John Henry Stokes
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John lived at 67 Cross Street, Arnold he was born in Arnold in 1890 the son of John a coal miner and Emma Stokes nee Cook. His father John was born in 1866 in Rugeley, Staffordshire, his mother Emma Cook was born in 1869 in Arnold, they were married in 1887 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District. He had a brother William Lewis b1900 and a sister Mary Ellen b1891 and the family lived at 12 Furlong Street, Arnold. He was educated at the Arnold British school John married his wife Eliza Ann Foster (born 1890 ) in 1909 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district, they lived at 67 Cross Street, Arnold and had two children, Mabel b1910 and John b1913. In the 1911 Census John is shown as living at James Street Arnold with his wife Eliza Anne 21 yrs and a three month old daughter Mabel Ellen. His occupation is that of a coal miner he worked at Newstead Colliery. Following his death his widow Eliza was awarded a pension of 25 shillings and 5 pence a week which commenced on 2nd June 1919.
Private John Henry Stokes enlisted at Hucknall on 12th September 1914 and served with the 1/5th battalion South Staffordshire regiment.. The battalion landed at Havre in France on the 3rd March 1915 and in May of that year it became a part of the 137th Brigade Between September 27th and October 4th, 1918 Elements of the B.E.F. together with a number of French units attack towards Cambrai and St Quentin with 41 Divisions and break through the Hindenburg Line. By the 3rd October the 46th Brigade are in the area of Oppy Wood and there was much heavy fighting in an effort to force the Germans from the wood. It was during this operation that John was killed in Action on the 3rd October, he is buried in Montbrehain British Cemetery, France, Plot A. Grave 36.
In memoriam published 4th April 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “STOKES. – In loving memory of my dear husband, John Stokes, 67 Cross-street, Arnold, reported missing October 3rd, 1918, now presumed dead. I miss him and mourn him in silence unseen, and think of the happiness that might have been. – From wife and children. “STOKES. – In loving memory of our dear son, John Stokes, missing October 3rd, now presumed dead. 'Tis sweet to know we'll meet again, where partings are no more, and the only one we loved so well, has gone before. – Sorrowing mother, dad, Ellen, Lewis, Lew in Egypt.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
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