John Henry Thompson
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Henry was born in 1896 (J/A/S Nottingham); his birth was registered in the surname 'Singleton'.
His mother was Florence Mary Singlehurst (b. 1878 J/F/M Radford), the daughter of Henry Singleton, a house painter, and Harriett Singleton who in 1881 were living with their three year old daughter at 48 Lewis Street, Nottingham.
In 1901, Florence, a lace hand, was living at 10 Angle Yard, Plumtree Street, Nottingham, as a boarder in the home of Joseph A Giannelli (27 b. Sheffield 25 March 1873). Ten years earlier in 1891 Joseph had been living on Parkinson Street, Nottingham, with his widowed mother, Lucrezia Giannelli (36) a lace winder.
On the night of the 1901 Census John Henry (5) was recorded in the home of his maternal grandparents, Henry and Harriett Singleton, at 2 King George Street, Nottingham.
By 1911 John Henry was living with his mother at 86 Ella Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, where she was listed as housekeeper in the household of Joseph Giannelli (37), a turf accountant. Also in the home was seven-year old Florence Lloyd (7 b. Manchester) whose relationship to Joseph, the head of household, was described as 'adopted'.
They had moved to 150 Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, by the time of John's death in 1915.
Florence Mary Singlehurst died in 1916 (J/A/S Nottingham), buried 8 July; she was 38 years old.
Joseph Giannelli later married Ivy E Laxton (1919 A/M/J Nottingham) and was still living at 150 Radcliffe Road in 1921. However, by 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at The Hall, Vicarage Lane, Bingham. Joseph was a turf commission agent.
1st/1st Nottinghamshire Battery. Served as THOMPSON.
John Henry enlisted before 20 September 1914 and was posted to 1st/1st Nottinghamshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery.
He embarked at Avonmouth (SS Nitonian) on 9 April 1915 and disembarked Egypt on 25 April 1915.
He died from dysentry two months later on 23 June 1915 and is buried in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (grave ref. Row B Grave 105).
CWGC History of Ismaila War Memorial Cemetery (extract): 'Ismailia is a small town on the west side of the Suez Canal. The cemetery was begun in February 1915 following an unsuccessful attack on the town by Turkish forces (this action was later commemorated by the French with a memorial at Gebel Mariam), and continued to be used for burials from camps and hospitals in and around Ismailia and nearby Moascar. After the Armistice, the cemetery was enlarged when graves were brought in from the cemeteries at Abu Sueir, Ballah, El Ferdan and Serapeum, from the Christian Cemetery, and from isolated sites.' (www.cwgc.org)
Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery: 564 Gunner Reginald Douglas Askew, also from Nottingham, is buried in Row A. Grave 109, the row in front of John Thompson. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 30 June 1915 and 1 July 1915: ‘Thompson. Died of congestion of the lungs, Private J.H Thompson (better known as Singlehurst), June 23rd, late of 150 Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford. Deeply lamented.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Note: the entry on his record in the Registers of Soldiers' Effects gives the cause of death as dysentry.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Florence Singlehurst, received a payment in October 1915 as her son's legatee, but in 1919, three years after her death, another payment was made to Joseph Thompson who was described as John's step-father.
Photo of John Henry Thompson
Ismalia War Cemetery, Egypt courtesy of the cwgc
Photo of John Henry Thompson
Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (www.cwgc.org)