Basic Details
Surname
May
Forenames
Wilfred or Wilfrid
Gender
Male
Information stated on memorial
Served or died
Died
Notes
Recovered 9.1.2023 from https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2750697/wilfrid-may/
RIFLEMAN WILFRID MAY Son of the late Daniel and Sarah Hannah May, of The Lodge, Carlton-on-Trent
Service Number: A/200168
Regiment & Unit King's Royal Rifle Corps 17th Bn.
Died 02 January 1917 Age 27 years old
Buried CARLTON-ON-TRENT (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD East of Church.
recovered 9.1.2023 from http://www.radcliffeontrentww1.org.uk/portfolio-items/wilfred-may/
Born in Carlton on Trent, Nottinghamshire in Oct–Dec 1888.
Died of wounds: 2nd January 1917 at the Military Hospital Eastbourne, age 28.
Buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Carlton on Trent.
Commemorated on St Mary the Virgin Church Parishioners War Memorial, Carlton on Trent, and Newark Magnus Grammar School War Memorial, St Mary’s Church, Newark.

(Name recorded as Wilfrid on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and censuses; Wilfred on military records. Age on CWG also incorrect.)

1891 Census
Age 2, living at Carlton Lodge, Carlton on Trent, Notts with father Daniel, 51, maltster, mother Sarah Hannah, 40, brothers Dan, 9, Eustace Harry, 7, and servants Annie Moorley and Fanny Priscilla Batty.
1901 Census
Age 12, living at the Lodge, Main Street, Carlton on Trent with parents, brother Eustace, Mary Longmate, housemaid, and Elizabeth Longmate, cook.
1911 census
Age 22, a bank clerk, living at Carlton on Trent with father Daniel, mother Sarah, brother Eustace and servants Mary and Elizabeth Longmate. The house had nine rooms.
Rank: Private (Rifleman) Service Number: A/200168
Military Unit: 17th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Formerly 4320, 1/5th Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade).

‘With regret is recorded the death from wounds of Rifleman Wilfrid May, which occurred on the 2nd of this month. Deceased, who was a son of the late Mr Dan May of Carlton-on-Trent, resided at The Hollies, Radcliffe-on-Trent, and was well known locally, being at one time on the staff of the Union of London and Smiths’ Bank. He joined the London Rifle Brigade in March 1916 and was transferred to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in November 1916. During the battle of the Somme he was wounded by shrapnel in the left arm and brought to the Military Hospital, Eastbourne, where the left arm was amputated after two operations. Death was due to septic poisoning.

The funeral took place at Carlton-on-Trent, when a large number of people congregated in the Church. The Rev. R.C. Smith (Radcliffe-on-Trent) took the first part of the service and the Rev. J. K. Jacques (Carlton-on-Trent) the committal’.
Address at date of death: the Hollies, Radcliffe on Trent. The Hollies was on Cropwell Road, between Victoria Street and Albert Street.
UK Registers of Soldier’s effects: £9:11:7 plus £3 War gratuity to brother Dan.

Wilfrid was a former pupil of Newark Magnus Grammar School. He was later employed as a bank clerk by the Union of London and Smith’s Bank.
Primary Service
As stated on memorial
Rank / Title (Primary - Stated)
Rifleman
Our References
Service (Primary - Our reference)
Rank / Title (Primary - Our reference)
Death and Burial details
Country of death
England
Town of death
Eastbourne
Country of burial
England
Town of burial
Carlton-on-Trent
Cemetery
St Mary's Churchyard
Year of death
1917
Month of death
January
Day of death
2
Age at death
28
Manner of death as stated
Unknown
Manner of death reference
Died of Wounds