John George Dunn

John George was the son of Elijah and Fanny Dunn (née Scott). His father Elijah was born in Blowich, Staffordshire, in 1872, the son of John and Tamar Dunn who in 1881 were living on Providence Street, Walsall. His mother Fanny Scott was the daughter of Elizabeth Scott and born in 1875, also in Bloxwich. In 1881 Elizabeth and her daughter were lodging on New Street, Bloxwich. John George was born in 1893, before his parents' marriage, and baptised at Bloxwich All Saints on 12 April 1893. His birth was registered in his mother's surname but subsquent records gave his surname as Dunn. Elijah and Fanny were married at Bloxwich All Saints in May 1893 and had five children, including John, two of whom died in infancy. Three of the four children born after their marriage were: Joseph Thomas b. 1895, Tamar Elizabeth b. 1898 d. 1898 and Thomas James birth registered 1899 (J/F/M). The three children were born in Blowich and also baptised in the parish church. At the time of the 1901 Census, Elijah (29), a coal filler (below ground), was recorded as a boarder living on Ashbourne Street, Shirebrook. A fellow boarder, Thomas Dunn (21, b. Bloxwith), a bricklayer, was probably Elijah's younger brother. Fanny together with her three sons, John, Joseph and Thomas, were living on Alfred Street, Bloxwith, with her mother Elizabeth Beech and stepfather George Beech. By 1911, Fanny, described on the census as married, occupation 'housekeeper', and two of her sons, John and Thomas, were living at 114 Coke Street, Mansfield. Joseph, her second son, has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Also in the household was a lodger, John William Brough (b. Bloxwith), a miner/hewer. Elijah, a miner/hewer was probably a boarder in the household of a retired miner and his wife at 24 Cavendish Street, Shirebrook. The CWGC record gave Elijah and Elizabeth's address as 46 Market Street, Shirebrook. They were living in Shirebrook at the time of the 1921 Census (full transcript not sighted) along with the granddaughter Tamar Elizabeth Dunn, their son Joseph, his wife Sarah Ann and children May (b. 1917) and George (b. 1919) and one other. John George married Elizabeth Jane Ghilks (b. 1892 Pelsall Staffordshire) in 1912 (reg. A/M/J Mansfield). They had two children, Tamar Elizabeth b. October 1912 and John George b. 1914. Elizabeth married Frank Mattock in January 1916. The CWGC record gave their address as Walsall, Staffordshire. However, on the 1921 Census (full transcript not sighted) Elizabeth and Frank were living in Edington, Doncaster, with her son John George Dunn and one other. Elizabeth's daughter Tamar was living with her paternal grandparents in Shirebrook. Elizabeth and Frank Mattock had a son, Albert J. in 1922 (reg. Doncaster). Elijah, a retired miner, and Fanny were living in Blackwell, Derbyshire, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Elijah died in 1943. John's brother, Joseph, served with the Grenadier Guards 2nd (Reserve) Battalion (18166 Private). He attested on 31 August 1914 aged 19y 27d, height 5’ 10¼’’, occupation coal miner and named his brother John of Coke Street, Mansfield, as his next of kin. Joseph later added the name of his wife, Sarah Ann. He joined at Caterham on 2 September and served with the BEF France from 16 March 1915. He took part in the action at Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915 and on 17 October suffered gunshot wounds to the chest. He was treated initially at 36 Field Ambulance and then transferred from hospital in France to the UK on 27 October (SS Cambria). He was treated at various hospitals and probably never returned to active duty. He attended a Medical Board on 1 December 1916 when he was found 'no longer physically fit for War Service' (permanent); the report noted that several pieces of metal were still in his chest. Joseph was discharged on 22 December 1916 having served 2 years 114 days (7 months active service) and issued with Silver War Badge No. 30287. Joseph had married Sarah Ann Hanson or Hawson (18, domestic servant) at Shirebrook parish church in December 1915. The marriage certificate recorded his occupation as soldier, residence Chelsea [Barracks]. His service record included the name of a daughter, May, who was born in May 1917. Joseph's home address when he was discharged from the army was 7 Welbeck Terrace, Shirebrook, but by the time of a subsequent medical report in July 1917 they had moved to 46 Market Street, Shirebrook. Joseph probably died in 1965 (reg. Mansfield).