John George Beresford

John George, known as George, was the eldest son of Richard and Emily Beresford (nee Barnes). Richard was born in Belper, Derbyshire, and Emily in Blackwell, Derbyshire, the daughter of George Barnes. They were married at St Peter's church, Belper, on 19 June 1893. Records show they had at least four children: John George b. 4 December 1893 (baptised 31 March 1894, Belper St Peter), Charles (birth registered 1896 J/F/M Belper, baptised 3 March 1896, Belper St Peter), Henry b. Belper and Emily b. 1900 (O/N/D Belper). In 1901 Richard (28) a general surface man at a colliery, Emily (27) and their children George (7), Charles (5), Henry (2) and Emily (6 months) were living at Blunt Street, Smalley, Derbyshire. Also in the household was a boarder, George Hughson (20), and on the night of the census a visiting family, Thomas Harrison his wife Ann and their two young children Edith and Arthur. Neither George nor his mother Emily have yet been traced on the 1911 Census but Richard Beresford may be on a census for Rampton Hospital, Nottinghamshire, living at The Lodging House, Woodbeck, South Leverton - Richard Beresford (38) b. Belper, single, general labourer. Rampton Hospital was a criminal lunatic asylum - an annexe to Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire - which was built on the site of Woodbeck Farm in 1907. There is no indication on the census that Richard was an inmate and he may have been an employee. The three remaining siblings were living separately in 1911, two in Nottingham, so it appears the family had been split up, a situation reflected in documents relating to Richard's army service in 1918 (see below). In 1911 Charles (15) was a hairdresser's apprentice living at 60 Cummings Street, Derby, in the household of Harry and Louisa Wigley. Charles was described as Harry's nephew. Also in the home was Ann Beresford (64), a widow. Henry (12) was an inmate in the Gordon Boys' Home on Cranmer Street, Nottingham while Emily (11) was a visitor in the household of Arthur Bradley, a boarding house keeper, and his wife Mary Jane at 1 Tryne Street, Nottingham. George joined the Royal Navy in 1912 and in 1916 when both he and his brother Charles were killed within a few months of each other, their mother was living at 1 Nile Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. An article in the local paper about the boys also gives their address as 1 Nile Street. George's CWGC record names both parents and gives their address as 1 Nile Street. Charles' CWGC record gives no personal information. Charles had joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers (11785 Private) in 1914; he was living in Derby which is where he enlisted. He served in France from 19 January 1915 and was killed in action on 18 April 1916 (Ypres Menin Gate Memorial); he qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Charles had named his father as his legatee. However, in September 1918 at the age of 45 years and 9 months, Richard Beresford ('coal deliverer') enlisted in the Army Service Corps and although he provided information about his marriage to Emily Barnes he declared her present address 'was not known' and named his next of kin as Lily Wild, of 29 Brookside, New Mills - 'relationship: unmarried-wife'. He was discharged from the army in February 1919 and transferred to the Class 2 Army Reserve. Henry has not been traced after 1911 but it is likely that Emily married Frederick Rickard in 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham) and died aged 73 in 1974 (June, South-east Hampshire, death index gives DOB 29 September 1900).

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