Grandad, Ernest John Conway, married Emma Piggott on 4th July 1908 at Holy Trinity Church, London Road, Derby.
Emma was the second of 8 children of James and Mary (née Cummings) Piggott, and was born at 46 Westbury Street, Derby, on 2nd April 1888.
James’ younger brother, William, i.e. Emma’s uncle, was married to Florence (née Tomlinson). Their eldest son, Emma’s Cousin, also called William, and was born on 10th June 1893, at Ct. 1, 14 Leaper Street, Derby.
Emma also had two younger brothers who also enlisted in the Great War, plus two sons of William Henry who served in World War 2. So, currently, we have seven serving family members who bear the surname “Piggott“, plus cousins and others related by marriage:
- William Henry PIGGOTT (Emma’s brother – born 1892)
- James PIGGOTT (Son of William Henry) and
- Herbert John PIGGOTT (Son of William Henry).
- James PIGGOTT (Emma’s brother – born 1899)
- + Thomas Francis CARROLL
- + John Alphonso CARROLL
- William PIGGOTT (Emma’s cousin)
- + Walter FOSTER (also Emma’s cousin)
- + Albert John MARTIN (By marriage)
- Joseph Henry PIGGOTT (Emma’s 2nd Cousin)
- Henry John Robert PIGGOTT (Distant cousin of Emma)
Able Seaman 329626 William Henry PIGGOTT (Royal Navy)
William was the fourth child of James and Mary (née Cummings) Piggott, born 4 years after Grandma Emma, on 28th December 1892.
He, like so many of the family, began his working life in an Iron Foundry and by 1913 he was working as a “Moulder“.
On 24th June 1913, however, he joined the Royal Navy, enlisting for 12 years, 5 on Active Service followed by 7 on Reserve.
Just before War was declared in August 1914 William was posted to HMS Sparrowhawk (right), effective from 30th June 1914. His rank was “Stoker – 1st Class“. HMS Sparrowhawk was an Acasta‐class destroyer built to Admiralty design by Swan‐Hunter in 1912.
At the time of the Battle of Jutland on 1st June 1916, HMS Sparrowhawk was part of the Fourth Flotilla, based at Scapa Flow. It was made up of destroyers and two large destroyer leaders, HMS Broke (later of the Battle of the Dover Straits fame) and HMS Tipperary. More than a quarter of this flotilla was sunk at Jutland.
Last picture of HMS Sparrowhawk
By 23:00 on 31 May, the Fourth Flotilla was screening the starboard wing at the rear of the British battle fleet as it progressed southwards, looking to regain action with the German fleet at first light.
It was during these confused actions that HMS Sparrowhawk found itself rammed twice by members of its own flotilla, ultimately succumbing to the damage sustained.
Her sister ship, HMS Broke, was hit by gunfire from the German Battleship SMS Westfalen, killing the helmsman at the wheel. Unable to control the ship the Broke collided and disabled the Sparrowhawk. Despite attempts to take her in tow she eventually had to be scuttled.
about the actions leading to the sinking of the Sparrowhawk
Six of William’s shipmates were killed in the action. These were : AB William Henry Clarke; AB George James Cobb; Signaller George Henry Copson; AB Joseph Hill; P.O. Stoker Albert Henry Jones, and AB Donald Augustus Smith.
The other 65 crew members, including William, were saved and he achieved some fame when he returned on leave to Derby, especially for saving the ship’s mascot – the dog ‘Rough‘.
about the story in the account from ‘The Derby Mercury‘.
William’s next posting was to HMS Medina (right), also serving as a ‘Stoker‘. Whilst on leave, on 14th April 1917, he married Annie Moynihan, at Derby Register Office.
The couple later had 5 children before Annie died in 1926. Two sons, James and Herbert (see below) both served in World War 2.
Annie died on 19 November 1926, and William re-married in June 1934, to Nellie Wilson, and they had another daughter, Winifred Mary, in 1928.
about Service on the Medina, which extended beyond the Armistice in 1918
His Service Papers show that William was transferred to the Royal Navy Reserve on 1 March 1919, and he returned to live at 145 Siddals Road, Derby. He went back to his pre-War work as a “Moulder, Iron Foundry“.
By 1939 (Register) William and Nellie had moved to 53 Kelmoor Road, Shardlow, Derby, and he was still similarly employed.
The photo (left) shows William and Nellie at their daughter’s wedding in 1948. William died on 1st June 1963, aged 70. Nellie died on 25 May 1979.
