John Charles Cudworth
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John Charles was born A/M/J/1898 in Sutton in Ashfield and was the son of Thomas a bricklayer and Eliza Cudworth née Poplar of 9 Club Street and later 13 Park Street (both Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire). His father Thomas was born in 1877 at Wood End, Notts, his mother Eliza was also born in 1877 in Sutton in Ashfield, they were married in 1896 their marriage being recorded in the Mansfield Registration areas. They went on to have 5 children, sadly 1 died in infancy prior to 1911; their surviving children were:- Elsie b1900, Clara b1903 and William Cudworth b1909, all born in Sutton in Ashfield. In the 1911 census the family are living at 9 Club Street, Sutton in Ashfield and are shown as Thomas 34 yrs a brick layer; he is living with his wife Eliza 34 yrs and their children John Charles 13 yrs a barber's lather boy, Elsie 11 yrs a scholar, Clara 8 yrs a scholar and Wiliam 2 yrs. Also living with them is Charles Popular 77 yrs a widower, the father-in-law, a pensioner of the Duke of Portland.
Private John Charles Cudworth enlisted on 5th September 1914 in Sutton in Ashfield and served with the 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment. He landed in France on 31st August 1915 and was killed in action when aged 18 by an explosive shell that burst in his part of the trench on 3rd May 1916. He is buried in Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France. The battalion's war diary for the 3rd May 1916 states that they were in trenches and suffered two fatalities, one being Pte 15608 Cudworth J and the other L/Corp 27964 Dulton R.
Article published in the Nottingham Free Press dated 12th May 1916 :- “SUTTON SOLDIER BOY'S DEATH. “ENLISTED AT 16½ YEARS OF AGE. “Only 18 years old on March 20th inst., Private John Charles Cudworth, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Cudworth, 13, Park-street, Sutton, was killed in the trenches on May 4th. So great was the enthusiasm of this young soldier that he enlisted on September 5th, 1914, at the age of 16½ years in the Sherwood Foresters. He was, however, for some time engaged as regimental barber – a trade he had followed prior to enlistment – and would no doubt have remained in this position but for his own special request to be sent to the firing-line. He left with a draft for France on September 1st last, and so had been there just over eight months before meeting with his death. “How this young soldier met his death will be gathered from the following letters received from his officer and the chaplain:- “I write as your son's officer to convey to you my sympathy and the sympathy of all the Company at his sad death. At about four p.m. on Wednesday, May 4th, (sic) an explosive shell burst in his part of the trench and he and one other man were instantaneously killed. You will therefore be glad to know that his end was absolutely painless. We can all feel for you fully in your trouble, for he was such a good boy and a good soldier that we all miss him very much indeed. Everyone spoke well of him, and he was known as one of the tidiest, most willing and well behaved men we had. It is very hard to write in words what one's feelings are, but you will, I hope, understand the depth of our sympathy for you, and feel proud that he died so fine a death after eight months' faithful service out here. He was buried at a cemetery about 1½ miles behind the trenches in which we now are. It is a very quiet, well kept spot, so peaceful and surrounded by a wood, and all the graves are carefully marked. Again let me express our deepest sympathy with you on your hard loss. Yours very sincerely, Richard J. Nicolls, [2] Lieutenant, 11th Sherwood Foresters, B.E.F.” “It is my sad duty to tell you that your son, Private J. Cudworth, of 11th Sherwood Foresters, was killed in the trenches on Wednesday, May 3rd, by a shell from a German trench mortar. The same shell also killed one of his comrades and wounded two others. His loss must be a great blow to you, and I beg to offer you our sincerest sympathy. I buried him yesterday afternoon in _____ Military Cemetery. The adjutant, the doctor and several of his comrades were present at his funeral, and the regiment is to put up a cross at the head of his grave in his memory. You will always find some consolation in the fact that your son died doing his duty as a brave soldier for King and country. May our Heavenly Father comfort and console you at this time. – Yours sincerely, G. K. S. Clarke, Chaplain.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great war Hucknall 1914-1918 He was born A/M/J/1898 so may have been 18 when killed.
