John James Henley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the son of William and Katherine Henley who lived at 24 Raleigh Street, Nottingham. John married Louisa Barber on 7 July 1906 at Nottingham Register Office. Their son John Henry was born on 19 May 1908. In 1911 they lived at 32 Jackson Street, St Ann's, Nottingham. According to a report of John's death in the local paper he and his family lived at 6 Westville Terrace, Nottingham. Louisa remarried a John Fletcher in 1918 and they lived at 6 Beverley Street, St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham. Soldiers effects register showed a will in favour of his wife - March 1915 - £1-5s-6d 17 April 1919 - £5 war gratuity. The family form AFW 5080 completed on 17 March 1920 had the following information: Widow - Louisa Fletcher, 58 Grainger St, Meadows, Nottingham Son - John Henry Henley, 19 May 1908 (same address) Father William Henley; Mother Katherine - 24 Raleigh St Nottingham; Brother - Alf, 27; William, 25; Clarence, 19; Herbert, 18; Sisters - Hilda, 21; May 18; It also lists - Uncle John; Nieces - Annie, 7; Hilda, 5; Muriel, 6; Nephew - William, 3.
8523 Private John Henley enlisted in 45th Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) on 2nd December 1902. John was aged 18 years, 5 feet 3 inches in height and a Labourer. Church of England, Blue eyes and Brown hair. On 5 December, John was posted for training and arrived with the 2nd battalion based in England in April 1903. He completed his service as a regular at the end of 1905 and transferred to the reserve. On 5 August 1914 he was mobilized and the following day posted to 3rd Reserve battalion. On 21 October 1914 John was posted to the 1st battalion which had just arrived at Hursley Park Camp Winchester. He went to France with the battalion on 4 November 1914 and to the area of Neuve Chapelle. On 22nd December, the battalion were in the front line trenches and these were in an appalling state with mud and slush up to the men's knees. John was one of four men killed during the day and was buried close by. 'Buried 30x E of Estaires, La Bassee Rd at a point 50x N of Rd junction, 600x S of P in Neuve- Chapelle' Sadly after four years of war, John's grave could not be found and he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial France.
Soldiers Died in the Great War - Henley John, born New Radford Notts., enlisted Nottingham, 8523, Private, killed in action, France and Flanders, 22/12/14. Nottingham Evening Post, 6 February 1915, photograph with caption: 'Pte. J Henley, 1st Sherwood Foresters, 6, Westville Terrace, Nottingham, shot through the head on December 22 by a sniper and buried under fire near La Bassee Road.' Nottingham Post 'In Memoriam' (abridged), 22 December 1915: 'Henley. My husband Private J Henley, 1st Sherwood Foresters, killed in action 22 December 1914. Wife and son John, sister and brother-in-law.' “HOW ONE OF THE SHERWOODS DIED. “Writing regarding the death of Private J. Henley, C Company 1st Sherwood Foresters, of 6, Westville-terrace, Westville-street, Nottingham, who was shot through the head by a sniper, J. W. Dixon, commanding C Company, in a letter to deceased's wife, writes: “I can ill afford to lose men like Henley, but their loss only seems to make us more resolute in our resolve to do our duty.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy (via IBID) and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
