John Alfred Faulks
- Family History
- Military History
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John Alfred was the second son of John Smallwood Faulks and his wife Fanny (née Stubbs). John Smallwood was born in Colston Bassett in 1857, the son of Michael Faulks, a farmer, and his wife Harriett. Fanny Stubbs was born in Market Drayton, Shropshire, in 1862, the daughter of George and Mary Stubbs. John and Fanny were married at Market Drayton in June 1886 and had six children, two of whom died before 1911. All were born in Colston Bassett and all but the youngest baptised at St John the Divine: Arthur b. 1887 d. March 1907, John Alfred birth registered 1890 (J/F/M) bap. 12 March 1890, George b. 1892, William Ronald b. 1894, Charles b. 1896 d. 1896 and Agnes May b. 1902. John was working as a joiner (own account) in 1891 and 1901 but was a farmer, probably at Bunnison Lane Farm, by the time of the 1911 Census. John, Fanny and their sons Arthur and John were living in the village of Colston Bassett, where John snr. was born, in 1891. The 1901 Census gave the family's address as Bunnison Lane, Colston Bassett, by which time John and Fanny and four sons, Arthur, Alfred, George and William. Another son, Charles, had died in 1896 and the eldest son, Arthur, died six years later in March 1907 (interred St Mary's burial ground, Colston Bassett). The only daughter, Agnes May, was born in 1902. By 1911 the family was living at Bunninstone Lane farm with John senior's widowed father, Michael, a retired farmer. John Alfred was a wheelwright ('at home') while George and William were both assisting their father on the farm. Their sister Agnes was still at school. William Ronald attested on 11 December 1915 and mobilised on 3 June 1916, which was reckoned as his first day of service. He served in the Royal Garrison Artillery (89845 Gunner) and according to his service record served in South Africa and India. However, there are no other details of his service in South Africa and he appears to have served at home until posted to India in 1918. He embarked Southampton on 27 August 1918, disembarked at Bombay on 24 September and was posted to Fort Allahabad. William left India for discharge in the UK on 19 November 1919 (HMT Frankfurt), arriving 12 December. On demobilisation he transferred from 51 Coy. Royal Garrison Artillery to Class 'Z' Army Reserve and was discharged on 11 February 1920. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, William, a dairy farmer, his wife Laura (née Plaisted, m. 1922) and their children were living on Bunnison Lane, Colston Bassett. George married Florence Maud Birkin, also of Colston Bassett, in 1921. Her brother, Albert William, also served in the Royal Fusiliers (2nd Bn, G/1559 Lance Corporal) and was killed on 4 July 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Fanny Faulks died in February 1935, probate was awarded to her sons, George (d. May 1935) and William, both of whom were farmers. John Smallwood died in August 1937; he was still living at Bunnison Lane Farm.
12th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) The Royal Fusiliers raised 47 battalions for service in the Great War and the 12th (Service) Battalion was one of the battalions of Kitchener’s 3rd New Army. Formed at Hounslow in September 1914, it came under the 24th Division (73rd Brigade) and sailed from Folkestone for Boulogne on 1 September 1915 for service on the Western Front. The battalion transferred to 17th Brigade, 24th Division the following month. John Alfred Faulks served in France from 6 October 1915 and was killed in action on 3 June 1916. He is buried in Berks Cemetery Extension, Belgium (grave ref. II. C. 58). The history of the cemetery (see below) indicates that his grave was brought in from Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery and Extension (burials May 1916-March 1918) in 1930. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Berks Cemetery Extension (extract): Berks Cemetery Extension is 12.5km from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'Hyde Park Corner was a road junction to the north of Ploegsteert Wood. Hill 63 was to the north-west and nearby were the 'Catacombs', deep shelters capable of holding two battalions, which were used from November 1916 onwards. Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery was begun in April 1915 by the 1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment and was used at intervals until November 1917 ... Berks Cemetery Extension is separated from Hyde Park Corner Cemetery by a road. The extension was begun in June 1916 and used continuously until September 1917. At the Armistice, the extension comprised Plot I only, but Plots II and III were added in 1930 when graves were brought in from Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery and Extension, about 1 kilometre to the north-west, when it was established that these sites could not be acquired in perpetuity. Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery was used by fighting units from November 1914 to August 1916. The extension was begun in May 1916 and used until March 1918.' (www.cwgc.org) Note: The owner of the Rosenberg Chateau, where the cemetery had been established, rebuilt the chateau and required the graves to be removed given their proximity to the building.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Dearly beloved son Peace perfect peace' Probate: Faulks John Alfred of Colston Bassett Nottinghamshire corporal in HM Army died 3 June 1916 in France Administration Nottingham 6 September to John Smallwood Faulks farmer. Effects £233 7s. 5d. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father John Smallwood Faulks was his legatee.
