John Tom Stocks
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John Tom was born in 1894 in Selston and was the son of Eliza Ann Vardy née Stocks. His mother married Fredrick Vardy on 27th May 1901 at St Michael's Church, South Normanton, and they went on to have three further children, Elizabeth Ann born 9th May 1905 at Blackwell, Gertrude Lottie born 15th June 1909 at Basford and Mary born 6th July 1914 in Sutton in Ashfield It would appear from a very early age that John Tom lived with his grandfather John Brogdale, a widowed coal miner, in Selston In the 1901 census he is living with his grandfather at The Row, Selston. At this time his grandfather is a widower and a coal miner, and by the 1911 census 11 he is still living with his grandfather on Lilley's Row, Selston, Nottinghamshire by this time he is 17 years of age and he is now a coal miner.
John enlisted at Mansfield giving his place of birth and his residence as Selston. He served with the 2/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 21st March 1918. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
The following is an article from the Notts Free Press dated 10th May 1918, Private F Vardy, Stanton Hill 'After being reported missing since June 7th 1917 official information has now been conveyed to Mrs Vardy, Stoneyford Cottages, Stanton Hill, that her husband Private F Vardy was killed in action, the deceased was 38 years of age and leaves a widow and 2 children. He enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment in August 1914 and was subsequently transferred to the Sherwood Foresters with which Regiment he went out to France early in 1915 and served with them to the last. Prior to his enlistment he was employed as a miner at the Sutton Colliery. It is regrettable to state that Mrs Vardy's son Private J Stocks 7th Sherwood Foresters is also reported missing since 21st March 1918.'
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