John William Hindson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John William Hindson was born in 1877 at Spilsby, Lincolnshire, and was the son of William, a farm labourer, and Hannah Hindson (née Parr) of Oxton, Nottinghamshire. His father William was born in 1852 at Foston, Lincolnshire, his mother Hannah Parr was born in 1852 at Epperstone, Nottinghamshire. They were married at Ossington Holy Rood, Nottinghamshire, in 1876 and had 12 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were Emma b1876 Ossington, John William b1877 Spilsby, Mary Elizabeth b1879 South Ormsby, Richard 1880 Mattersey, Annie b1884 Retford, Ada Hannah b1887 Southwell, George b1888 Southwell, Arthur b1891 Southwell and Nellie b1892 Farnsfield. John William married Elizabeth Barlow (b 1883) at Newark St Leonard in June 1900 and had the following children, Annie Elizabeth b1900 bap. Southwell St Mary the Virgin (Minster) 25 July 1900 d. 1900 (J/A/S), Gladys Mary b1902 Hilda b1910 and Ellen b1912. In the 1911 census John William and his family were living at Easthorpe, Southwell, and shown on the census as John William 34 yrs, a brewer's drayman, his wife Elizabeth 28 yrs and their two surviving children Gladys Mary 9 yrs and Hilda 8 months. Their fourth child, Ellen, was born the following year. On the 1911 census his parents were living in the village of Oxton, Nottinghamshire, and shown as William 59 yrs a farm labourer, his wife Hannah 59 yrs and their daughter Ada 24 yrs. At the time of John's death in 1918 the family was living on the Rope Walk, Southwell
'A' Battery Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Driver John William Hindson enlisted at Southwell in January 1918 and served with the 5th Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery, training at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire. John died on 14th May 1918 at the Military Hospital at Catterick; he had been thrown from a horse some weeks previously and subsequently died from his injuries. He was buried in Southwell Minster (St. Mary) Churchyard, Nottinghamshire.
Although his age appears as 43 on his headstone and CWGC record, John Hindson was born J/F/M/1877 (Free BMD) and gave his age as 34 on the 1911 Census and so was 41 years old when he was killed. The report of his funeral in 1918 also gave his age as 41. Newark Herald, 25 May 1918: ‘Death and Funeral of Driver JW Hindson, Southwell. Southwell has lost many of its sons in the present war, but the death of Driver Will Hindson at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire, during the course of his training is in some respects the most pathetic of all. Joining the Army in January this year, he was attached to the A Battery, Reserve Brigade RFA, Scoton Camp, Catterick, and although making several applications for furlough to see his wife and three daughters, was never able to get home, and unfortunately being thrown from a horse about three weeks since, was not admitted to hospital until a few days before he died. His wife being sent for last Monday week, and just got there in time to see him pass away. A wire was received from the camp last Thursday to say the body was on the way to Southwell. Arrangements were made for the funeral at one o’clock on Saturday. A firing party and buglers of the Royal Engineers at Newark were detailed to attend the funeral, and on Friday morning a wire was received saying the funeral must be postponed. The remains of Driver Hindson arrived at Fiskerton on Sunday morning, and was met by members of the Southwell Branch of the Discharged Soldiers, who conveyed the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, to his residence, Rope-walk, Southwell. He had been head horseman to Mr JH Kirkby for seven years, and was highly esteemed by his employer and fellow workmen, having charge at one time of nearly 10 horses. He died at the age of 41, and was buried in the Minster Churchyard on Monday afternoon. Vast crowds lined the route through the town, and many friends and relatives followed him to his last resting place. The cortege included, besides his family and friends, the detachment of Royal Engineers from Newark, the members of the Southwell Branch of the Discharged Soldiers’ Association, the wives and mothers of those who have fallen in the war, the employees of Mr JH Kirkby, and many others. The body was met at the west entrance by Dr Hoskyns (Bishop of Southwell), the Ven. WJ Conybeare (rector) and the Rev JR Thomas (curate). A very touching and inspiring address was given by the Rector, and the Minister organist (Mr HW Tupper Mus.Bac, Oxon), played ‘O rest in the Lord’ as the procession entered the Minster and the Dead March in ‘Saul’ at the conclusion of the service. The portion of the service at the graveside was taken by the Bishop, and the firing party and buglers completed the sad scene in the churchyard. The widow wishes to thank the many friends who have been kind to her in this terrible time of trial and uncertainty. The mourners were Mrs and Miss Hindson (wife and daughter [Gladys Mary]), Mr Hindson, sen. (father), Mr Hindson jun. (brother), Mrs Cash and Mrs Hooks (sisters), Mrs T Smith and Mrs A Hindson (sisters), Miss Nellie Hindson and A Smith (sister and nephew), Mr and Mrs Barlow (brother and sister-in-law) … Mrs Hindson, Balderton (aunt), and Mrs Hindson, Stapleford (sister-in-law).’ The report ended with a list of floral tributes from family, friends, employees of Mr JH Kirkby and the Southwell and District Branch of the National Federation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors. (www.britishnewspaperachive.uk) Two of his brothers also served and were killed in the Great War. Private Richard Hindson enlisted and served with the 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he was killed in action on 29th June 1916 aged 35 yrs. He is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, Pas de Calais, France (grave reference III.H.14). Private Arthur Hindson originally enlisted and served with the service number 16294 in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. However, on 16th September 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Marines Light Infantry. He embarked from Portsmouth on 17th November 1914 and served with the British Expeditionary Force France then later joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28th February 1915 until 13th July 1915. While with the MEF Arthur received a gun shot wound to his left hand. He returned to the Western Front on 31st July 1917 and died of wounds, which were self inflicted on 23rd October 1917; believed to be suicide (reported by Major Ozanne RMLI). Arthur is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
