John James Seagrave
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John James was the youngest surviving child of Solomon Seagrave and his second wife Ellen (née Richmond). His father Solomon was born in Mansfield in 1854, the son of James and Marian Seagrave, and was baptised at Mansfield SS Peter and Paul on 29 January 1854. In 1871 The family was living at High Street Gardens, Mansfield. Solomon married first Mary Ann Beasley (also Beazley, b. 1854) at Mansfield Wesleyan Chapel in 1875 and in 1881 they were living at 12 Newton Street, Littleworth, Mansfield. Mary Ann died in 1885. No record has been found of any children of the marriage. John's mother, Ellen, was born in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, in about 1859, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Richmond. In 1871 the family was living in Fishpools, Blidworth, but by 1881 had moved to 7 Newton Street, Littleworth, Mansfield. Ellen (22) was working as a reeler at a cotton factory. Solomon and Ellen were married at Mansfield United Free Methodist Chapel in 1885 and had seven children, all born in Mansfield, of whom only four survived childhood: Mabel b. 1886, Harry b. birth registered 1888 (J/F/M), Ethel b. 1894 and John James b. 1895 (O/N/D). The three children who died young were: Fred b. 1889 d. 1891, Tom b. 1891 d. 1892 and Edna b. 1898 d. 1899. In 1891 Solomon (37), an iron moulder, and Ellen (32) were living at 12 Newton Street, Mansfield, with their two children Mabel (4) and Harry (3). By 1901 they had moved to 65a Newton Street, and now had four children, Mabel a hosiery hand, Harry an errand boy, Ethel (9) and John (5). The family was living at 66 Newton Street in 1911. Solomon was working as a coal carter, Mabel had no given occupation, Harry was a collier, Ethel a cotton cleaner at a cotton factory and John a coal sorter (above ground). Solomon and Ellen were living at 27 Newton Street, Mansfield, when John was killed in 1916 and this is also their address on the later CWGC record. Solomon died in 1919 aged about 65 and Ellen in 1934 aged about 75. The eldest daughter, Mabel Seagrave, married John Herrod (b.1877) in 1934. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled she and John, a joiner, were living at 16 Sandhurst Avenue, Mansfield. Also in the household were her brother Harry, a coal miner, and Ethel, whose occupation was given as unpaid domestic duties, both of whom were unmarried. Ethel died in 1943, Harry in 1964 and Mabel Herrod probably in 1975.
Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers) - Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the Line (inc. Yeomanry & Imperial Camel Corps). John James enlisted on 10 July 1915 and served in Egypt from April 1916 then transferred to Salonika. He was killed in action on 23 December 1916 and was buried in Struma Military Cemetery, Greece (grave ref. VI.C.12). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Struma Military Cemetery (extract): The Struma River flows through Bulgaria southward to the Greek frontier, then south-east into the Aegean Sea. From the Allied base at Salonika, a road ran north-east across the river to Seres, and it was this road that the right wing of the Allied army used for the movements of troops and supplies to the Struma front during the Salonika Campaign. In the autumn of 1916, the 40th Casualty Clearing Station was established not far from the road near the 71km stone and the cemetery made for it was originally called Kilo 71 Military Cemetery. The original plot, Plot I, was set too close to a ravine and the graves in it were moved after the Armistice to the present plots VIII and IX. The remainder of the cemetery consists almost entirely of graves brought in from the battlefields, from the churchyards at Homondos, Haznatar and Kalendra, and from little front-line cemeteries (established by Field Ambulances or Battalions).' (www.cwgc.org) 947 WW1 Commonwealth burials
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'In life we loved you dearly in death we do the same' Mansfield Reporter, 12 January 1917: ‘Mansfield Soldier Killed. The sad news has been communicated by the War Office to Mr and Mrs Solomon Seagrave, of 27, Newton-street, of the death in action of their son, Trooper John James Seagrave, of the Sherwood Rangers Imperial Yeomanry. The deceased soldier, who had just passed his 21st birthday, fell in action on December 23rd. Prior to enlisting, he belonged to the Mansfield Cadets, and was employed as a surface man at the Mansfield Colliery. Enlisting on July 10th, 1915, he was trained at Retford, Longmoor, and Aldershot. Whilst at the last-named place he was successful in carrying off several handsome awards, including a case of cutlery, silver-plated teapot, and a silver medal bearing the inscription, ‘April 12th, 1916; for bayonet fighting.’ This occasion was the first on which the cavalrymen had beaten the infantry in this competition, and Trooper Seagrave was complimented by his officers upon his proficiency. He went out to Egypt on April 24th last, afterwards going to Salonika, where he was for some months. Before joining the colours, the late Trooper Seagrave regularly attended the Berry Hill-road United Methodist Church, where he was a member and Sunday School teacher, and was highly esteemed and respected. Last Sunday evening a memorial service was held, the preacher, Mr Fletcher, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, making suitable reference to the fallen soldier.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 18 January 1917: 'Trooper J J Seagrave of Sherwood Rangers has died in Salonika on 23 December 1916.' A letter from his Commanding Officer was included in the report. WW1 Pension Ledgers index Cards: named his mother, Ellen Seagrave; his father had died in 1919.
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