LEONARD VICKERSTAFF 1896–1962

Brother of Archibald, Charles and John Vickerstaff

Born 14th May 1896, Radcliffe on Trent and baptised 22 July 1906 at St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe on Trent together with brother Charles.

Married Gertrude Rudkin in 1922 Bingham District

Daughters Joan born 30.11.1923, Pauline M. born 1931 and Barbara M. born 1934

Died 1962, age 66

Buried in Radcliffe Cemetery, grave reference E158

Radcliffe on Trent School Register

He started school on 11.9.1899, when his home was on Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent.

1901 Census
Age four, living on Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent, with father William, forty-five, a baker, mother Adelaide, thirty-nine, and siblings Archibald, twenty, a professional cricketer, Kathleen, fourteen, John, thirteen and Charles, six.

1911 Census

Age fourteen, living at Ferry House, Wharf Lane, with his parents, brothers Archibald and Charles, Archibald’s wife Frances, twenty-four and her daughters Adelaide, six and Edna, five.  The house had eight rooms

Military Service

Rank: Corporal

Service Number: 146165 (RAMC), 45232 (North Staffs)

Military Unit: Royal Army Medical Corps, transferred from North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’s) Regiment

Theatre of War: unconfirmed, served abroad. The North Staffordshire Regiment served in Gallipoli and on the Western Front; Leonard Vickerstaff’s battalion is unknown at present and it is therefore not possible to confirm his theatre of war.

27.5.18: Reported missing on War Office list no. 5576.  Corporal, service number 25013, North Staffs Regiment.  Next of kin address Radcliffe. He survived the war – there is no further information as to how long he was missing and whether he was a prisoner of war.

No record in POW records

Medals Awarded: British War and Victory

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Wharf Lane, Radcliffe on Trent

1921 Census

Address: Notts County Mental Hospital

Employment: male nurse

Household: living in hospital

Other information

Leonard Vickerstaff was one of 73 staff dismissed from Notts County Asylum in April 1922 following a strike by nurses, male attendants and kitchen staff. Leonard’s brother Charles was also sacked after the strike.

Leonard married Gertrude Rudkin, who was one of the striking nurses.

In the parish register when his daughter Joan was born his occupation given as bargeman.

1922 Electoral Register

Address: Notts County Mental Hospital, Saxondale, Radcliffe on Trent

1939 Register

Address: 54 East Crescent, Beeston, Nottingham

Occupation: Garage hand

Household: living with wife Gertrude, daughter Joan, wiring process – telephone works and Adelaide Stokes, born 1870 (mother?)

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Born and lived in Radcliffe on Trent with parents and siblings