John Cooling
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was born in 1883 in Ordsall, Retford, and was the son of Richard and Louisa Annie Cooling. They had a large family of 11 children however only six of whom survived to 1911. In the 1901 census the Richard, a railway signalman, and his wife were living at 3 Caledonian Road, Ordsall. Four of their children, John (18) a gardener, Robert and Willie and Beatrice were in the home on the night of the census. By 1911 Lousia Annie was widowed and iiving at 48 Whitehall Road, Retford, with four of her children, John (28) an engineering labourer, Frank and Willie and Beatrice.
John enlisted at Retford and first served with the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment with service number 51635. He later transferred to the 13th battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. He died of wounds on 7th July 1917 and is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas-De-Calais, France (grave ref VI D 6).
Retford and Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 14 March 1916. This issue contained a letter from Pte CH Egglestone at HQ 139th Brigade in which he wrote (extract): ‘I am keeping well and also my friend, Walter Chandler, who is with me at Headquarters and always shares my parcels. Both Chandler and myself were sorry to read of the death of poor Cooling and Sergt. Lee. We knew both of them very well. I was a school pal of Lee’s and his brothers, at Thrumpton School. We were at the place where Cooling met his death as the Retford boys were with the Guards during the latter part of last year.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
