John Radley Eddison
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John was the youngest son of Robert and Elizabeth Vessey Eddison (née Radley).His father was born in Shireoaks in about 1851 and his mother in Beighton, Derbyshire, also in about 1851. Both were 21 years old when they were married at Beighton St Mary the Virgin in April 1872. Robert and Elizabeth had seven children: Mary Poynton b. Netherthorpe Yorkshire birth registered 1873 (J/F/M) and Robert Edwin b. 1874, Frederick William b. 1875, Elizabeth Girdley b. 1877, Jarvis Radley b. 1879 and Jessie b. 1881 who were born in Beighton and John Radley b. Shireoaks 6 March 1889. Mary was baptised at Thorpe Salvin, Yorkshire, her five younger siblings at Beighton St Mary and her youngest sibling John at Shireoaks St Luke on 1 May 1889.In 1881 Robert was recorded on the census as a farmer of 226 acres, employing five men and two boys. He, Elizabeth and their six children, Mary, Robert, Frederic, Elizabeth, Jarvis and Jessie, were living at The Manor House, Main Street, Beighton. Robert employed a mother's help, housemaid and kitchen maid.However, by 1891 Robert was employed as a colliery general manager and had moved to Worksop where he and Elizabeth were living at 'Woodlands', Shireoaks, Worksop. Only four of their seven children - their three daughters and youngest son, John - were in the home on the night of the census along with three domestic servants, a school governess and a nurse. The two eldest boys were school boarders, Robert Edwin at Giggleswick Grammar School, Settle, and Frederick at Repton School, Derbyshire, while Jarvis (11) was in Clifton, Bristol, one of five scholars/boarders in the household of Rev. Mcpherson, described on the census as a clerk in holy orders and tutor.The family was still living at Woodlands in 1901 although now only Robert and Elizabeth's three unmarried daughters were still at home. Also in the house on the night of the census were four domestic servants. Robert Edwin, an architect, and his brother Frederick, a clergyman, were sharing a house in Bloomsbury, London, Jarvis was living in Cirencester where he was at agricultural college and John was a pupil at Stancliffe Hall, a preparatory school at Darley, near Matlock, Derbyshire.Robert snr. had retired by 1911 and was living with his wife at 'Mount Vernon', London Road, Retford. Five of their children were at home on the night of the census: their married daughter Mary Hoemlein (m. Franz Heinrich Wilhelm Hoernlein, 1901 reg. Worksop), Robert a secretary at a London hospital, Jarvis a farmer, Jessie and John, who was a student (Cambridge). Also in the household were four domestic servants, a cook, kitchen maid, parlourmaid and housemaid. Frederick had married Emma Dorothea Dunlop in 1909 (reg. Reading) and he, his wife and their infant daughter were living in Duffield, Yorkshire, where he was the vicar. Elizabeth had married Thomas Beweley Gilbart-Smith, a general medical practitioner, in 1905 and they and their two children were living in Nottingham.Robert Edwin married the following year (Ellen Hooge Godsall, Kilburn St Paul) as did his brother Jarvis (Mellieen Mary Ryland, Marylebone St Andrew).Elizabeth Vessey died at her home, 'Mount Vernon', in April 1917, two years after her son's death. Her husband Robert was still living at 'Mount Vernon' when he died nine years later in March 1926. Their funerals were held at Ordsall church where they were buried. Robert and Elizabeth's eldest daughter, Mary Poynton Hoernlein, died in Berlin Charlottenburg in April 1932.
