John Thomas Desborough
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John Thomas was born in Woodborough and was the fourth son of Samuel and Mary Jane Desborough nee Pepper. Samuel Desborough was born in Woodborough and he and Mary Jane Pepper were married in 1885 (J/F/M Basford) at Basford Register Office. They had five children, one of whom, Albert, died in infancy: Walter Desborough Pepper b. 1884 (O/N/D Basford), Charles b. 1886 (O/N/D Basford) d. 1895 (O/N/D Basford), Harry b 1889 (J/A/S Basford), John Thomas b. 1895 (A/M/J Basford) and Albert Arthur b. 1902 (J/A/S Basford) d. 1903 (J/F/M Basford). Their eldest son, Walter, who was born before their marriage, later took the name Walter Pepper Desborough. In 1891 Samuel (25), a framework knitter, was living on Lees Yard, Main Street, Woodborough, with his wife Mary Jane (25) and their sons Walter (6), Charles (4) and Henry (1). By 1901 they had moved to Southerns Row, Woodborough. Samuel and his son Walter (16) were stocking frame knitters while Charles (14) was an agricultural labourer and Harry (11) and John Thomas (5) were at school. Samuel and Mary had a fifth son, Albert Arthur, who was born in 1902 and died in 1903 before his first birthday while their second son, Charles, died in 1905 aged 19. In 1911 Samuel and Mary were living at Holly Cottage, Woodborough, with their son John Thomas (15). John later moved to Leek, Staffordshire, where he was a silk worker. He was living at 3 Queen Street, Leek when he attested in 1915. Their son Harry had moved to Macclesfield some years before and had married Frances Bertha Walthall in 1909 (J/A/S Macclesfield, Cheshire). They had one child, Edna b. 1914 (A/M/J Macclesfield). In 1911 Harry and Bertha were living at 81 Pitt Street, Macclesfield; Harry (21) was a hand silk tie knitter. They later lived at 168 High Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire (premises now a fish and chip shop). Harry served with the Machine Gun Corps (60277 Private) and was killed in action on 24 October 1918 (Romeries Communal Cemetery). See record on this ROH. Samuel and Mary were still living at Holly Cottge in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled; Samuel had retired as a framweork knitter. Samuel died on 25 April 1947; administration of his estate was awarded to his only suriving son, Walter Pepper Desborough. Samuel was still living in Woodborough.
John Thomas attested on 11 December 1915 aged 20 years 6 months; he named his father, Samuel, of Holly Cottage, Woodborough, as his next of kin. He transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He was mobilized on 26 January 1916 and posted to the 2/6th Bn North Staffordshire Regiment at Lichfield on 28 January. He transferred later to the 7th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, a regiment that normally enlisted men from the Preston area. John may have transferred to that regiment because of the losses they had previously incurred. On 19th October the battalion moved to the Thiepval/Aveluy Wood area to prepare for an attack. On the 25th October, the battalion's war diary stated there had been shelling throughout the previous night and considerable shelling throughout the day. Patrols were sent out beyond the front line and telephone communications failed. At 11.40pm orders were received which stated the battalion would be relieved by the 7th South Lancashires. For John Thomas Desborough this was too late. John Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 11 A). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Thomas later resided in Leek and his name is also on the Leek War Memorial. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his parents Samuel and Mary were his joint legatees. 'Desborough' was a common surname in Woodborough and it is likely that another casualty who was born in Woodborough, Harold Bancroft Desborough, the son of Robert and Lydia, was a relative of Harry and John Thomas. Likewise, John Desborough (DOW 1916) the son of John Desborough of Woodborough and Emma; his parents later of Arnold. (See records on this ROH.)
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