John Joseph Stenson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Joseph was born on 27th October 1869 in Belper, Derbyshire, and was the son of Henry and Mary Jane Stenson. In 1891 John (22), a blacksmith, and two sisters were living with their widowed mother, Mary, a washerwoman and charwoman. Also in the household was a lodger, Rose Ryde (28 b. Brailsford, Derbyshire), a dressmaker. John married Rose (Ryde or Ride) in 1893 (reg. Derby). They had two sons, both of whom died in infancy: Joseph Henry b. 1893 (O/N/D) bap. Derby 20 December 1893 d. 1893 and Henry b. 1895 (reg. J/F/M Derby) d. 1895 (J/F/M). John and Rose have not yet been traced on the 1901 Census, but in 1911 John, an engine blacksmith, and Rose, a dressmaker, were living at 23 Padley Street, Bulwell, Nottingham, with their adopted son John Daley 18 yrs (b. 1893 Nottingham), a hosiery worker. Their home was still at 23 Padley Street when John died in 1916 and this was his widow's address when the later CWGC record was compiled. Rose died in 1936.
Private John Joseph Stenson enlisted on 5th September 1914 and was posted to the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. However, on 16th September along with approximately 400 members of the Sherwood Foresters he was transferred to Chatham Battalion Royal Marines Light Infantry. He served with the Royal Marine Light Infantry during the Gallipoli campaign but was invalided from the Peninsula due to 'Pyrexia [fever] unknown origin and constipation' on 28th August 1915; he was evacuated to England on 8th September 1915. After recuperating he was posted to the Royal Marine Brigade on 28th June 1916 but was discharged to the Headquarters Chatham Division on 1st September 1916. The following day, clearly still unwell, he fell from an upstairs window at Chatham Barracks and was found with what were described as 'terrible injuries'. An inquest into his death was held on 5th September and its conclusion was that Stenson, who had been found sleep walking previously, had somehow managed to fall, despite the presence of railings, whilst walking in his sleep. In the absence of any other explanation a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded. He was buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent (grave ref. Naval. 25. 1313). Above details are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Brief life is our portion' CWGC: Husband of Rose Stenson, of 23, Padley St., Bulwell, Nottingham. He was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).' Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour, 9 September 1916: ‘Stenson. Killed accidentally on September 2nd, at Chatham Barracks, Private JJ Stenson RMLI, of 23 Padley-street, Bulwell, aged 48 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
