John Algernon Watkin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Algernon was the only son of John Watkin and his wife Mary Harriet (née Hiles). His father John was born in Bole in 1871, the son of John and Mary Bole who on the 1871 Census were living at Bole Post Office with their seven children, including John (1m), and a grand-daughter. John senior's occupation was given as tailor (later master tailor) but it is likely that he was also the sub-postmaster. John Algernon's father married Mary Harriet Hiles at Bole St Martin in July 1893. They had four children: Edith Mary b. Gainsborough December 1893 bap. Gainsborough Holy Trinity 1894 and John Algernon b. 12 January 1896, Violet Lizzie b. 1900 and Helena Alexandra b. 1902 who were all born in Bole. John was baptised at St Martin on 1 March 1896 and his sister Violet in August 1900. In 1901 John snr. was living at the Post Office, North Street, Bole, where he was the sub-postmaster. Also in the household were his wife Mary, their three children, Edith, John and Violet, and John's widowed father, a retired sub-postmaster. The family was still living at the Post Office in 1911: John, now with the occupation of iron turner in addition to that of sub-postmaster, his wife who was assisting in the Post Office, Algernon, a day lad on a farm, and Violet and Alexandra who were still at school. The eldest daughter, Edith, was employed as a housemaid by the Rev. Twycross and his wife at Sturton-le-Steeple Vicarage, near Retford. In 1939 when the England and Wales register was compiled, John and his wife Mary Harriet were still at Bole Post Office where as well as being sub-postmaster, John was probably a relief postman. He was also Commandant VAD No. 5 Gainsborough Division, ARP First Aid Post Gainsborough, which reflected his service in the Great War when, according to a newspaper report in 1916, he had been a corporal in the RAMC. (See 'Extra information'). Also in the household were their two surviving daughters, Violet (unmarried), whose occupation was given as domestic duties, and their married daughter Helen Waller, an elementary school teacher, together with Helen's daughter Vera, a rural pupil teacher. Helen had married Charles Harold Waller at Bole St Martin in 1923 (Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 11 September 1923). The eldest daughter Edith had married Edward Heald, a farmer, in 1918 (R&WH, 27 August 1918). The couple lived in Sturton-le-Steeple and had three daughters. Edith died aged 33 in November 1927 after a long illness (R&WH, 12 April 1927 & 22 November 1927). John Watkin died in 1958 and his widow Mary Harriet in 1962. Her daughter Helen predeceased her (1960); the probate record gave her address as Bole Post Office. Violet survived her parents and siblings.
John enlisted at Gainsborough in September 1914 and was posted to the 1/5th battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. The 1/5th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment was a Territorial Force Battalion formed at Grimsby in August 1914. The formation, formerly part of the Lincoln & Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division, was retitled 138th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division, in May 1915. The battalion landed at Le Havre on 1 March 1915 for service with the BEF France. John moved with the battalion to France on 1 March 1915 and was killed in action seven months later on 13 October 1915 in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He was initially reported missing in action. John has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 31 to 34). John qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. www.military-history.fandom.com/wiki/5th_Battalion,_Lincolnshire_Regiment: 'The 1/5th Bn was in the forefront of the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915. This was an attempt to restart the failed Battle of Loos, and the division was moved down from Ypres on 1 October for the purpose. The Germans had recaptured the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 1 October after severe fighting, and had driven off a hastily-organised British attack. 46th (North Midland) Division was ordered to make a prepared attack on 13 October. The battalion took over its place in the line on the night of 12/13 October. The preliminary bombardment began at noon on 13 October, a gas cloud was discharged from the British trenches at 13.45, and the troops went over the top at 14.00. 1/5th Lincolns formed the left half of 138th Bde's attack, advancing in four waves, the first two platoons of each company jumping off from the front line, the other two from the support line. The battalion's objective was Fosse Trench, about 400 yards behind the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The barbed wire in front of the redoubt was well cut and the leading waves of the battalion swept over its east and west faces with little difficulty until they reached the dead ground between the redoubt and Fosse Trench, which was open and swept by rifle and machine gun fire from the front and both flanks, particularly from Mad Point out to the left. The attack melted away, although isolated parties maintained themselves in shell holes, including Sergeant Harry Drewery with the only surviving machine gun team, who set up in a German communication trench and stayed in action until evening. (Drewery was awarded the DCM and his gunner, Private Percy Coulson the MM.) The CO, Lt-Col T.E. Sandall, was among the wounded. At dusk the battalion's survivors under the only unwounded officer, Captain R.E. Madge, withdrew to the redoubt, which the support battalion (1/4th Lincolns) and the divisional pioneers (1st Bn Monmouthshire Regiment) were consolidating for defence. The Germans put down a heavy bombardment on the east face, obliterating the defences, and the survivors had to retreat to the west face, which they held throughout the night until relieved next morning ... The battalion had lost 22 out of 23 officers in action, and 461 other ranks, killed and wounded.'
CWGC additional information: 'Son of John and Mary Harriett Watkin, of Bole, Gainsborough.' Pte J A Watkin Retford Times 4 Feb 1916 'A very impressive memorial service was held on Sunday Jan 23rd at St Martins Church, Bole for the late Pte J A Watkin, 5th Lincolns, son of Mr and Mrs Watkin, Post Office, Bole, Gainsborough, who was killed in action on October 13th 1915. On very rare occasions has the church been filled as it was then, not only by the villagers, but many from Gainsborough and surrounding villages attended to honour the brave young soldier, who was well known and greatly loved by all with whom he came in contact. The vicar (the Rev G Bird) preached an eloquent sermon on patriotism, taking for the text, “Greater Love,” etc (John xv 13), Hymns 254, 221 and 400 were sang. Mrs Watkin has received a very sympathetic letter from Sgt Smith who was wounded in the charge. He says “The last I saw of your boy was just after the charge, when he was whistling and singing as usual. He was brave, unselfish and fearless almost to a fault. I owe much to him if only for his cheery spirit and had grown to love the lad as a brother. No man had had a truer pal, nor the King a braver soldier and it should be a consolation to you that he went to his end a brave British soldier. The deceased soldier enlisted in September 1914 and went to France the following February with the North Midland Brigade. He was reported as ‘missing’ after the charge of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He was 19 years of age and had not been home since Christmas 1914. His father is a Corporal in the RAMC.' Note: no details yet traced of his father's war record. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: A single payment was made to his father in 1916 but in 1919 a payment was made to his mother who was described as his sole legatee. Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser, 12 April 1927: ‘Bole. Honour. Amongst those who have received long-service medals in the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, Mr Watkin, Bole Post Office, is mentioned.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
