John Allison Dean Widdowson
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John (Jack) Allison Dean was the eldest son of Harry Dean Widdowson and his wife Mary (Pollie) Ann Allison (née Harris). His father Harry Dean was born in Sheffield in 1867, the son of Henry Dean and Lucy Widdowson. His mother Mary Ann Allison was born in Durham in 1865, the daughter of John Thomas Allison Harris. Harry and Mary were married in Workington Cumberland in 1891. They had three children John Allison Dean b. Walkley Sheffield 31 May 1892, Gladys Mary b. Workington 1895 and Geoffrey Allison b. Sheffield 1903. In 1901 Harry (34) a basket manufacturer (employer), and Mary (35) were living on Crookes Moor Road, Nether Hallam, Sheffield, with their two children John (8) and Gladys (6). In January 1908 John joined the Royal Navy at HMS Fisgard as a Boy Artificer; he had previously been at school. He was medically discharged eight months later. By 1911 Harry and Mary had moved to School Road, Eccleshall, Sheffield, where they were living with their two youngest children, Gladys and Geoffrey (7). John was a journalist and living in Hampstead, London. However, the family was living on Edgebrook Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield, when John enlisted in the army in 1912, giving it also as his address His parents were still living there when John was killed in 1916. The later CWGC record gave his parents' address as Clyro House, Sutton, Retford, Nottinghamshire, but they were already living there in 1919 when Harry completed a form for the army listing his son's surviving blood relatives: parents, brother Geoffrey Allison (15) and sister Gladys Mary Ann (25), all of Clyro House. His parents, though, returned to Sheffield, and were living on Abbey Lane, Sheffield, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Harry was described on the register as a master basketmaker and manufacturer and was also an ARP warden. Mary died in 1952 and Harry in 1954.
John joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Artificer at the age of 16 on 3 January 1908. He served at the shore training establishment HMS Fisgard from 3 January until 6 August 1908 when he was medically discharged ('disease of stomach'). He declared this period of service on his army attestation. John enlisted as a regular soldier in the 13th Bn (Service) (1st Barnsley) Bn York and Lancaster Regiment at Sheffield on 25 April 1912, 2½ years before the outbreak of war. He served in the UK from 25 April 1912 to 9 September 1914. Some of this period was spent in Ireland as he was admitted to hospital in Limerick for 53 days from 14 March to 5 May 1913 suffering from rheumatic fever. The medical report included the information that '[he] states that he used sometimes have slight attacks of rheumatism in civil life – attributes his present illness to chill contracted cross country running and (-) to musketry.' John was promoted unpaid lance corporal on 4 March 1913, paid lance corporal 19 May 1913, corporal 21 June 1914, lance-sergeant 30 October 1914 and then sergeant. An assessment dated 6 October 1913, when he was a lance corporal, read: 'A very good (-) intelligent hard working NCO well educated and a good clerk’ The battalion was posted to France on 8 September 1914 as part of the British Expeditionary Force. John returned to the UK on 10 January 1915 and after spending nearly a year on home service, the battalion embarked at Devonport the day after Boxing Day 1915 to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He remained in theatre until 10 March 1916. Without any home leave, he was posted directly to France. Four months later the battalion probably took part in the attack on Serre on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Somme offensive. John was killed in action and is buried in the Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps (grave ref. I.A.36). He had served in the army for 4 years 69 days and qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - history of Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps (extract): 'Colincamps and "Euston", a road junction a little east of the village, were within the Allied lines before the Somme offensive of July 1916. The cemetery was started as a front line burial ground during and after the unsuccessful attack on Serre on 1 July ... The cemetery is particularly associated with three dates and engagements; the attack on Serre on 1 July 1916; the capture of Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November 1916; and the German attack on the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade trenches before Colincamps on 5 April 1918. The whole of Plot I, except five graves in the last row, represents the original cemetery of 501 graves. After the Armistice, more than 750 graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and the following small cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Ready at duty's call and in what glorious company' CWGC casualty information:- 'Son of Harry and Mary Widdowson, of Clyro House, Sutton, Retford, Notts.' Sheffield Independent, ‘Roll of Honour’, 5 August 1916: ‘Widdowson. Sergt. John AD Widdowson (Jack), Y and L Regt., dearly loved son of Harry D. and Pollie Widdowson, 25 Edgebrook road, Nether Edge, Sheffield, aged 24, killed in action, July 1st, 1916.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Sheffield Independent, 7 August 1916: ‘For Britain’s Honour. Casualties Among Sheffield and District Men … Sergt. John AD Widdowson, Barnsley Pals, 25, Edgebrook road, Nether Edge, Sheffield. Killed in action 1 July.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother was his sole legatee. Original research by Colin Dannatt
