John Robert Bywater
He was a moulder.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Robert Bywater was born in 1886 at Beeston, he was baptised on 13th June 1886 at Beeston parish Church, he was the son of Edward William an iron moulder and Elizabeth Bywater née Lees and the brother of Edward William, Enoch (killed in action 30th November 1917), Clara, Sarah Ellen, Harold, Cyril, May, Lois and Emily Bywater the family were living at 18 Alpine Cottages, Beeston at the time of the family baptisims, they later lived at 18 Dagmar Grove Beeston Nottingham.
His father Edward William Bywater was born in 1860 at Nottingham, his mother Elizabeth Lees was born in 1860 at Nottingham, they were married on 5th March 1881 at Beeston parish church St John's they had 15 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census the family lived at 84 Lower Regent Street Beeston Nottingham. Edward William 50 yrs a moulder at steel foundry, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 52 yrs and 10 of their children including John 25 yrs a moulder in a metal foundry and Enoch 19 yrs a threader in a lace factory.
Corporal John Bywater enlisted on 12th September 1914 at Nottingham, giving his age as 28 yrs and 210 days, he was an iron moulder, he was posted to the 9th battalion Yorks and Lancaster Regiment.He landed in France on 27th August 1915, he was killed in action on 1st July 1916 aged 30 yrs on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial,Somme, France.
His brother Lance Corporal Enoch Bywater enlisted at Beeston, he served with the 10th battalion Rifle Brigade, he initially served with the service number 23379 in the 3rd battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, he was killed in action on 30th November 1917, he was reported missing at Cambrai on 30th November 1917, later presumed to have been killed in action that day. His name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France
Photo of John Robert Bywater
Thiepval Memorial, courtesy of the cwgc