WORLD WAR I

Bingham War Memorial

29846 (45991)	Private William Wilford	50th Labour Corps (formerly Lincolnshire Regiment)	Born 1878
The Royal Pioneer Corps Association	The Labour Corps was formed on 1 April 1917. Personnel employed in the Labour Corps were medically of a lower grade or older than infantrymen at the front. Generally personnel over 35 were also enlisted into the Labour Corps. Personnel of the Corps had to be fit to undertake manual labour but generally could not march (with full kit) over 5 miles or maybe had bad eyesight etc. A lot of personnel were wounded infantrymen recovering their strength. Every member of the Labour Corps was medically re-examined every month to see if they were fit enough to return to the Front. As the war progressed the medical standards kept on reducing many men found themselves in the Infantry. William’s number suggests that he joined the Labour Corps on formation in April 1917. The Labour Corps was formed on 1 April 1917. Personnel employed in the Labour Corps were medically of a lower grade or older than infantrymen at the front. Generally personnel over 35 were also enlisted into the Labour Corps. William would have been 39 in 1917. Click here for details of their activities.
Roll of Honour	Served on the Western Front
Medal card	Records award of Victory and British Medals
Absent voters list 1918	Address given as James Terrace, Newgate Street. Also on normal electoral roll at James Terrace

29846	William Wilford
1878	Born in Bingham
1881 census	Living in Cherry Street with : Grandfather: Abijah, b 1829 Bingham Grandmother: Ann, b Bingham 1829 Probable mother: Mary, b 1854 Bingham Brother: Henry, b 1881 Bingham	Framework Knitter Laundress Laundress	William and Henry not noted on parish registers as illegitimate but no father named.
1891 census	Living in Cherry Street with : Grandmother: Ann Mother: Mary Brother: Henry,	Laundress Laundress
1901 census	Living in Grantham Road with: Wife: Mary Ann	Grocer’s porter
1911 census	Living in James terrace, Newgate Street with Wife: Mary Ann (nee Rogers), b 1878 Kidderminster Daughter: Edith May, b 1905 Bingham Boarder: Arthur Mabbott, b 1884 Harby	Labourer for grocer and farmer No occupation given	Brother Henry railway signalman, living in Spondon. Married to Mabel. Mother married to Richard Holmes, gas stoker, and living in Spondon 1901 and 1911.
Research note	William, son of Henry T Wilford, was a candidate but ruled out as in 1911 he was a boarder in Bolsover. Absent voters list shows correct service number, service unit and address as James terrace for this William. William’s second cousins, Henry, George and John also served, George having been killed in action.