AB James PIGGOTT (Royal Navy)
James was the second son (third child) of William Henry and Annie ((née Moynihan) Piggott, born on 28th November 1919.
Like his father he enlisted in the Royal Navy, probably shortly after the outbreak of World War 2. The 1939 Register shows him living with his father and step-mother, Nellie, at 53 Kelmoor Road, Shardlow, Derby.
Second World War records are only available to immediate family but from other family members’ records it seems that James served on board HMS Foyle Bank.
HMS Foyle Bank was a converted 5,500 ton merchant ship active during the Second World War. She was launched in 1930 and requisitioned in September 1939. She was converted into an anti-aircraft ship, equipped with 0.5 inch machine guns and four twin high angle 4 inch turrets.
She arrived in Portland on 9 June 1940 for a build-up to anti-aircraft duties. H.M.S. Foyle Bank possibly saw the most intense action in Portland Harbour. A squadron of German Stukka dive bombers attacked and sunk HMS Foylebank. Most of the crew were at breakfast, when 26 of Germany’s most feared aircraft, the JU87 Stukka dive bombers, attacked her in Portland Harbour.
The Ship fought back and 2/3 Stukkas were shot down, but 22 bombs found their mark and her guns were put out of action. She sank 5th July 1940 with a loss of 176 sailors killed out of a total crew of 19 officers and 279 crew.
about AB Jack Foreman MANTLE, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions defending the ship.
the Action in Portland Harbour and the sinking of HMS Foyle Bank
After the War James married Elinor May Mather in the December quarter 1948 and they continued to live in Derby. Elinor died in 1993 and James on 15th January 2006, aged 86.
Herbert John PIGGOTT (Army)
James was the second son (third child) of William Henry and Annie (née Moynihan) Piggott, born on 28th November 1919.
Second World War records are only available to immediate family but from other family members’ records and his wedding photograph with Irene Betty Johnson, it is clear that he served in the British Army during World War 2.
The couple married at St Peter’s Church, Derby, on 23rd January 1946 and had four children (not named here for privacy reasons). Herbert died in November 2006, aged 82. His wife, Irene, two years earlier.
Private 261297 James PIGGOTT (Royal Air Force)
James was the 6th child (of 8) of James and Mary (née Cummins) Piggott and was born on 26th February 1899 at 6 Chetwynd Street, Derby. He was, therefore, the younger brother of Grandma Emma Conway.
James enlisted in Royal Air Force on 25th June 1918, for the “Duration of the War“. The RAF was formed on 1st April 1918, following the renaming of the Royal Flying Corps. At the time of his enlistment he was still living at the family home – 145 Siddals Road, Derby, and gave his occupation as “Painter“.
On enlistment James was posted to 109 Squadron, on 3rd July 1918. The squadron first formed on 1st November 1917 as 109 Squadron Royal Flying Corps at South Carlton, Lincolnshire, and began training on the de Havilland DH.9, a single-engined piston biplane bomber but was disbanded on 19th August 1918 without becoming operational.
By then, though, James had been posted to “14 Training Depot School” at the new Squadron base at Lake Down, Wiltshire, arriving on 4th July 1918. Four months later he was posted again to the “1st Wireless School“.
However, the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918 and James’ participation came to end and he was admitted to the R.A.F. “G” Reserve on 28th March 1919. [N.B. ‘G’ Reserve airmen were released from service after WW1, but were liable for recall whilst on the reserve. The class was disbanded and all airman in the class were discharged on 30th April 1920 .]
After the War James married Fanny Potts in Nottingham in the March quarter 1922 (see below) and they had one daughter, Mary Dorothea Mabel, born 22 December 1922. The 1939 Register shows the family living at 37 Onslow Avenue, Lenton, Nottingham. James was working as a “Railway Coach Painter“.
James died in Derby in 1977, aged 78. Fanny was 104 when she died in January 2006 and was buried in Eastfield Cemetery, Peterborough (right).
Daughter Mary married Gerald Goulding in 1950 and had one son. She died on 14 December 2021 at Spalding, Lincolnshire. They are buried with her mother.
Fanny Pott’s parents were John and Catherine (née Carroll) Potts and as well as an elder sister, Agnes (1900 – 1953), she had 4 half-siblings from her mother’s first marriage to John Carroll – Thomas Francis (born 1887), James (b. 1889), John Alphonso (b. 1893) and Catherine (b. 1897).
