John Henry Wing
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the son of John Henry and Elizabeth Ann Wing of 10A Manvers Street, Sneinton Elements, Nottingham (CWGC). Based on the information on CWGC and RN records the following family history appears to match this man although there were a number of men of the same name (John Henry Wing) living in the Nottingham area during this period. His father was born in Doddington, Cambridgeshire, about 1870 where his father, William, was an agricultural worker. However, by 1881 his mother, Emma, was living at 57 Narrow Marsh, Nottingham, with her five sons, including John Henry (21), and one daughter. Emma was a deputy lodging house keeper and so it is likely that she and her family were living in the lodging house. John Henry, a blacksmith, married Elizabeth Ann Carroll in Nottingham in 1892 (marriage registered Apr/May/Jun) and their son, also named John Henry, was born on 10 July the same year. They had eight children, all of whom were still living at the time of the census; John Henry, William Anthony (b. 1895), Thomas (b. 1898), Rose Rebecca (b. 1901), Anthony Joseph (b. 1903), Edward (b. 1907), Henry (b. 1909) and Albert (b. 1911). By 1901 John (31) and Elizabeth (31) were living at 28 Martins(?) Yard, Nottingham. John was still working as a blacksmith and his wife was a lace mender. Two sons were in the household on the night of the census, William Anthony (5) and Thomas (3); their eldest son, John Henry, has not yet been traced on the 1901 census. The family had moved to 18 St John's Church Yard, Leen Side, Nottingham, by 1911. John and Elizabeth's eldest child, John Henry, had joined the Royal Navy the previous year, but their seven other children (William, Thomas, Rose, Anthony, Edward and Albert) were still living at home. John and Elizabeth later moved to 10A Manvers Street (house number '102' on RN record), Sneinton, Nottingham, and they were living at this address when their son was killed in 1916. At the time of his death John was engaged to Ada. John Henry's mother died in 1932 age 63 and his father in 1937.
John Henry joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18 on 10 October 1910 on a 12 year engagement. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory II 10 October 1910-5 November 1910 (Stoker 2nd Class); HMS Renown 6 November 1910-7 January 1911; Victory II 8 January 1911-28 February 1911; HMS Hecla 1 March 1911-19 April 1912 (Stoker 1st Class 10 October 1911); HMS Good Hope 20 April 1912-23 December 1912; Victory II 24 December 1912-3 July 1913, (3 days cells), 7 July 1913-3 September 1913; HMS Queen Mary 4 September 1913-31 May 1916 (Acting Leading Stoker 1 July 1915). Record annotated, ‘NP 3025/1916, DD 31st May 1916, Killed in Action’. John Henry was killed at the Battle of Jutland; his body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Battle of Jutland. HMS Queen Mary (Captain CI Prowse) put to sea with the Battlecruiser Fleet (Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty in HMS Lion) to intercept a sortie by the German High Seas Fleet into the North Sea. ‘As the Queen Mary fought back under the concentrated fire of Sydlitz and Derfflinger, observers saw three shells of a salvo of four strike home on her at 4.26, followed quickly by two more shells from the next salvo. As a tremendous flame of dark red burst from her and a pillar of smoke rose high into the air, she was rent apart by a shattering concussion as her magazines exploded … Her back broken, the gallant Queen Mary threw her stern into the air, her propellers still slowly revolving … then as further underwater explosions shook her, she plunged to the bottom.’ (‘Jutland’, Captain Donald MacIntyre RN, 1957) There were only a few survivors from a ship’s company of nearly 1300 men. The wreck was discovered in the North Sea in 1991; she is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 10 June 1916: ‘Wing. On May 31st, in naval battle, John H Wing, leading stoker, Queen Mary, beloved eldest son of John and Elizabeth Wing, 102, Manvers-street. Give unto him eternal rest, O Lord. From his sorrowing mother, father, sister, and brothers in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour, 10 June 1916: ‘Wing. Lost his life with HMS Queen Mary, May 31st Leading Stoker John Wing. Into They hands, O Lord. Greatly loved, silently mourned. Fiancee Ada.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 31 May 1917: ‘Wing. In loving memory of Jack, lost May 31st, 1916, with HMS Queen Mary. Our hears are parted, and time will sever, but the love I gave you, dear, will live for ever. Loving fiancée, Ada, Military Forces, Bedford.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 31 May 1917: ‘Wing. In loving memory of our dear son, John Henry Wing, Stoker on HMS Queen Mary, who lost his life on May 31st, 1916. Days and nights still hold their sadness, tears in silence often flow, thinking, dear son, of how we lost you just one year ago. From his sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and brothers at home, and his brothers in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
No Photos