ROBERT TENNANT WHEATLEY 1891–1972

Born 13th March 1891 in Radcliffe on Trent

Baptised 12th April 1891 St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe on Trent

Married on 23rd April 1919 to Annie Elsie Lawrence from Radcliffe on Trent

Son Norman Lawrence born 19 February 1924 and baptised 6 April 1924 at St Mary’s Church

Died 1972 aged 81 in Bingham district. Buried in Radcliffe Cemetery, grave reference D154

1891 Census

Age 1 month living on Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent with father George 26, a wheelwright born in Radcliffe on Trent, mother Adelaide Elizabeth Richard (neé Hallam) 25 also born in Radcliffe and a boarder Eliza Townsend 30, a sick nurse.

1901 Census

Age 10 and living on Bailey Lane with father George 36 a joiner/wheelwright working for himself, step-mother Mary 32 from Derbyshire and a boarder James Hallam who was living on own means.

1911 Census

Aged 20 employed as a joiner/wheelwright and living with father George, step-mother Mary, sister Marjorie Alice 8, brother George 5 and the boarder James Hallam now classed as his great uncle and of independent means.  They lived in an 8 roomed house in Lamcote, Radcliffe on Trent.

Military Service

Rank: Sapper

Service Number: 140254

Military Unit: Royal Engineers

Theatre of War: France and Flanders

Medals Awarded: British War and Victory

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Water Lane, Radcliffe on Trent

In his memoir, Gilbert Elwin records meeting Robert Wheatley at St Leger, France, in the spring or early summer of 1917:

“It was at this point that I met a man from my home village of Radcliffe on Trent. His name was Bob Wheatley and was the son of the local joiner. He was going, with others, to the trenches to take part in a night bombing raid on the German trenches, a very dangerous operation.  He carried a haversack filled with Mills bombs, the haversack stuffed with hay to prevent rattle.  Mills bombs were deadly hand held bombs of steel, inert until the pin blew out when thrown.  I never saw him again in France but he survived the war and afterwards I met him in our village.”

1921 Census

Address: Victoria Street, Radcliffe

Employment: joiner, G Wheatley, working for his father

Household: wife Annie Elsie

1922 Electoral Register

Victoria Road (Street), Radcliffe on Trent, with wife Annie Elsie

Other information

He gave his occupation on marriage certificate as a joiner.

1939 Register

Address: 7 Victoria Street, Radcliffe on Trent

Occupation: carpenter and joiner

Household: living with wife Annie, son Norman, clerk in Estate agents office and Annie’s mother Mary Lawrence

Reason for inclusion on the Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Born and lived in Radcliffe on Trent