John Grant Dearsly Whitecross
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was born in Leith, Edinburgh in 1884 the son of William a wine merchant by trade and Janet Whitecross (nee Grant). he had two siblings Edwin born 1873 and Jane born 1877.In the 1911 census we find he has moved to West Stockwith and is a boarder living with the Maw family including his future wife Effie Maw the daughter of his landlord. He gives his age as 26 years and he is employed as a general labourer at the local chemical works. He married his wife Effie Maw at the register office in Gainsborough on 6th January 1912 and went on to have three children :- Dorothy born 20th February 1912, Norman born 9th February 1913 and Jane Isabella born 28th October 1915, unfortunately she later died on 27th December 1916 of bronchal pneumonia
John attested on 18th January 1915 at East Retford and joined the Army Service Corps. He gave his age as 31 years and 3 months and his occupation as a labourer/clerk and his next of kin as his wife Effie Whitecross of Main Street, West Stockwith. He steadily rose through the ranks, he was promoted to lance corporal on 9th March 1915 and then Corporal on 2nd June 1915. On 17th May 1916 he was promoted to company quartermaster sergeant. He landed at Havre in France on 10th January 1916. Sadly just prior to his daughter death he was granted home leave and she died on 27th December 1916. On the 27th January 1917 his service record shows he was severely reprimanded due to drunkeness which is not surprising given it being an exact month since his daughters death. On the 4th January 1919 his was found in a collapsed condition and due to his aphasic condition he was not able to say what had occurred. He was admitted to the 48th casualty clearing station and treated for hemiplegia but eventually died on 9th January 1919. The cause of death was given as hemiplegia contracted whilst on active service. he is buried in Belgrade cemetery, Belgium
Information on John Whitecross has been provided courtesy of the Misterton and West Stockwith history group
