CRICH PARISH

Crich, Fritchley, Whatstandwell, Bullbridge, Crich Carr, Coddington, Wheatcroft, Wakebridge

William Henry Bollington (Martin) (1878–1969)

Lance Bombadier

Biography
William was born at Belper in 1878 and raised at Crich Carr, the oldest sibling of Alfred and Nelson Bollington (the family were also known as Martin). His parents were Sarah Bollington and William Martin, who married in 1913 after having at least nine children. The children were also known by their father’s name – Martin. In 1891 he and brother Arthur were at the Stockport Industrial School where William was a knitting machinist and Arthur was in the sewing room. He enlisted as a regular soldier in March 1900 and served in South Africa and India. During WW1, he served in France, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine. He was discharged at his own request in 1920 after eigteen years’ service and lived at Shirebrook for many years. He never married.

Army Record
William enrolled in the Army on the 1st March 1900 at Derby, aged twenty-two, single and a mining labourer at Oakerthorpe colliery. He was 5ft 2½in weighing 120lb. The next-of-kin was given as Mrs Martin, mother, of Coddington, Whatstandwell.
On the 7 December 1910 he fractured his little finger and spent fifteen days in hospital. The report stated: On the 23rd Nov 1910 at Kirkee the soldier was on parade when the accident occurred owing to his horse getting restive. He was not to blame.
Then on 11 April 1911 he suffered from pyrixia (fever) spending twenty-four days in hospital.
His service was extended on 4 October 1911. He was a paid Lance-bombadier as a driver and bombadier.
It was recorded that he was a good hard-working man who was good with horses.
He was discharged at his own request after eighteen years under Paragraph 392 (xviii) Kings Regulation on 24 January 1920 suffering from dermatitis (he was granted 20% disability for six months); his address at this time was 60 Vernon Street, Shirebrook.

His record shows him serving in different parts of the world –
South Africa 7 December 1901 to 27 October 1906
India 27 October 1906 to 28 November 1912
India 11 December 1913 to 19 September 1914
France 20 September 1914 to 19 December 1915
Mesopotamia 20 December 1915 to 20 May 1918
Egypt & Palestine 21 May 1918 to 6 February 1919

Medal Index Card
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 14 Star Medals; with clasp

William had two brothers, Alfred Bollington and Nelson Bollington, who are also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1881: Crich

Forename	Surname	Relationship	Age	Occupation	Where born
Sarah	Bollington	Head	21	Seamstress	Crich
Edward	Bollington	brother	15	Labourer, limestone	Crich
Mary A	Bollington	sister	13	Scholar	Crich
William	Bollington	brother	3		Belper

RG11; Piece: 3414; Folio: 183; Page: 8

1891: Stockport Industrial School

Forename	Surname	Relationship	Age	Occupation	Where born
William	Bollington	Inmate under detention	13	School, knitting machinist	Crich Carr
Arthur	Bollington	Inmate under detention	11	School, sewing room	Crich Carr

RG12 piece 2802 folio 108 page 2

1901: The Camps Shrapnel Barracks, Charlton

Forename	Surname	Relationship	Age	Occupation	Where born
William	Bollington		23	Driver, Royal Field Artillery	Belper

RG13; Piece: 563; Folio:182; Page:7

1911: Military, Overseas (Bangalore, India)

Forename	Surname	Relationship	Age	Occupation	Where born
William	Bollington		33	2nd Battery Royal Field Artillery	Belper

RG14PN34991 RD641 SD16 ED16 SN9999

1918 Voters List
William H Bollington, 1 North View Whatstandwell absent on military service

1939 Register: Church, Blackwell
William Bollington b.18 February 1878; locomotive shed labourer

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