Name
Idris Green
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/11/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27539
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9 A, 9 B and 10 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, Worksop Cenotaph
Pre War
Born on 27 January 1897 in Llyn Pier in the registration district Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Idris Llewelyn Green was the son of Thomas and Bessie (née Wilcox) Green. His parents were married in 1888 in the registration district of Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. They had thirteen children, of which five died in infancy.
The family moved regularly to find work in collieries around the country and, soon after Idris was born, the family spent a short time in Mangotsfield, a village in south Gloucestershire.
At the 1901 Census the family were living at 65, Little Scotland, Black Rod, Lancashire and Idris had six siblings; Guy (11), Ceridwen (10), Spurgeon (6), Emrys (5), Margaretta (2) and Emma (1) Note: the name Ceridwen is difficult to read and could be Credwen. Their father, Thomas, was employed as a coalminer.
By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 141, Station Road, Haydock, Lancashire and Idris, now 14, had seven siblings; Guy (21), Ceridwen (20), Spurgeon (16), Emrys (15), Margaretta (12), Emma (11) and Bessie (8). The occupation of Idris is given as a ‘colliery haulier below ground’ and that of his brother as a ‘pony driver below ground’. The family moved later to Worksop, where they lived at Potter Street.
Idris married Annie Beament in the second quarter of 1916, the marriage recorded in the Watford registration district. Annie already had a daughter, named Dorothy A Beament, who had been born in 1914.
The pension card for Idris gives Annie’s birth date as 15 September 91 and her address as 65, Vale Road, Bushey. Records indicate that Annie married again in 1920 in Uxbridge to a Charles Hault and then again in 1922 to a Walter Chase.
Wartime Service
Idris enlisted in Worksop in 1914 at the age of 17, when the family was living at 6, Potter Street, Worksop in Nottinghamshire. He had been working at Manton Colliery, where the Wigan Coal & Iron Co. had begun to sink a new colliery in 1897.
He initially joined the Notts & Derby Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters) as Private 2836. They trained in Watford from August 1915, prior to moving to Ireland in April 1916 to quell disturbances in the Dublin Rebellion. The troops were abruptly taken out of basic training in Watford, and ill equipped, were thrown into street fighting against the Irish Rebels in Dublin. Most had less than three months military service, were unfamiliar with their weapons and had not yet had live firing practice. There were many fatalities.
During his time in Watford, Idris must have met Annie Beament. She was born in 1892, the daughter of Henry and Mary Beament from Whitechapel. At the time of the 1911 census she was living with her married sister at 29, Vale Road, Bushey. Annie and another sister were employed as domestic servants. Idris and Annie were married in the Watford district in April 1916, just before he left for Ireland.
Idris was subsequently transferred as Private 27539 to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served with the 10th Battalion on the Western Front, where he died on 18 November 1916. His death was presumed on or since the 18 November 1916. His pension card gives his widow as Annie, living at 65, Vale Road, Bushey.
Idris is remembered with honour at Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 9 A 9 B and 10 B. He is also commemorated on the Bushey war memorial and at St James’ Parish Church, Bushey.
His name also appears on the Worksop Cenotaph, in Memorial Avenue, Worksop and the following is a transcript from the Worksop Guardian, dated 25 January 1918;
"Mr. Thomas Green, 6, Potter Street, Worksop, has received official information that his son, Pte. Idris Green, Warwickshire Regiment who has been missing since November 18th, 1916, is now reported dead. Nothing further has been heard of him, and it is concluded that he must have been killed on or about that date. Pte. Green was only 17 when he enlisted in the 28th Sherwood Foresters, and took part in the Dublin Rebellion, being transferred later to the Warwick’s, with which regiment he saw much fighting. Prior to enlisting he worked at Manton Colliery. The deceased was a smart and steady lad and liked by all who knew him. He was held in great affection by his comrades and the NCOs’ and men of the Sherwood Foresters, who speak in high terms of him as a soldier. Mr. Green and his family will have the sympathy of many friends in their sorrow. Pte. Idris Green, had he lived, would have completed his 21st year next Sunday"
Additional Information
Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk. Information also drawn from the Nottinghamshire County Council Great War Roll of Honour website - please visit www.secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
