13, and Margaret 11.

1911 Census

Age 12, schoolboy, living at Hampden Villa, Lorne Grove,, with unemployed schoolmaster father Frederick and mother Sarah, brothers Frederick 30, a butcher with his own shop in Granby, and Reginald 15, railway clerk, and sisters Lucy and Margaret, both schoolteachers. Lucy was working at Skegby and Margaret was working at Holme Pierrepont. Hampden Villas had seven rooms.

Military Service

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Military Unit: 5th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry

The Supplement to the London Gazette, 29 April, 1918, states that he was promoted as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Reserve Regiments of the Cavalry on April 6th, 1918.   Forces War Records show he served in the 5th Reserve. Family descendants have confirmed that he enrolled for training as a cavalry officer and served in an army camp at Kildare, Ireland.

According to the Friends Ambulance Unit, British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem (page 401), Wilfred was a serving member. However, Wilfred’s service with the F.A.U. has not been found in the FH/FAU Service Personnel Records Cards Series 1 and 2.

His military service tribunal took place on June 22nd 1916 shortly after his 18th birthday.

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Lorne Grove, Radcliffe on Trent

1921 Census

Address: Lorne Grove, Radcliffe

Employment: clerk, Victoria Station, Great Northern Railway

Household: mother Sarah, sister Lucy, school mistress, brother Walter.

1922 Electoral Register

Address: Lorne Grove Radcliffe on Trent

Household: living with sister Lucy and brother Reginald

Frederick Houseley, father, died in 1918.

1939 Register

Address: Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Occupation: District railway inspector

Household: living with wife Dorothy and daughter Audrey, age nine

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived and died in Radcliffe on Trent