John Redfern
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Mark Redfern and Frances Rodgers were married in 1875. Mark was a farmer and by 1882 he had six children, Annie 1877, Mary 1898, George 1879, William 1880, Ernest born in 1881 and Henry born 1892. All the six children were born in Wentworth, Yorkshire where they lived at Barrow Farm and Mark worked 240 acres and employed a labourer and a boy to assist. The family moved to 20 Moorgate, Clarborough, Retford about 1894 and in 1896 had their final child who they named John. It was whilst living in Retford that they lost two of their children, Mary at age 17 in 1895 and Henry in 1911 age 28. By 1911, Mark was working as a farmers horseman and John Redfern, who enlisted for the war a few years later, worked as a bricklayer.
John enlisted at Retford and first joined the South Staffordshire Regiment No. 2478 and 202320. He was transferred to the 7th Lincolnshire Regiment and went to France where he died of his Wounds and was buried in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery Le Treport, France. Retford Soldiers Killed Retford Times 30th Aug1918 Pte John Redfern. News has been received that Pte John Redfern, aged 31, youngest son of Mr Mark and the late Mrs Redfern of 20 Moorgate, Retford, died in the 3rd General Hospital in France from wounds on August 21st. He joined up on March 8th 1916, went to France the following November, was invalided home April 19th 1917 with frost bite and was in the Hospital ship “Donegal” which was torpedoed. He managed to jump on to a destroyer which was about 4ft away and was saved. He went back to France on April 2nd 1918 and has seen a lot of hard fighting. News was received on August 2nd that he was dangerously ill and then on the following day, a telegram stated that he passed away on the 21st. The Chaplain at the hospital has written a letter of sympathy to the family saying he had buried the deceased with military honours in a cemetery near the hospital. Pte Redfern was employed by Messrs Richmond and son, builder, with whom he served his apprenticeship as a bricklayer until he joined the Army. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Redfern and family in their great sorrow. The deceased’s brother, Pte Ernest Redfern, is also serving in France in a Labour Battalion. He joined up on July 8th 1916 and was drafted out to France after six weeks training.
CWG additional information:- Son of Mark and Frances Redfern, of 20, Moorgate, Retford, Notts. Research by Colin Dannatt
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