John Percival Bosworth
He was a regular soldier serving with 2nd Bn Leicestershire Regiment in 1911.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Percival Bosworth was the son of Percival and Annie Bosworth (née Simpson).
His mother Annie, who had had a daughter, Gertrude, who was born in 1880 (Simpson, birth reg. JAS Shardlow, mother's maiden name Simpson), married Percival Bosworth in 1882 (reg. OND Sawley). Their son John Percival was born in Sawley in 1884.
His father Percival Bosworth died at Sawley on 31 March 1891.
The widowed Annie was living at 8 Hague Terrace, Orange Street, Nottingham, in 1901. Also in the home was her daughter Gertrude (21) a cotton winder, and her one-year old grandson, John Arthur White (birth registered John Arthur W Bosworth, 1899 OND Nottingham). Her son John had joined the Militia on 4 March 1901 and at the time of the Census was probably undergoing basic training.
John joined the Army in 1903 on a Short Service Engagement, which he extended in 1904 to complete eight years regular service. He named his mother, Annie, of 3 Bebbington Place, Sherwood Street, Nottingham, and his married sister (possibly half-sister), Gertrude Whittaker, 61 Caroline Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin.
Gertrude Bosworth had married John Percy Whittaker in 1902 (OND). Her husband had joined the Army in 1893 and was demobilised in September 1902 but later re-engaged and served until September 1909. (See 'Extra information'). He died aged 34 on 9 May 1910.
His widow Gertrude, employed at a lace bobbin works, was living at 5 Palmerston Street, Woodborough Road, in 1911. Also in the household was her son Arthur (Bosworth) and her widowed mother, Annie.
Gertrude married Alfred Frane in 1912. Her mother Annie died on 29 November 1913 aged 65.
John, who had transferred to the Army Reserve on 29 November 1911, married Alice Elizabeth Cooper (b. 3 December 1880) at Long Eaton Baptist Church, Derbyshire, on 25 March 1913. They had one child, a son, Percival Thomas Cooper, who was born on 17 March 1915.
His widow Alice married Edgar Charles William Wallis in 1917 (reg. JFM Shardlow) and they had a daughter Ruby in 1919 (AMJ).
Alice completed a form for the Army on 24 May 1920 listing her late husband's surviving blood relatives: widow Alice Elizabeth Wallis late Bosworth and son Percival Thomas Cooper Bosworth (b. 17 March 1915) both of 64 Bennett Street, Long Eaton [previously of 219 College Street, Long Eaton]. Also his sister (sic) Gertrude née Bosworth formerly Whittaker remarried Frane, aged 39 of 29 Gladstone Street. Nottingham. Gertrude had married Alfred Frane in 1912.
Alice Wallis died in 1959 (reg. JFM Blackpool) and her husband Edgar Wallis in February 1960. The probate record gave his home address as Blackpool; his daughter Ruby, 'wife of Dennis Hitchox', and his stepson Percival Bosworth, an electrical engineer, were awarded Administration of his Will.
Percival Thomas Cooper Bosworth married Sybil Palmer in 1939 (JAS Cirencester Glos.) and they were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living in Cirencester. He died in 1999 (reg. North Surrey).
John Percival Bosworth attested in the Militia, 4th Derbyshire Regiment, on 4 March 1901 giving his age as 18 years 4 months [b. 1884], born Sawley (Derbyshire), occupation labourer (lace maker, Clyde Works) and living at 8 Hague Terrace, Orange Street, Nottingham. He deserted on 10 March 1901 but rejoined on 1 May the same year. The Trial for Desertion was 'dispensed with by Order [reference illegible]' dated 13 May 1901 and John was discharged from the Army, 'mis-statement as to age on enlistment'.
He then enlisted in Nottingham on 30 November 1903. He was 19 years and 1 month old and gave his occupation as labourer.
In his Army service record there is a copy of a Ministry of Defence letter dated 7 July 1998 (sic) to Mr P Bosworth of Surrey, providing ‘particulars of the military service of 7187 Private John Percival Bosworth Leicestershire Regiment':
2 December 1903 - Enlisted Nottingham into the Leicestershire Regiment Short Service [3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve] and posted to depot.
