John James Gravell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John James Gravell was born on 22nd August 1872 at Pinxton, he was baptised on 27th October 1872 at Pinxton and was the son of William Brindley Gravell a joiner and his first wife Hannah Gravell née Bird Taylor of Newark. His father William Brindley was born in 1850 at Southwell and his mother Hannah Bird Taylor was born in 1847, she died in 1898 at Newark, aged 53 yrs, they were married on 21st January 1872 at Pinxton and went on to have the following children, John James b1872 Pinxton, Mary b1874 Pinxton, William Brindley b1876 Newark, Robert 1882 Newark, Fanny 1888 Newark and Frank b1889 Newark. Following the death of his first wife Hannah in 1898 William Brindley went on to marry his second wife Mary Helen Mawson (b1842 Newark) in 1905 at Newark. They went on to have 5 further children. In the 1911 census his father is living at Church Street, Southwell he is shown as being 61 yrs a joiner journeyman, he is living with his wife Mary 69 yrs. John James Gravell emigrated to South Africa where he worked as a joiner
Private John James Gravell served with the 2nd Infantry Regiment, South African Forces, he died of wounds on 15th July 1916 at the 21st Casualty Clearing station following an action at Devilles Wood, He is buried at La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, Somme, France.
Article published 2nd August 1916 in the Newark Advertiser :- Eldest son of the late William Brindley Gravell & Hannah Gravell of Newark. About 20 years ago he left Newark and went to Africa. Was in the Cape Town Guards during the Boer War. He was a joiner and worked for the De Beers Mining Co. of Kimberley and joined the South African contingent serving in German West Africa. Came to England last October and had been about three months in France. His regiment was at Delville Wood, he was asleep, alone in a dugout when a shell exploded on the parapet. He died the next day. In his younger days a well-known footballer, playing for Newark Olympic and obtained a gold medal when the town won the league. In Africa he played for Claremonts. Will be remembered by some for his daring climb up the church steeple, when the cockerel was last taken down.. His widow, who is a Newarker and his 16 year old son are still in Kimberley. His younger brother was wounded on the day deceased was killed.
