John William Staveley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John William Staveley was born on 29th May 1888 at Tuxford the son of John and Elizabeth Staveley née Radford, of Swann Street,Bawtry his father had for 30 years been a railway signalman at Bawtry Station.He was unmarried and had 3 brothers all of whom fought in the 'Great War His father John was born in 1864 at Tuxford, his mother Elizabeth Radford was born in 1866 at Epperstone, they were married in 1885 their marriage was recorded in the East Retford registration district, they went on to have 8 children, sadly 3 died in infancy or early childhood. In the 1911 census his parents and siblings are living at Swann Street, Bawtry, John 45 yrs is a railway signalman, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 45 yrs and their children, Ada 20 yrs a school teacher and Arthur 13 yrs a news school boy. In the same 1911 census we find that John William has left the family home, he is living at 24 Gordon Street, Doncaster, he is shown as being 22 yrs and is a railway labourer, he is lodging with a widow Elizabeth Champson 52 yrs and her children.
About 4 years before the war a Bawtry officer of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry wishing to obtain recruits called a meeting for that purpose in the public hall at Bawtry. This gallant boy was the first to mount the platform and to give his name he had the soldierly spirit and was greatly esteemed by both officers and men. When war broke out on 4th August 1914 his battalion 1/5th Territorial Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was undergoing its annual training at Whitby and all the officers and 90 % of the men including John at once volunteered for service in France. The battalion trained at Sandbeck Park and then near to Skegness and York and eventually it went to France in April 1915. John was promoted to Sergeant just prior to leaving for France. He was with the battalion in trenches around Ypres when he was killed by a shell on 9th August 1915 when he was aged 27 years. In him the battalion lost an able and efficient NCO.The following is an extract from a letter from Major Parkin 1/5th Bn King's Own Yorkshire light Infantry dated 11th August 1915 to his parents : - Dear madam it is with deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son Sgt Staveley. He had gone from the front trench to consult the doctor with regards to some minor ailment when a shell burst right in the dressing station in whixh he was waiting, badly wounding him and several others and killing another man. Your son has since died of his wounds,his courage was magnificent and was remarked on by the doctors and others who saw him being attended to. he actually lit and smoked a cigarette while being carried away. He will be greatly missed by all of us, officers and men alike.No man could have faced his death in a more noble fashion. I am dear madam yours very truly J L Parkin Major - Officer Commanding D Company 1/5th Bn KOYLI
He is buried in Ferme- Olivier Cemetery, Belgium his brothers who also served in the 'Great War' were :- Albert who was married and had 4 children was a lance Corporal and died of wounds received in action. Harold 22 years of age a driver in the Army Service Corps joined up January 1916 went to France and was still there in July 1919.Arthur 21 years in October 1918 was in the Royal Garrison Artillery then transferred to the King's own Yorkshire Light Infantry went to France in November 1917 and was demobbed in 1919.
