John William Warhurst
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John William Warhurst was the son of Frank and Sarah Ann Warhurst (née Priest). His father Frank was born in 1860 at Sutton in Ashfield, and his mother Sarah Ann Priest in 1866 at Worksop. They were married at Bulwell St Mary & All Souls on 3 March 1883 and had 10 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood. The children, who were all born in Bulwell, were: Frank Wallace b. 1883 d. 1883, Eliza b. 1884, Francis b. 1886, John William b. 1888 d. 1893 (A/M/J), Edwin b. 1891, John William b. 1893 (A/M/J), Arthur b. 1895, Ethel b. 1899, Clarence b. 1903 and Elsie b. 1906. With the exception of Frank Wallace, Clarence and Elsie, the children were baptised at St Mary & All Souls, John William on 21 June 1893. Frank and his wife were living on Newstead Street, Bulwell, when two of their children were baptised in 1884 and 1886, and at Mill Terrace in February 1891. However, by the time of the 1891 Census they were living at Forest Road, then at Duchess Street, in 1895 when Arthur was baptised and still at Duchess Street when the 1901 Census was compiled. In 1911 the family was living at 82 Latham Street, Bulwell: Frank, a coal miner hewer, his wife Sarah Ann 45 yrs and their children, Francis 24 yrs and Edwin 20 yrs both coal miner hewers, John William 17 yrs a hosiery bleacher, Arthur 15 yrs a hosiery trimmer, and Ethel 12 yrs Clarence 7 yrs and Elsie 5yrs who were all scholars. The eldest daughter, Eliza, had married in 1904. Edwin Warhurst attested in the Royal Artillery in September 1911 on a 12 year Short Service Engagement (6 years with the Colours, 6 years Army Reserve) and joined at Woolwich on 12 September (Service No. 67261). He was discharged on 4 November 1911 on payment of £10 having served for only 57 days. John's father, Frank, committed suicide in October 1919 (see 'Extra information'). His mother, Sarah Ann, died in June 1930.
24th Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) The 24th Bn (2nd Sportsman's) was a battalion of the New Armies and was raised in London in November 1914. In June 1915 it came under command of 99th Brigade, 33rd Division, at Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire. It landed in France to join the British Expeditionary Force in November 1915 and was attached later that month to 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. It transferred to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division in December 1915. The 2nd Division took part in the Battle of The Ancre between 13 and 18 November 1916. John William was reported missing on 13 November but his death was not confirmed until July the following year. He is buried in Redan Ridge Cemetery No 1, Beaumont Hamel, France (grave ref. C.17). John's grave was brought in from battlefields in the area as the cemetery was not made until spring 1917 (see information below). CWGC - History of Redan Ridge Cemetery No. 1 (extract): The village of Beaumont-Hamel is about 24km from the town of Arras. The cemetery 'was named from The Redan, a group of British front-line trenches of 1916. The cemetery was made by the V Corps in the spring of 1917, when these battlefields were cleared. Redan Ridge No.1 is on the top of the Ridge, midway between the old front lines. There are now over 150, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly half are unidentified. Most belonged (with few exceptions) to the 4th Division, which attacked between Beaumont-Hamel and Serre on the 1st July 1916, or to the 2nd, which gained ground here on the 13th November 1916.' (www.cwgc.org.uk)
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Sarah Ann was his sole legatee. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 July 1917: ‘Warhurst. Reported missing November 13th, 1916, now officially reported killed, Private J Will Warhurst, Royal Fusiliers, aged 24. God will link the broken chain closer when we meet again. From sorrowing mother, father, and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 1 August 1917. Photograph with caption: ‘Pte W Warhurst (RF), 32 Latham-st., Bulwell, missing Nov. 13th, 1916, now killed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 3 August 1917: ‘Local Casualties: Missing Now Reported Killed: Royal Fusiliers: Warhurst 3182 JW (Nottm).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 22 November 1919: ‘Out of Work. Distressed Bulwell Miner’s Suicide. Stated to have been depressed because he could not continue his work owing to blood poisoning of his hands, a miner named Frank Warhurst, aged 60, of Latham-street, Bulwell, left home on Sunday, October 19th, and was not seen again until his body was recovered from the river Trent on Thursday. At the inquest held by the City Coroner (Mr CL Rothera) to-day, a son of deceased said his father tried to go back to work on October18th, but was told at the colliery that he need not come again. Deceased seemed very depressed, and on the following Sunday morning was heard walking about the house at three o’clock. After dinner he said he would go out for a walk, He never returned. They made no inquiries about him until about a week later, because they thought he had gone on a visit to his sister at Sutton-in-Ashfield. Deceased’s brother hanged himself whilst out of work some years ago. A verdict of ‘Suicide during temporary insanity’ was recorded.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
