John Derry
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- Military History
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John Derry was born 29th October 1884 (Canadian Virtual Memorial) in Tythby and was the son of Richard a farmer and Mary Julian Derry née Richards, of Tythby, Notts., England. His father Richard was born in 1853 at Tythby and his mother Mary Julian Richards was born in 1857 in Nottingham, they were married in in 1883 in Nottingham and went on to have 5 children all of whom were born in Tythby, Richard b1885, John b1886, Benjamin Thomas b1892, Harry b1894 and Elsie Annie b1900. In the 1911 census the family are living at Tythby and are shown as Richard 58 yrs a farmer, he is living with his wife Mary Julian 54 yrs and their children Benjamin Thomas 19 yrs an estate agents clerk, Harry 17 yrs an estate agents clerk and Elsie Annie 11 yrs a scholar. John appears to have emigrated to Canada in 1913 he appears as a passenger list on the White Star Line ship 'Tunisian', which departed Liverpool on 14th February 1913 for Halifax or St John Canada, : 'John Derry age 28 (b. abt 1885), labourer'. He and his wife Catherine Alice are registered in Saskatchewan at the time of Canada's 1916 census. He was the husband of Catherine Alice Derry, of 1061, Retallach St., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (CWGC).
Private John Derry enlisted in Canada on 10th January 1917 and served with the 78th battalion Canadian Infantry. He travelled by on the SS Justica a British troopship arriving in England on 14th May 1917. He was posted to France on 7th December 1917. On 16th January 1918 he was “dangerously wounded” (Gunshot wound to the thigh) and transferred to No. 30 casualty clearing station where he died the same day. He is buried in Anzin-St. Aubin British Cemetery (grave ref III.A.5).
Death notice published 14th February 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “DERRY. – Died of wounds in France, January 16th, Pte. John (Jack) Derry, Canadians, Regina, Sask., second son of Mr. Richard Derry, late of Tithby, Notts. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man may lay down his life for his friends. – From his broken-hearted wife and little son.” In memoriam published 16th January 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “DERRY. – In loving memory of my dear husband, Pte. John Derry, 78th Canadians, died of wounds in France January 16th, 1918. – Wife and little son.” Both above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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