John Henry Askew
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Henry Askew was born in Worksop in 1888 the eldest of 9 children born to John Henry Askew and Sarah Palmer. On the 24 Dec 1910 he married Mary Ann Barnish at Worksop. A few months later he was recorded as still resident with his parents and siblings at 61 Abbey Street, Worksop and working as an Insurance agent. His wife was staying in Rotherham, with her sister. The couple were living together at 8 King Street, Worksop when their child was born on the 3rd August 1912. He was named Clifford. After the war, his wife was awarded a pension of 26/8 per week and 10/- for her child.
John Henry had been in the Notts and Derby Yeomanry prior to the war but his time had expired after 4 years. When the war came he was attested and embodied on the 17th November 1914 to the Sherwood Foresters 8th Battalion later transferred to the 2/8. His younger brother, George, also joined the 2/8th Battalion and both were sent to France on the 27 Feb 1917. George was wounded at Passchendaele but survived, and John Henry is reported to have received gunshot wounds to his left arm on 21 March 1918 and then was returned home 3rd April of that year. From Litchfield, on the 4th March 1919, he was discharged from the army “in consequence of being surplus to military requirements having suffered impairment since entry into the service Para 392 (XV1A) K R”. As such he was awarded Silver Badge No. B192224 as well as the British and Victory Medal. It was in the following year on the 11 April that he died of Mitral Stenosis (disease relating to the heart). Family claim he died as a result of being gassed.
As this casualty was discharged from the army, he was no longer their responsibility, and therefore was not given a Commonwealth War Grave when he died in 1920. The army only gave a grave if the soldier died whilst in their custody. Research by Colin Dannatt
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