'B' Company 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment).John was a member of Cambridge Officer Training Corps (cadet sergeant) and gazetted second lieutenant in the 8th Sherwood Foresters on 14 October 1914. He served with BEF France from 25 February 1915 and was killed in action on 21 April 1915, shot by a sniper while superintending the repair of wire entanglements at Kemmel. John was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. L.15).John qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.CWGC - History of Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery (extract): The Cemetery is 8km from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year, but in the interval it was badly shelled and the old chateau destroyed.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother, Reverend Frederick William Eddison, may have served as an Army Chaplain during the war (attd. 14th Corps).CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'I know that my Redeemer liveth'WMR 9612. Pembroke College, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RR. Three hundred names, including that of John Radley Eddison, are commemorated on a memorial which is next to the entrance to the college chapel. Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 6 October 1914: ‘The Sherwood Foresters. Friday’s ‘Gazette’ [London Gazette] contained a number of appointments of subalterns to the 8th Battalion Notts. And Derby Regt. Among those we notice the names of … and Mr John R Eddison, Both of them Cadet-Sergeants in the Cambridge University Contingent Senior Division Officers’ Training Corps.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 27 April 1915: ‘Lieut JR Eddison Dies For His Country. It is our painful duty to record the death of Lieut. JR Eddison, youngest son of Mr R Eddison JP, of Mount Vernon, Retford. In September last he was gazetted to the 8th Notts & Derby Regiment, and served with the Worksop or ‘B’ Company, by whom he was well liked and very popular. He met his death on Wednesday whilst supervising the repair of wire entanglements at night, being sniped by a German sharpshooter, and killed instantly. Lieut-Col Fowler has written a kind letter to the parents, sympathising with them in the loss of a gallant son, and the sympathy of their many friends will be joined to that of the gallant Commander of the Regiment.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Worksop Guardian, 30 April 1915: 'Lieut. J R Eddison''A member of another well-known family has died for his country in the person of Second-Lieut. John Ridley Eddison, 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Robert Eddison, Mount Vernon, Retford, formerly of Shireoaks, Worksop. In September last, Lieut. Eddison was gazetted to the 8th Notts and Derby Regiment. He met his death on April 21st, whilst supervising the repair of wire entanglements at night, and was killed instantly. Lieut. Col. Fowler [KIA 15 October 1915] has written a letter to the parents, sympathising with them in the loss of a gallant son, and the sympathy of their many friends will be joined to that of the gallant Commander of the Regiment. Lieut. Eddison was born on March 6th 1889. He was educated at Giggleswick School, Settle, Yorkshire. From there he went to Germany for a year, and thence to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he took second class honours in the history tripos and his B.A. degree. Whilst there, he joined the O.T.C. He afterwards went to France for a year, with the object of becoming a language master. His first and only experience was a junior master in the new Beacon School, Sevenoaks, Kent. He joined the Army on the outbreak of war, and has died fighting for his country.'Note: Lieutenant Colonel Fowler was killed on 15 October 1915 while attempting to rescue Major John Pickard Becher, 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, who had been severely wounded. Major Becher died of his wounds on 1 January 1916. (See records on this Roll of Honour)Ordsall St Alban's parish magazine, May 1915: 'Three young soldiers from the parish – Private E Heeds [9990 Corporal 1st Bn. York & Lancaster], Private A Frary [2257 Private, 1/8th Bn, Sherwood Foresters], Lieutenant J Eddison - have fallen in battle.' (Retford Local Studies Library, ref 942.52 ORD) Heeds/Frary - see records on this Roll of Honour.Probate: Eddison John Radley of Mount Vernon East Retford Nottinghamshire second-lieutenant 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters died 21 April 1915 in France or Belgium Probate London 4 June to the reverend Frederick William Eddison clerk and Jarvis Radley Eddison gentleman. Effects £11854 6s. 2d.Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 19 March 1918: ‘Sherwood Foresters Who Have Fallen. Captain WL Renwick has forwarded to Newark a list of names of Sherwood Foresters who have made the supreme sacrifice and who lie buried in Kemmel, in Belgium. Amongst those who belong to Retford are: Second-Lieut JR Eddison 21.4.15; Privates E Worthington, H Randall, Albert Hincks, W Johnson, H Husband. W Patterson, H Grant, 14.4.15; A Frary, 12.4.15; J Hyde, 6.4.15, ‘It will,’ he writes, ‘be some little consolation to their loved ones at home to know that their graves are beautifully neat and well cared for, and in each case a cross has been erected. In the summer and autumn when I visited the Cemetery, I found that almost every grave had flowers in bloom.’' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, ‘Retford Notes and News,’ 11 December 1917: ‘An aeroplane came to grief at Retford last week-end through engine trouble, and alighted on the roof of Mr R Eddison’s residence, Mount Vernon. The airman was not injured, but a good deal of damage was done to the house.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
