John Towers
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John was the son of Thomas and Mary Towers (née Newman). He served in the army as Jack Towers. His father Thomas was born in Barton in Fabis in about 1853, the son of John and Sarah Towers, and was baptised at St George Barton in Fabis on 11 September 1853. In 1871 Thomas (18) was a servant working for William and Mercy Stanbury at the Ferry Inn, Wilford, Nottinghamshire. His mother Mary was born in Bassingfield, Nottinghamshire, in about 1857, the daughter of Charles and Ann Newman. In 1871 Mary (15) was a servant at the Farm House, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, in the household of Thomas Hough, a farmer. Thomas and Mary were married at Racliffe on Trent St Mary on 25 December 1876. According to the 1911 Census they had nine children of whom eight were still living. Only seven children have been traced on the census between 1881 and 1911; All were born in Barton in Fabis and baptismal records (St George) have been traced for all but John: Annie Mary b. 1881 bap. 24 July 1881; Betsy Elizabeth birth registered 1883 (J/F/M) bap. 7 February 1883; Ada b. 1885 bap. 24 May 1885; Alice b. 1887 bap. 23 October 1887; Charles birth registered 1889 (J/F/M) bap. 21 April 1889; Elsie Elizabeth b. 1891 bap. 25 October 1891 and John b. abt 1895. Thomas and Mary probably lived in Barton in Fabis all their married life. In 1881 Thomas (26) a domestic labourer and Mary (24) were living in the village with their daughter Annie who was under one year. By 1891 Thomas was working as a plaster miner at a gypsum works. He and Mary had five children: Annie, Betsy (8), Ada (6), Alice (3) and Charles (2). Only four of their chlldren were in the family home on the night of 1901 census: Alice, Charles, Elsie (10) and John (6). Thomas was working as an agricultural labourer, However, by 1911 Thomas had returned to the gypsum works and was employed as a gypsum dresser. Only the two sons, Charles and John, both farm labourers, were still living with their parents. Also in the household was Mary's widowed father, Charles Newman (76), an old age pensioner. John's mother Mary died in 1914 and his father Thomas probably died in 1939.
Served as JACK Towers. John enlisted on 9 January 1915 aged 20 years and 1 month. He joined the regiment at Pontefract and served at home until 30 April 1915. He arrived in France on 1 May 1915 but returned to England on 13 May and was on home service to 28 August 1915. He served in France from 29 August 1915 to 8 July 1916 which was followed by home service from 9 July 1916 to 12 February 1917. His military record shows that he suffered from gun shot wounds to his left shoulder and right heel but the incident was not dated. Treatment for his injuries could account for either of the extended periods of home service in 1915 and 1916-1917. John returned to France on 13 February 1917 and was killed in action on 1 July 1917. He is buried in Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle, France (grave ref: VII F 1). He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Orchard Dump Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery was begun in April 1917, on the new front resulting from the Battles of Arras, and it was used by the units holding that front until the following November. These original burials are in Plot VI, Row K, and Plot I, Rows A to F. The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the neighbouring battlefields and from other burial grounds [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
John's cousin, Samuel Towers, the son of his father's younger brother John (b. 1863 Barton in Fabis), served in the Royal Field Artillery (L/23225 Gunner). He was a prisoner of war and died in Germany on 19 August 1918. (See record on this Roll of Honour.) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 30 July 1917: ‘Towers. Killed in action, Private J Towers, Yorks. and Lancs. Aged 22, of Barton-in-Fabis. A faithful son, a brother kind, a loving memory left behind. From father, brothers and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father, Thomas, was his sole legatee.