Private 18583 Thomas Francis CARROLL (South Staffordshire Regt)
Private 18583 Thomas Francis CARROLL
Thomas was born in 1887, the son of John and Catherine (nee Dooley) Carroll. He had an older sister, Catherine, and two younger brother, James and John (below). John, Snr. died on 2 June 1896 at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The 1911 Census shows the family living at 5 Charles Street, Burton On Trent,
Thomas enlisted at the start of World War 1 and was posted to the 1st Battalion. The Battalion was posted to The Balkans on 22 September 1915. After returning to serve in France he was killed in action on 11 January 1917 and buried in Grave D.9, Waggon Road Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel.
In the June quarter 1913 Thomas had married Gertrude Annie Butler and they had two children, Catherine Agnes (b. 3 July 1913) and Francis John (b. 21 October 1914).
With effect from 17 September 1917 Gertrude received a Pension of £1 2s. 11d. (£1.15)per week for herself and their two children. She was living at 71 Henry Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire. This was reduced to 18s. 9d (£0.93) when daughter, Catherine Agnes. died on 23 February 1918. [£0.93 in 1918 is equivalent to about £67 p.w. today – 2025.]
Gertrude remarried William George Cooper on 17 March 1918.
Sergeant 8879 John Alphonso CARROLL [served as CARNELL] (Sherwood Foresters)
John was Thomas’ younger brother, born in 1893, but it is not known why he chose to serve under an Alias.
He was unmarried and was killed in action on 10 July 1916, the first week of The Battle of the Somme, when his Battalion was engaged in The Battle of Delville Wood. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
With effect from 20 August 1917 John’s mother, Catherine, then living at 89 Rupert Street, Meadows, Nottingham, received a pension of 3s. 6d (£0.17) per week, increased to 5s. (£0.25) on 6 November 1918, and 15s. (£0.75) on 7 March 1919. [£0.75 in 1919 is equivalent to about £50 p.w. today – 2025.] She died in Nottingham in the December quarter 1933.
Private 9281 William PIGGOTT (2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.)
William was born on 10th June 1893 at Court 1, Back of 14 Leaper Street, Derby (not a very prestigious address, bearing in mind he was the oldest of 11 children). His parents were William and Florence (née Tomlinson) Piggott. William Snr. was the older brother of James Piggott – Grandma Emma’s father, so Emma and William Jnr. were cousins.
William enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, in Derby, on 22nd April 1911, and joined the 3rd Reserve Battalion. Three months later, on 21st July, he left the the 3rd Battalion and was posted to the 2nd Battalion as a ‘full-time’ soldier, and moved to Glen Parva Barracks, Leicester.
The 2nd Battalion was stationed in India, so after basic training William joined his Battalion in India. In August 1914, on the outbreak of War, the 2nd Battalion was in Ranikhet, part of Gharwal Brigade, Meerut Division, of the Indian Army.
Mounting casualties among the British Expeditionary Force in France, and the growing realisation that this was to be a long war, prompted the Indian Government, in September 1914, to offer an Indian Corps for service in France. The offer was accepted, and the Division, including the 2nd Leicesters, sailed from Karachi on 21st September, landing at Marseilles on 12th October 1914.
William and his Battalion travelled by train, via Orleans, to Lillers, arriving on 26th October, and 2 days later saw their first action in the trenches at Callone.
The War Diary reports almost continuous action until the Battalion was finally withdrawn from the trenches on 25th November. The War Diarist was very descriptive of each day’s action, including the day William was Killed in Action. Friday, 20th November.
the 2nd Leicesters’ War Diary for August to December 1914
From the War Diary account it seems likely that Great Uncle William died as a result of a mortar attack on the Battalion’s trenches.
He was buried in Grave I.F.6., Le Touret Military Cemetery, in a section given over to his comrades from the Battalion.
By the end of 1914 in its short time in France the 2nd Battalion’s actions had resulted in 74 Casualties (53 Killed in Action; 16 Died of Wounds; 5 Died).
The ‘Derby Daily Telegraph‘ (left) reported William’s death in a manner which was to become so familiar over the course of the next 4 years.
When William went off to join the 3rd Battalion in 1911 two of his ‘mates’ went with him, as they had consecutive Service numbers and the same enlistment date.
Private 9280 George Hardy was born in 1892, the son of Frank (a general labourer) and Jane Hardy and had lived in Whiteman’s Yard, off Carrington Street, Derby. The second of the trio was Private 9281 William Piggott.
