John Charles Lockwood
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John Charles Lockwood was born in 1895 at Finsbury Park Middlesex He was one of seven children born to William (a railway worker) and Mary Lockwood. Around 1899, the family had moved to Gunby, Lincolnshire, where William worked as a shunter living at 4 Station Cottages. By 1901, the family had made another move. This time to Ranskill, Nottinghamshire, where William was employed as a railway porter. Missing from the family home was 15 year old John Charles who was employed as a cowman on a farm, lodging in the same village. By 1909, John Charles was in Worksop as he is recorded as marrying Laura Hammond, (a native of Worksop) in the April/June quarter of 1909. A child was born to them the same year in Worksop who they named Lily. Two years later, John, Laura and Lily were living in Mansfield under the roof of a maternal uncle where John was now working as a coal miner. In 1912 the couple had a second child, born in Mansfield, a boy who they named Christopher. John Charles Lockwood joined the Army like so many other men. He is recorded as initially joining the Notts and Derby Regiment (number 23363) at Mansfield but later he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers.He was killed in action at the Somme and is buried in a grave in Hamel Military Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel which states he was the husband of Laura Lockwood, of 4, Radford Place, Mansfield.
John Lockwood gave up his job as a miner in Mansfield and joined the Sherwood Foresters, number 23363, in February 1915 and went with his regiment to the Dardanelles. At some time in his army service he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was sent to France in April 1916. Worksop Guardian 18 August 1916 Many Worksop people will recall, Pte John Lockwood of the Lancastrian Fusiliers, who formerly resided in Newcastle Avenue, and who before the war was a miner at Warsop Main Colliery. His family belong to Ranskill, though Lockwood had many associations with Worksop. He enlisted soon after the outbreak of the war and went out with his regiment to the Dardanelles. Since April this year he had been in France and took part in much of the severe fighting. He had only had one furlough. The War Office report that he was killed in action on July 14th, and this announcement is supplemented by a letter from a comrade, Pte Albert Nixon, Newcaslte Avenue, who, writing home says, that a shell blew Lockwood’s right arm off. I helped to bury him, he adds, as nicely as we could. Lockwood who was 32 years of age, leaves a widow and two children, now residing at Mansfield. He was a good workman and a brave soldier. Another brother, Pte Charles Lockwood, is in hospital and a second brother, Pte Fred Lockwood, is still at the front. He has been out practically since the beginning of the war and so far has come through without a scratch. Much sympathy is expressed with Pte John Lockwood’s family.
Mansfield Chronicle advertiser. 31/08/1916: Photograph. Pte John Lockwood killed in action on 14/07/1916 he had worked at Warsop Main Colliery. His right arm had been blown off. Pte Albert Nixon of Newcastle Ave, Mansfield, had written home to say, "I helped to bury him as nicely as we could". He had 2 brothers serving. Ranskill memorial book details:- John Lockwood – joined Feb 1915 – killed 22 July 1916 age 30 – Sherwood Foresters CWG additional information:- Husband of Laura Lockwood, of 4, Radford Place, Mansfield. Cemetery:- Hamel Military Cemetery, Beaumont-Hemel Commemorated in Ranskill Church WW1 record book and Window 1. Research by Colin Dannatt
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