John William Poole

John William joined the 2/8 Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) Regiment in August 1914 the battalion which first served in Ireland before proceeding to France. The Regimental History and the Diary of the 2/8 Battalion Notts and Derbys Regiment appear to differ greatly over the period when John William died, ie. 7th April 1917 (Good Friday). The diary merely states "Wiring and improvement of trenches. Casualties - 2 other ranks killed, 3 wounded." The Regimental History however goes into great depth in describing what happened on that fateful day. The Germans were in a position of strength along the Hindenburg Line, in this case at Le Verguier. Their wire we are informed was 25 feet thick and strongly flanked by machine guns. It was decided that 2/8th Battalion would attack the German line. It was during this attack that John was reported missing and later reported taken prisoner he died in captivity. His gravestone is at premont Military Cemetery,and is marked the words "Buried near this spot".One other inscription on the gravestone is that given by his parents - "He nobly answered his country's call". The Poole family moved from Woodborough in 1925.

Death notice published 28th January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “POOLE. – Missing April 7th, 1917, now reported died prisoner of war in Germany, John William Poole, aged 19 years, the eldest and dearly beloved son of John Patching and Sarah Elizabeth Poole, Park Farm, Woodborough. Joined August, 1914. He gave his life for his country.” Above notice is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918