7 Apri 1904 - Posted to 2nd Battalion.
10 November 1904 - Extended service to complete 8 years with the Colours.
16 October 1904 – Posted to 2 Battalion.
12 October 1908 – Posted to 1st Battalion.
1 December 1908 – Posted to 5th Battalion.
1 April 1909 – Posted to 7th Battalion.
29 November 1911 – Transferred to Army Reserve.
5 August 1914: Mobilized and posted to 1st Battalion. 16 October 1914 – Died of Wounds Hospital Ship at Havre.
The above information can be supplemented from other documents held with his service record:
Service Record: Home 30 November 1903-19 September 1905, 1y 294d. India 20 September 1905-17 November 1911, 6y 59d. Home 18 November 1911-16 October 1914, 2y 333d. Total 10y 321d.
Pte. Bosworth was serving with the 1st Battalion stationed at Fermoy, Ireland, on the outbreak of war. The Battalion embarked for England and spent August 1914 in the Cambridge area but on September 8th embarked at Southampton on S.S. 'Braemar Castle' for France. They arrived at St. Nazaire on 10 September and reached the Aisne on August 20th.
Once trench warfare set in the Battalion was moved north and relieved French troops on the night of October 12th/13th near Cassel. Pte. Bosworth was wounded in the thigh and sent down the line to Le Havre for evacuation to England.
He was transferred to the Hospital Ship 'Oxfordshire' but died of his wounds before she sailed and was buried at St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre (Div. 14. C. 3.)
Note: A notice in the local paper and the inscription on the family headstone give his date of death as 17 October, and the headstone inscription that he was buried at sea.
Pte. Bosworth qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
History of St Marie Cemetery which is one of the town's cemeteries (extract): 'During the First World War, Le Havre was one of the ports at which the British Expeditionary Force disembarked in August 1914. Except for a short interval during the German advance in 1914, it remained No.1 Base throughout the war and by the end of May 1917, it contained three general and two stationary hospitals, and four convalescent depots. The first Commonwealth burials took place in Division 14 of Ste Marie Cemetery in mid August 1914. ' (www.cwgc.org)
Military research by Peter Foster.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone inscription: 'In ever loving memory of John Perry, the beloved husband of Gertrude Whittaker, who died May 9th 1910, aged 34 years. 'In the midst of life we are in death.' Also of Annie Bosworth, who died Nov. 29th 1913, aged 65 years. Also of John Percival, son of the above and dearly beloved husband of Alice G Bosworth, who was killed with the British Expeditionary Force, and was buried at sea October 17th (sic) 1914, aged30 years. He gave his life for his country. Thy will be done.'
Army service: John Perry Whittaker. Born 1875 St Ann Nottingham. Short Service (7years with the Colours + 5 years in the Army Reserve). Enlisted 4 March 1893 age18y 4m occupation packer. 4083 Pte 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Demobilized 3 September 1902. Transferred to the Army Reserve 8 January 1903. Re-engaged on 10 February 1905 for four years from 4 March 1905. Discharged termination of engagement 3 September 1909.
Service record: Home 4 March 1893-20 Sept 1898, 5y 201d. Malta 21 September 1898-20 November 1899, 1y 61d. South Africa, 21 November 1899-2 September 1902, 2. 286d. Home 3 September 1902-3 March 1909, 6y 182d. Total 16y. Entitled South Africa Medal. Clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal King’s S. Africa Medal Claps. S.Africa 1900-S. Africa 1902.
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Alice E. Wallis (formerly Bosworth), of 64, Bennett St., Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 31 October 1914: 'Bosworth. On October 17th (sic), on the hospital ship Oxfordshire, from wounds received with BEF, John Percival husband of Alice Elizabeth Bosworth of 39 Litchfield Road, Sneinton Dale.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 23 November 1914. Photograph with caption: ‘Private JP Bosworth, 1st Leicesters, 39, Litchfield-road, Nottingham, died of wounds on the Hospital Ship Oxfordshire.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
WW1 Widows Pensions Record: his widow was awarded a pension of 17 shillings and 6 pence a week payable from week commencing 3 May 1915.
Additional miitary/family research, record updated, RF (July 2026)
John Percival Bosworth
Nottingham Evening Post, 23 November 1914. Source Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Photo of John Percival Bosworth
Buried in St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of John Percival Bosworth
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (2 August 2026)