John Desborough
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the only son of John and Emma Desborough née Wheatley. His father, John was the son of William Desborough and his wife Susannah nee Smith, of Woodborough; he was born in Woodborough in 1875 (O/N/D Basford-Smith) and baptised at the parish church of St Swithun on 26 September 1875. His mother Emma Wheatley was born in Arnold on 3 January 1876 (J/F/M Basford). John and Emma were married at Basford Register Office in 1898 (J/A/S Basford) and had John whose birth was probably registered as John Wheatley 1898 (A/M/J Basford-Wheatley), and possibly a daughter, Betsy, birth registered 1900 (J/F/M Basford-Wheatley) d. 1899 (J/F/M Basford). In 1901 John (25), a general labourer, and Emma (25) a seamstress, were living on Hallams Lane, Arnold, with their two-year old son John. His father John died in 1910 aged 35 yrs; his death was recorded in the Basford Registration District. His mother Emma remarried in 1911 (J/F/M Basford) to William Hardy (b. Derby, 5 February 1875). In the 1911 Census John 12 yrs is shown as the stepson of William, a miner hewer, and Emma Hardy; they were living on Furlong Street, Arnold. However, at the time of John's death in 1916 the family was living at 78 High Street, Arnold, and this was still William and Emma's address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Emma probably died in 1943 (A/M/J Basford).
Private John Desborough enlisted at Nottingham; he was under age given a probable date of birth in the second quarter of 1898. He was posted to the Sherwood Foresters in 1915, joining the 17th (Welbeck Rangers) Battalion. During action around Beaumont Hamel at the height of the battle of the Somme John was wounded and taken initially to the Regimental Aid Post. From there he was sent back down the line to a field hospital and then on the hospital train to England. He died in the Middlesex Hospital at Clacton, England, on 11 September 1916 (J/A/S Tendring Essex). His body was returned to his family and he was buried in Redhill Cemetery, Arnold (C. "U." 1370). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post, 30 September 1916, photograph with caption: ‘Pte J Desborough (BF) 78 High St., Arnold, died of wounds, Sept. 11th.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notice published 11th September 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “DESBOROUGH. – In loving memory of my dear son, Private J. Desborough, Sherwood Foresters, died of wounds September 11th, 1916. Often I pause and think of you, and think of how you died, to think you could not say good-bye before you closed your eyes. No loved one stood beside you to hear your last farewell, not a word of comfort could you hear from those that loved you well. – Loving mother and father.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Emma Hardy, was his sole legatee. 'Desborough' was a common surname in Woodborough and Harold was probably related to three other Great War casualties, brothers Harry and John Thomas Desborough, the sons of Samuel and Mary Desborough, and Harold Bancroft Desborough, the son of Robert and Lydia Desborough. (Records on this ROH.)