Private 9282 Arthur Elks made up the sequentially numbered trio. He was born in 1890, the son of Paul & Mary Ann. Paul also worked in the lace factory, as a twist-hand, and Arthur grew up not far from the other two, in Litchurch Street.
The three pals went off to India together in what, I’m sure, they thought of as a great adventure from their mundane lives in Derby’s backstreet, and much as Grandad Conway had done in 1905. Unfortunately, none was to return to their families in the Holy Trinity Ward of Derby.
By the time the Battalion arrived back in France Arthur Elks was already dead. Left behind when his Regiment moved out, presumably ill or stricken by disease.
He died on 16th October 1914, aged 24, and was buried Karachi Cemetery, Grave A/D. M. 18. He is commemorated on Face 1, Delhi Memorial (India Gate).
As we have seen, in November the 2nd Battalion was engaged in was later to be called the First Battle of Ypres. At 10.00 p.m. on the night of 15th November the Battalion was about 50 yards from the enemy and the War Diary states they, “heard movement & talking going on”.
An Officer took out a raiding party and George Hardy was the only casualty, killed in action.
He now lies in Grave I. D. 5, Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’Avoue. (picture right)
Just five days later William Piggott was also killed in action and was buried near his friend in Grave I. F. 6 in the same Cemetery.
Photo (right) shows the Leicesters’ area at Le Touret.
in November 2007 the Derby Evening Telegraph published the Author’s article about these ‘Three Derby Lads‘.
Private 2288 Walter FOSTER (Sherwood Foresters Regiment)
Walter was born in Mickleover, Derby, on 5 November 1888, the son of George and Annie (née Piggott) Foster. His grandparents were Henry and Emma Piggott, as were Grandad, Ernest John Conway’ s wife, Emma. So Walter was Emma’s 1st cousin.
Walter came from a large family. He had 6 older siblings, Henry (born 1876), harry (b. 1877), George (b. 1878), Elizabeth (b. 1880), Arthur (b. 1882) and Albert (b. 1887). He also had 2 younger brothers, Ernest (b. 1892) and Edwin (b. 1897).
On 31 October 1907, aged 18 years 11 months, Walter enlisted in the Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion) at Derby. His Period of Service was 6 years Active Service followed by4 years Reserve.
His home address was recorded as 42 Howard Street, Derby, and his occupation as “Bricklayer’s Labourer“. At his medical on 2 November his height was 5 ft. 5¼ ins. [1.66m]; weight 7 st. 13 lbs. [50 35 kgs.]; he had a ‘Fair’ complexion; blue eyes and light. brown hair; with a Tattoo of an Anchor on Left wrist.
On 26 November 1910 Walter married Jane James (pictured about 1940) at St Chad’s Church, Derby, and they had 3 children, Walter James, born 22 May 1911, Annie, 22 June 1912, and Samuel, 3 March 1915.
Although Walter’s Active Service ended in October 1913, a year later he was recalled from the Reserve and posted to join the BEF in France on 11 December 1914.
He remained in France until 28 May 1916, after being wounded. By 22 July 1917 he was in a Military Hospital in Sunderland, being treated for a “Gunshot wound to left leg – sustained in action on 5 February 1916“. From there he was discharged from the Army on 9 August 1917, being medically unfit.
Walter returned to his family, working at various labouring jobs. He died at 52 Norman Street, Derby, on 1 April 1957 and was buried 4 days later in Nottingham Road Cemetery, Chaddesden, Derby, Grave: A6, 5732F. His widow, Jane, died in August 1963 ans buried with Walter.
Private 3807 Albert John MARTIN (6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders)
On 10 November 1917, at Holy Trinity Church, Derby, another of Emma’s cousins, Arthur Foster (brother of Walter above) married Amy Martin.
Amy (née Springthorpe) had been formerly married to Albert John Martin, born on 11 October 1888, son of John and Selina (née Ault) Martin. They had married in the September quarter 1907, and had three children. Albert (born 7 March 1908), John William (b. 24 January 1910) and Leslie (b. 8 June 1911).
Although Albert has no direct link to the family other than by marriage, it is worth recognising him here as he was to pay the Supreme Sacrifice in 1916.
Albert enlisted in the 6th (Morayshire) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, (Private 3807) in 1915 in Ripon, Yorkshire. Like many Territorial Force Battalions, when war broke out in August 1914, they had just departed for annual camp and were at once recalled to home base, they mobilised for full time war service on 5 August 1914. They proceeded to France on 2 May 1915 and their Division concentrated in the area of Lillers,
Albert’s Medal Index Car indicates that he was not part of this original contingent, as he was not eligible for 1914-15 Star, so must have been posted later a reinforcement in preparation for the Battle of the Somme.
