Military Monday – Tom Musgrove (1898-1969)

Tom Musgrove is my 1st cousin 2x removed – he is my maternal grandfather’s cousin. Our common ancestors are my 2x great grandparents John Musgrove and Catherine Ainsworth. Tom was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire about 1898 to parents Joseph Musgrove and Bridget Maria Grainger. He was the fourth of at least ten children.

On 13 May 1916 Tom went to Blackburn and enlisted in the 4th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. He was 18 years 9 months old. The medical report written at the time of his enlistment describes him as having ‘bow legs’.

Tom remained at ‘home’ until 28 February 1917. He embarked the following day from Southampton to Le Havre, France.

During the period May to June 1918 Tom appears to have been ‘surplus’ and transferred between Battalions. He was also granted 4 days leave to England in August.

The next significant piece of information from Tom’s service record on www.ancestry.co.uk is that he was admitted to hospital on 6 April 1919 – I can’t make out what the record says – see below. Anyway whatever it was he had an operation and was subsequently discharged after 62 days on 6 June 1919.

He was finally demobilized on 4 December 1919 to the Class Z Reserve.

Class Z Reserve was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve “for the duration”, were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.

Tom married Rhoda Kear in Q4 1921. I haven’t been able to find a record of any children. He died sometime in Q3 1969 in Clitheroe.

Military Monday – James Musgrove (1894-1925)

James Musgrove is my 1st cousin 2x removed – he is my maternal grandfather’s cousin. Our common ancestors are my 2x great grandparents John Musgrove and Catherine Ainsworth. He was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire about 1894 – the second of at least ten children – to parents Joseph Musgrove and Bridget Maria Grainger.

On 20 January 1915 James enlisted in the 18th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. His regimental number was 16718. I’m not sure how good or bad his eyesight was but there is a note in his records that two pairs of glasses were issued to him, presumably resulting from his medical at the time he enlisted.

It was a further 12 months before James embarked for France on 29 January 1916.

There is not much detail in the pages about his war service on www.ancestry.co.uk. But it appears that James became ‘unfit’ for battle on 22 January 1917 and he was transferred to the Army Service Corps. He was given a new service number – 111748.

James was eventually demobilized to the Class Z Reserve on 15 March 1919.

Class Z Reserve was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve “for the duration”, were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.

As far as I can tell James died sometime in Q2 of 1925.

Tombstone Tuesday – Joseph and Annie Musgrove

This headstone marks the resting place of my grand uncle Joseph Musgrove and his wife Annie Simpson.

Joseph was born 23 October 1912 to parents Joseph Musgrove and Elizabeth Ann Turner – my great grandparents.  He was the youngest of at least ten children.  Annie was born 26 September 1907.

Joseph and Annie married sometime in the first quarter of 1933 and the marriage was registered at Clitheroe, Lancashire.  They had two daughters plus grandchildren and great grandchildren.

As you can see from the headstone Joseph died 11 November 1989 and Annie died 26 January 2004.  They are buried at Christ Church, Chatburn, Lancashire.

Tombstone Tuesday – Joseph Musgrove (1866-1933)

This headstone marks the grave of my great grandfather Joseph Musgrove.  Also his son Joseph and daughter Isobel.

My great grandfather was born 1st December 1866 in Kendal, Westmorland.  His parents were Harrison Musgrove and Jane Rooking.  From what I have been able to establish Joseph was  the youngest of at least five children.

His first occupation described on the 1891 census is agricultural labourer.

In April 1893 Joseph married Elizabeth Ann Turner and before long they moved to Horton in Ribblesdale near Settle in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.  They lived at Foredale Cottages on the outskirts of the village.  The cottages were built for the workers at the local limestone quarry and that is where Joseph was employed.  Here’s a link to more information.

By 1901 the family had moved to Clitheroe in Lancashire where Joseph continued to work as a quarryman and they spent the rest of the lives raising a family of ten children.

Joseph died on 30 September 1933 and is buried at Clitheroe Cemetery.

As you can see from the headstone Joseph junior died as an infant in 1904.  And Isobel died 95 years old in 2001.

On this day … 3rd June

1782 … John Snowden was born to parents Robert Snowden and and Hannah Overend.

1798 … Ann Kighley was born in Cowling, West Yorkshire to parents Isaac Kighley and Ellen Jackson.  She is my 3x great grandmother.

1948 … Joseph Musgrove died in Clitheroe, Lancashire.  He is my great grand uncle.

On this day … 13th April

1864 … Joseph Musgrove was born in Darwen, Lancashire.  His parents were John Musgrove and Catherine Ainsworth.  He was my great grand uncle

1894 … Charles Edward Maguire was born in Liverpool.  He was the husband of my wife’s 3rd cousin 1x removed

1932 … Robert William Thistlethwaite died.  He was the husband of my great grand aunt

On this day … 12th April

1873 … Jane Rooking died in Kendal, Westmoreland.  She was my 2x great grandmother

1874 … Ann Benson was born.  She was my 2nd cousin 2x removed.  Her parents were Charles Benson and Ann Smith

1893 … Joseph Musgrove and Elizabeth Ann Turner were married at Settle Register Office in North Yorkshire.  They were my 1x great grandparents

1918 … Kathleen Musgrove was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire.  Her parents were Fred Ainsworth Stowell Musgrove and Florrie Musgrove.  She was my aunt

1933 … Ellen Musgrove (nee Stowell) died in Clitheroe, Lancashire.  Her parents were John Stowell and Ann Astin.  She was my great grandmother