John William Tissington
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John William, known as 'Willy' (also 'Willie'), was born in Scaftworth in 1893 and was the eldest son of George and Eliza Tissington. George Tissington married Eliza Fenton in 1893 (registered A/M/J, registration district Worksop). According to the information supplied on the 1911 Census, George and Eliza had been married for 17 years and had had 11 children born alive, all of whom were still living at the time of the census. Eleven children were named on the 1901 and 1911 Census: John William/Willy (b. 1893), George Henry, known as Harry (b. 1895), Annie Lizzie (b. 1896), Walter (b. abt 1898), Harold Herbert (b. 1900), Arthur (b. 1901), Ernest Arnold (b. 1903), Florence (Floss) Ada (b. 23 December 1904), Wilfred (b. 6 January 1907), Percy (b. 1908) and Bertha (b. 27 January 1910). All the children were born in Scaftworth. A surviving relative has provided details of four children who were born after the 1911 Census: Frank (b. 6 September 1911), Cyril, known as Syd (b. 12 August 1913), Frederick, known as Nin (b. 5 October 1915) and Clifford, known as Jim (b. 16 October 1917). At the time of the 1901 Census George (35), a coachman ('domestic'), and Eliza (31) were living on Bawtry Road, Scaftworth, with their five children; John William (7), George (6), Annie (4), Walter (3) and Harold (1). The family was still living in Scaftworth in 1911. George's occupation was now given as 'chauffeur domestic'. He and Eliza now had eleven children all of whom except the eldest, John ('Willy'), were still living at home; George (16) who was working as a farm labourer, Annie (14), Walter (13), Harold (11), Arthur (9), Ernest (8), Florence (6), Wilfred (4), Percy (3) and Bertha (1). From the census information it would seem that the family was living in a 'two up two down' house. Willy (17) was a grocer's assistant at a grocer's and draper's shop at Market Hall, Corby, Grantham, and living on the premises. The business was run by two brothers and two sisters, the eldest of whom, Charles Willerton, was named as head of household. The Willerton family employed five male and female assistants and two 'apprentice assistants'. At the time of Willy's death in 1917 his parents were still living at Scaftworth where his father was chauffeur to Mrs Thomas of Scaftworth Hall. They later lived at 5 Gilbert Road, Bircotes, Bawtry (CWGC). Three of Willy's brothers also served in the Army. George, a farm servant, enlisted in the Royal Engineers (107273 Driver) in November 1915 when he was 20 years 11 months old. He served in France and was demobilized in February 1919. Walter, a motor driver, was mobilized in November 1916 at the age of 18 years 2 months and served in the York and Lancaster Regiment (38857 Private). He was demobilized in March 1920. Harold, a porter with the Great Northern Railway (later a guard for the London North Eastern Railway), attested in 1917 when he was 17 years 10 months old, and served in the South Staffordshire (Prince of Wales's) Regiment. However, it was not until 25 November 1918, two weeks after the Armistice, that he arrived in France. He was demobilized in September 1919. Fortunately for the family the eight youngest boys (Arthur, Ernest, Wilfred, Percy, Frank, Cyril, Frederick and Clifford) were not old enough to serve in the Great War. Of Willy's siblings it would seem that George Henry (d.8/1/1967) married Bessie Rutter; Annie Elizabeth (d.18/4/1951) married James Stanley Spittlehouse in 1920; Walter (d.1954) married Winnie Walters in 1922; Harold Herbert (d.12/9/1972) married Elizabeth Hemmaway in 1930; Arthur (d.21/10/1963) married Patricia (maiden name n/k); Ernest (d.27/2/1970) married Gwendolen Hunt in 1936; Florence Ada (d.1976 aged 71) married George W Lee in 1939; Wilfred (d.27/2/1975 aged 68) married Ida Rabbitt in 1931; Percy (d.30/1/1980) married Dorothy Baker on 26/12/1932; Bertha (d.May 1982 aged 72) married Tom N Jessop in Nov 1932; Frank (d.28/11/1987) married Ethel Vickers on 25/9/1937; Cyril (d.7/1/1990) married Sarah Vardy on 26/12/1938; Frederick (d.25/8/1972) married Phyllis Stokes on 20/9/1941; Clifford (d.28/5/1990) married Lavender Brown on 7/9/1946
'Willy' enlisted in Retford in 1916 while he was living in Bawtry where he was working at the Co-operative store. The Medal Roll gives his first name as 'William' which suggests that this is the name under which he enlisted. He served with the 2/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys Regiment); his official number prior to 1917 was 4806. Willy served in Ireland during the rebellion before going to the Western Front. He was killed in action on 21 April 1917 and is buried in Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension on the Somme (grave reference III B 13). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Pte Willy Tissington Retford Times 13 July 1917 'Much sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs Geo. Tissington of Scaftworth, in the death of their son, Pte Willy Tissington, Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action in France on April 21st. Previous to joining the Army in 1916, this brave young hero, who was 23 years of age, was employed at the Co-operative Stores, Bawtry. His father is a chauffeur with Mrs Thomas, Scaftworth Hall, and he has two other sons serving. Pte Willy Tissington went through the Irish rebellion before going to France. His platoon officer writes that he was quite a good fellow and liked by all the platoon. He assures the parents that they have the consolation of knowing that their brave son died nobly fighting for his country. The chaplain also wrote expressing his sympathy with Mr and Mrs Tissington in their sad loss and stated that their son was highly spoken of by both officers and men and is greatly missed. Letters of sympathy were also received from Mrs Thomas, Scaftworth Hall, and Mr Edward G Brooksbank, 5th Lancers BEF France.' His father, George, was his sole legatee.
