John Archie Draycott
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Archie Draycott, known as Archie, was the son of Thomas and Annie Draycott (née Fowkes). His father Thomas was born in Codnor, Derbyshire, on 12 September 1868, the son of Edwin Draycott, an insurance agent, and his first wife Harriet (née Kniveton). Thomas was baptised at Wright Street Methodist Church, Codnor, on 17 February 1869. His mother died in 1890 and in 1891 Edwin and his family were living on Mill Lane, Codnor; Thomas (22) was a coal miner. His father married Julie Barton in 1891 (O/N/D Nottingham). His mother Annie Fowkes, the daughter of John and Ann Fowkes, was born in Codnor in about 1867, based on her age at the time of her marriage and on the 1901 and 1911 Census, but on 11 October 1863 according to the 1939 Register. Thomas (22) and Annie (23) were married at Codnor St James on 25 July 1891 and had four children, all born in Codnor: Cyril Thomas b. 18 April 1892 (A/M/J Basford), John Archie b. 1894 (J/A/S Basford), Marion Maud (Maud) b. 18 February 1898 (A/M/J Basford) and Ernest Alan b. 30 August 1900 (O/N/D Basford). In 1901 Thomas (32), an assurance agent, and Annie (33) were living on Jessop Street, Codnor, with their four children Cyril (8), John (6), Maud (3) and Ernest (under 1 year). By 1911 the family was living at 4 West Hill Drive, Mansfield. Cyril (18) was a grocer and John (16) a greengrocer while Maud and Ernest were still at school. Thomas died before 1916 when his son Cyril applied for exemption from conscription. Cyril was then living on Westfield Lane, Mansfield, and the later CWGC record gives his parents address as Mona Villas, Westfield Lane. Annie Draycott was living with her married daughter, Maud Wheelhouse, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Annie died in 1950 (J/F/M Mansfield). Of Archie's siblings: Cyril Thomas appeared before a military tribunal in Mansfield in 1916 to appeal against conscription; he lost the appeal and joined the Royal Navy on 5 August 1916 as a stoker. After a period on shore Cyril served in HMS Leviathan as a Stoker 1st Class from 12 May 1917 until his discharge on 14 November 1919 (see 'Extra information'). He married Marjorie Skidmore in 1929 (O/N/D Mansfield). In 1939 they were living on Westfield Lane, Mansfield; Cyril was a Co-operative Stores supervisor. He died on 30 1956 (O/N/D Mansfield), his wife survived him Marion Maud married Edgar Wheelhouse (b. 7 August 1907) in 1935 (O/N/D Mansfield) and in 1939 they were living on West Hill Drive, Mansfield, with Maud's widowed mother Annie. Maud died in 1981 (A/M/J Mansfield). Ernest Alan married Edith M Barwise (b. 9 December 1896) in 1928 (J/A/S Mansfield). In 1939 they were living on Chesterfield Road North, Mansfield; Ernest was a wharehouseman (grocery warehouse). He died in 1971 (A/M/J Mansfield).
19th Division Ammunition Column. Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Field Artillery. John Archie served in France from 20 July 1915. He died on 6 April 1917 and was buried in Hazlebrouck Communal Cemetery, Nord, France (grave ref. I.E.5).
This man is commemorated in a book of remembrance held by Mansfield District Council. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Annie, was his sole legatee WW1 Pension Ledgers: dependant mother, Annie Mansfield Reporter 31 Aug 1917: ‘Local and District News. For Those Who Have Fallen. A special service was held in the Leeming Street Primitive Methodist church on Sunday evening in memory of those associated with the church who had fallen in the war. The service was conducted by the Rev. Chas. F. Gill (superintendent minister). The names mentioned were: Harold Blythe, Wm Andrews, George Ed. Fletcher, William Fletcher, Fred H Tudge, Albert E Binch, Archie Draycott, Sam Bowler and Frank Weighell. Mr Gill delivered a suitable address, on the words, ‘He healeth the broken in heart.’ He urged his hearers to commit their loved ones, and also their own lives, to the keeping of the God of infinite tenderness, and so find consolation in the hour of trial. The service was very impressive.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 3 March 1916: ‘Tribunal sits at Mansfield. Sympathy But Not Exemption. Thomas Draycott of Westfield-lane, employed by the Mansfield Co-operative Society in the grocery trade, sought exemption on the ground that his enlistment would entail serious domestic hardship. A widowed mother and two children were dependent on him. A younger brother, who was in the RFA had been on active service for over a year, and nothing had been heard from him for a month, and this circumstance had terribly upset his mother. Having expressed sympathy with the applicant, the Tribunal refused his application.’ (www.britishnwespaperacrhive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 14 November 1919: report about the Mansfield Swimming Club and the tablet erected at the Baths in memory of the members who had fallen in the war and the Roll of Honour listing those who had served including ’Cyril T Draycott, HMS Leviathan, Escort Channel and Atlantic. Irish Sea.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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