John William Childs

Based at HMS Pembroke a shore establishment at Chatham Docks. John was killed in an accident on Nottingham Road, ironically very close to the main entrance to the cemetery.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 27/8/1942: Triple Tragedy at mansfield. Two Soldier and Sailor killed. Crash on Nottingham Road.
A distressing tragedy involving the deaths of three men, two soldiers and a sailor occured at Mansfield late last Friday night. A fourth man was also injured about the head and is in Mansfield General Hospital.
About 25 minutes past ten just before the late local bus left the Cemetery Terminus an army motor vehicle came down the hill from the direction of Nottingham. Just at the point where the trees overhang the roadway the road bends left and here the vehicle went right mounted the offside causeway. On which it travelled for some distance and then crossed the road to the left hand side. Here it was stopped by crashing into one of the big trees. The vehicle was badly damaged and two men were killed outright and a third was thrown out into the roadway. He was promptly taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during the early hours of Saturday morning.
The men who lost their lives were Pte R Mitchell of Bryson, Millersdale Ave, Mansfield, Pte F Hallam of Doncaster and the sailor John W Childs of 7 Baums Lane, Mansfield who was well known in the town.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 5/11/1942: Sequel to Three Road Deaths at Mansfield. Young Driver Acquitted . No Direct Evidence as to Cause of Accident.
A sequel to the accident which occured on Nottingham Road on 21st August when as a result of an Army Utility Vehcile colliding with a tree, two soldiers and a sailor lost their lives was heard at Mansfield Borough Police Court on Wednesday when John Unsworth (19) of 1 Allen Row, Paddock, Huddersfield was charged with driving in a manner dangerous to the public. After a 3 and a half hours long hearing the bench found the charge not proved and dismissed the case.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 3/12/1942: Three Fine Fellows Their Sad Death "Accidental" say Coroner. The Army Truck Triple Tragedy.
Wearing hospital blue dress and looking very pale 19 year old Pte John Unsworth of Allen Rd, Paddock, Huddersfield attended a resumed inquest at Mansfield on Tuesday, 1st December 1942 on the deaths of two soldiers and a sailor who met their deaths when an Army Utility Truck struck a tree about half past 10 on the night of Friday 21st of August a few yards below Mansfield Cemetery Gates.
Unsworth, who was accompanied by Capt H D Eastwood from his unit said he was still in hospital in Sheffield whence he came that day. He suffered concussion and had not a very clear idea of what had happened on the night in question.
Sgt James Maitland who was walking towards Mansfield said an Army truck passed him near the Rushley Waterworks at a speed of 55mph and later he saw a truck come to grief near Mansfield Cemetery. Unsworth giving evidence told the coroner that he had joined the army when he was 15 years old and had qualified as a driver of motor vehciles.
He related he had driven an officer to Nottingham on 21st of August and had started back at 9:25 pm when he hailed by two soldiers and a sailor whom he picked up on the way to Mansfield. As I approached the barrier near Mansfield I reduced speed to 30 mph, about 100 yards past the barrier my offside wheels being on the crown of the road hit an obstacle which might have been a brick and the steering wheel flew out of my hands and I swerved right. I grasped the wheel and felt a slight bump on the offside door. I put the steering wheel hard over to make myself square with the road. As soon as I wrenched the wheel I felt a crash and it might have been the lamp post.
My companions in the van behaved in a proper manner and did not interfer with my driving. In Nottingham I did not have anything to drink except tea.
Inspector Upton said the road was searched and no brick or other object was found.
Mr R P Marchant (for the relatives of Childs): Can you account for your travelling 64 yards on the pavement or grass verge?
Witness: I may have put my foot on the acclerator in mistake for the brake.
P.C. Hinchcliffe said the lamp-post was broken off on the nearside of the road and the coroner remarked "It's not a pleasant corner there and it's dark under the trees"
The coroner recorded a verdict that Mitchell and Hallam were accidentally killed while passengers in the vehicle and that Childs died of injuries accidentally received.
I offer my sympathies to the relatives added the coroner, "it's very sad that three fine fellows should be taken away like that. It's a terrible accident."
Capt Eastwood associated himself with the expression of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased men.

John was about a mile from home when the crash occured.