John Thomas Cree
- Family History
- Military History
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John Thomas Cree was born in 1888 in Bridgewater, Somerset and was the son of Henry a maltsters labourer and Ruth Cree née Thurman of16 Sheppard's Row and later Lincoln Road Newark. His father Henry was born in 1863 at Newark and his mother Ruth Thurman was born in 1861 at Langford, they were married in 1882 at Newark and went on to have the following children, William Henry b1883, Frances Thurman b1886, John Thomas b1888, Ann Elizabeth b1891,, George Richard b1894 and Ruth Ellen Cree b1897. John Thomas married his wife Florence May Daubney in 1911 at Newark, they lived at 19 Eldon Street, Newark and went on to have a son Fred born 6th August 1911. His widow was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence commencing on 11th March 1918.
John Thomas Cree enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters in May 1916 and after training was posted to 1st battalion in late 1916. The battalion attacked on 31 July 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Pilckem (3rd Ypres). It had begun to rain heavily on the afternoon of 31st and by daybreak on 1st August, the ground was two feet deep of water and mud. Men struggled through this swamp whilst the German artillery bombardment continued all day. The battalion were relieved that evening but John Thomas was by this time dead. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. John Morse
Article published 22nd August 1917 in the Newark Advertiser :- Son of Mr & Mrs H. Cree, Lincoln Road, Newark. A native of Newark and attended Lover’s Lane school. Afterwards employed by Warwick & Richardsons brewery, being there until he enlisted twelve months go. Very much interested in pigeon flying and had a number of birds which took part in various competitions. Leaves a widow
