John William Summers
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- Military History
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John William was born in 1896 and was the only son of John a colliery deputy and Mary Summers nee Goacher, they lived at 117 Derbyshire Lane Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire. Both his parents were born in Moria, Leicestershire , his father John was born in 1860 and his mother Mary Goacher was born in 1862, they were married in the Ashby de la Zouch registration district Leicestershire and went on to have 9 children. As can be seen from the birth of their children the family moved to Hucknall Torkard between 1889 and 1891 . Their children were Annie b1881 Moria, Sarah b1886 Moria, Agnes b1884 Moria, Edith b1889 Linton Heath, Derbyshire, Clara b1891 Hucknall, Beatrice b1894, Hucknall John William b1896 Hucknall, Maggie b1898 Hucknall and Hilda b1903 Hucknall. In the 1911 census the family are living at 117 Derbyshire Lane, Hucknall and are shown as John 51 yrs head of the family and a colliery deputy , he is living with his wife Mary 49 yrs and their children , gnes 27 yrs a dress maker, Clara 20 yrs a machinist, Beatric 17 yrs a machinist John William 15 yrs a pony driver, Maggie 13 yrs a house maid and Hilda 8 yrs a scholar.
Rifleman John William Summers enlisted on 10th May 1915 at Nottingham , he was 19 yrs and 8 months of age , he was a coal miner, pony driver and was living at 117 Derbyshire Lane, Hucknall, his next of kin was his father John of the same address . He served with the 3rd battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, he landed in France on 18th August 1915. On 18th November 1915 he embarked at Marseilles on the SS Huntsman bound for Salonica arriving there on 5th December 1915. He remained until 1 September 1916 when he fell ill due to dysentery, malaria or both. He was evacuated to Malta and on 4th March 1917 he died in hospital. He is buried at Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. grave reference D XVIII 2
Article published in the Hucknall Dispatch dated 22nd March 1917 reads :- “It is our sad lot this week to record the loss of another Hucknallite in the person of Rifleman John William Summers, who has died at Malta. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. John Summers of Derbyshire Lane, and was a youth who was greatly respected by all who knew him. He enlisted on May 10th 1915, in the King’s Royal Rifles, leaving the Hucknall No.1 pit, a reserved occupation, which proved that at heart he was a true patriot and that his spirit knew no cowardice. “His training was received at Sheerness, where he did remarkably well, insomuch that in September – or 14 weeks after joining up – he was in the trenches, being in the 3rd Battalion [he landed in France on 18th August 1915]. His stay in France was not of long duration, for in November of the same year he was drafted to Salonica, to engage in roadmaking and other military requirements. Here he remained until September 1, 1916, when his robust constitution fell prey to the climate. He was sent to Malta, where he made good progress towards recovery, and was able to do light work there. Then a relapse occurred, and to the great regret of all J.W. Summers passed away at the early age of 21 years. The matron and lady doctor have sent sympathetic messages, and so have George Coupe, A.S.C. [Army Service Corps], of Hucknall, and E. Skinner, a comrade, both speaking highly of Summers. “The late hero had a promising career ahead of him. He had qualified for a colliery deputy, and had won a scholarship, so that a year’s training was awaiting him at the University. He was greatly liked by all his fellow workers, and the loss of such an energetic young man is to be deplored, for he was destined to make his mark in the world.” Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
