John Lewis Cash
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Lewis was the son of Alfred Cash and his first wife Lizzie nee Parker. Alfred was born in Barton on Humber, Lincolnshire, in 1870 (A/M/J Glanford Brigg, Lincolnshire). He married Lizzie Parker in 1893 (O/N/D Glanford Brigg) and they had at least two children, John Lewis and Almira Lizzie. John Lewis was born on 13 March 1896 (A/M/J Glanford Brigg); he was baptised at Worlaby, Lincolnshire, on 5 November 1899, the same day as his half-sister Annie Cash. Almira Lizzie was born on 22 May 1898 (A/M/J Glanford Brigg); she was baptised at Worlaby in 1898. Their mother Lizzie Cash died in 1898 (A/M/J Glanford Brigg) aged 25 (b. abt 1873). Alfred Cash married secondly Annie Lizzie Cook in 1899 (A/M/J Hull Yorkshire East Riding). Annie was also born in Barton in Humber. According to the 1911 Census they had had two children of whom only one survived. Their first child was Annie b. 4 October 1899 (O/N/D Glanford Brigg), baptised Worlaby on 5 November 1899 with her half-brother, John. Annie died in 1909 (A/M/J Basford). Their second child, Lucy, was born in Hucknall, Nottingham, in 1905 (J/F/M Basford). In 1891 Alfred (21), a platelayer (railway), was living on Top Road, Warlaby, Lincolnshire with his grandparents, John and Eliza Cash. It is assumed he continued to live in Warlaby after his marriage to Lizzie Parker in 1893 as both their children were born in Warlaby, and Annie, his first child by his second marriage, was also born in Warlaby. However, by 1901 Alfred and Annie (32) were living at 60 Occupation Road, Hazel Grove, Hucknall Torkard, with John (5), Lizzie (2) and Annie (1). Alfred (31) was still employed as a railway platelayer. Lucy was born in 1905 and Annie died in 1909. The family was still living at the same address in 1911. Alfred was now a foreman platelayer. In the household with Alfred (41) and Annie (42) were John (15) a ropeman at a colliery, Almira Lizzie (12) and Lucy (6). Also in the household was a boarder, George Lightley (53), who was also a foreman platelayer. The family was still living at 60 Occupation Road at the time of John's death in May 1916. The Naval record shows that it was his mother (sic) Annie Cash, of 60 Occupation Road, who was notified of his death. John's father, Alfred, probably died in 1927 (Sep Nottingham) aged 57 and his stepmother, Annie Lizzie, in 1942 (Sep Basford) aged 73. His sister Lizzie (also 'Elizabeth') probably married Peter Burke in 1922 (J/A/S Basford) and in 1939 at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living in Hucknall. Lizzie was a housewife and her husband Peter (b. 29 September 1898) was a collier hewer. They had two sons, Brian Gordon b.20 April 1930 (d. 1999 Dec Nottingham) and Michael I. b. 27 July 1939. Lizzie died in 1987 (Dec Basford) aged 89.
John joined the Royal Navy on a 12 year engagement on 8 June 1914. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory II, 8 June 1914-8 October 1914 (Stoker 2nd Class); HMS Indefatigable, 9 October 1914-31 May 1916 (Stoker 1st Class, 29 April 1915). His service record was annotated, ‘NP 3977/1916. DD [discharged dead] 31st May 1916. Killed in action.’ John died at the Battle of Jutland when Indefatigable exploded after being shelled; only two survived from a ship's company of over 1,000. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Date of birth: RN records give 13 March 1896 but baptismal record 3 March 1896. Birth registered 1896 A/M/J Glanford Brigg, Lincolnshire. Article published on 15th June 1916 in the Hucknall Dispatch :- “The above photograph outlines the feature of another Hucknall lad who sacrificed his life in the North Sea battle on May 31st, namely John Lewis Cash, who was a first class stoker on the Indefatigable. He was 20 years of age and the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Cash, of Occupation road, Hazel Grove. “It was on June 8th, 1914, when he decided to enter the Royal Navy, and after about five months' training he was rated on the Indefatigable. Previously he was employed at Newstead Colliery. “In a letter to his sister (Lizzie), dated May 29th, and received on the morning of the great engagement, he reported that he was in the best of health and spirits. “The deceased was a bright and promising youth, and his loss is keenly felt by his parents and the family, who are grateful to all friends for their expressions of sympathy in their bereavement.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 HMS Indefatigable was a battle cruiser sunk at Jutland on May 31st 1916 during the ‘Run to the South’ as Admiral Beatty changed course to steer east south east. Around 16.00hrs Indefatigable was hit around the rear turret by two or three shells from Von der Tann. She fell out of formation to starboard and started sinking towards the stern and listing to port. Her magazines exploded at 4:03 after more hits, one on the forecastle and another on the forward turret. Smoke and flames gushed from the forward part of the ship and large pieces were thrown 200 feet (61.0 m) into the air. The most likely cause of her loss was a deflagration or low-order explosion in 'X' magazine that blew out her bottom and severed the steering control shafts, followed by the explosion of her forward magazines from the second volley. Von der Tann fired only fifty-two 28 cm (11 in) shells at Indefatigable before she exploded. Of her crew of 1,019, only two survived. While still in the water, two survivors found Indefatigable's captain, C. F. Sowerby, who was badly wounded and died before they could be rescued. The two survivors, Able Seaman Elliott and Leading Signalman Falmer, were rescued by the German torpedo boat S16. (Wikipedia)