As part of the 51st (Highland) Division Albert’s Battalion were in action. In 1916 they were in action in the attacks on High Wood and The Battle of the Ancre, On the day he was killed the War Diary shows them in the area of Mametz Wood. The CWGC records show that Albert’s home address was 30 Shaftesbury Street, Derby.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France.
About a year later Albert’s widow, Amy, married Arthur Foster. A Military Pension of £1 0s 6d [£1.02 – equivalent to about £90 p.w. today – 2025] had been awarded for herself and 3 children on 17 February 1917, which would have been reduced on her remarriage. Grandma Emma’s cousin, Arthur Foster, died in the December quarter 1956. Amy died in February 1975 and was buried on 7 March in Grave: A29, 76060, Nottingham Road Cemetery, Derby.
In a message attached to Albert’s entry on the Theipval Memorial site, his great great grand daughter wrote:
“Albert John Martin went to war aged only 19 years old leaving behind his wife Amy and three small boys. Albert, William and Leslie . Albert never returned home to Derby and the boys were separated between grandparents and an Aunt. Amy married soon after Albert’s death and lived a long life dying in Derby aged 85.”
Albert was not, of course, only 19 years old, which would have been a bit young to have 3 children, but 27 when he was killed. His name also appears on the War Memorial outside St James Church, Dairyhouse Road, Derby (right).
Private/Corporal 1962 Joseph Henry PIGGOTT (Army Cyclist Corps)
Although Joseph is quite a distant link in the Family Tree, being Grandma Emma’s 2nd cousin, the fact that he made the Supreme Sacrifice makes his inclusion here valid.
He was born in South Normanton, Derbyshire, in 1890, the oldest of 7 children of William Walter and Alice Effie (née Page) Piggott. Before joining up 1 month after the Great War began Joseph was employed as a “Miner“.
Joseph enlisted in the 7th Battalion Yorkshire Light Infantry, at Doncaster, on 4th September 1914.
After serving in Ireland, Curragh, with the 7th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, he transferred to the 5th Corps, Army 
Cyclist Corps, on 18th March 1915 and was posted to France on the 14 October 1915.
He was killed in action, due to Gun Shot Wounds to the head and arm, on 14th March 1917.
The War Diary gives the following information:
‘On the morning of the 13th the Battalion marched from Couin to Hannescamps and took over the section of trenches from E11.a.9.5 to E17.a.5.3 and the V Corps Cavalry took over the trenches south of the battalion. The OC V Corps Mtd Troops was in command of the whole front held by the two units and the battalion relieved the 5th Leicester Regt. The 58th Division holding the trenches on the right of the battalion. Casualties on 13th 2 O.R. killed, 1 O.R. Died of Wounds, 4 O.R. wounded.’
In addition the V Corps Cavalry (Glasgow Yeomanry and the Lothians and Border Horse) mentioned that between 1.00 am and 4.00 am on the 14th the Cavalry and Cyclists made demonstrations with their Hotchkiss MGs to support (presumably by distracting the attentions of the enemy) the attacks by 7th and 46th Divisions (on either flanks) on Bucquoy. It was undoubtedly during this action that Joseph was killed.
Joseph was buried in Grave V.D.11, Warlincourt British Cemetery.
Private 242426 Henry John Robert PIGGOTT (Notts and Derbyshire Regiment)
Henry was the eldest of three children of Arthur and Eliza Jane (née Cole) Piggott. He was born in the September 1889 at 51 Stanhope Street, Derby. His younger brother William was born on 27 January 1891, and sister, Florence Annie, on 4 December 1896.
This was a rather tragic branch of the family; father, Arthur, was only 35 when he died on 1 October 1904, and sister, Florence, only 16 when she died in 1913. Brother, William, died in 1914, aged 23.
By then, however, Henry was married, to Catherine Slack, in the December quarter 1910. They had four children, Mabel Nellie, in 1910, twins, John Henry and Harry Edwin, in 1915, and Phyllis in 1920.
Henry served as “John Henry” in the 1/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) Regiment. It is not known when he enlisted, but his Medal Index Card shows it was after 1915. His original service number was 3020, before being allocated 242426.
He was discharged with a Pension on 2 March 1919, suffering from Tuberculosis – attributable to War Service. He died on 30 December 1923, aged 34. His widow, Catherine, continued to live in Derby until her death in the December quarter 1948.
