John William Dann
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John William Dann was born on 9th August 1893, he was baptised on 7th September 1893 at St Marys Church, Nottingham, he was the son of John a frame work knitter and his first wife Hannah born 1860 at Nottingham and the brother of Sarah Ann and Beatrice Dann of 14 Academy Place, Carrington. John Dann was born in 1847 at Skegby he was a frame work knitter In the 1901 census the family are living at 15 Regents Hill, Nottingham, John is 54 yrs and a frame work knitter he is living with his wife Hannah 41 yrs and their 3 children. His father married his second wife Elizabeth Navin in 1895 at Nottingham, she died in 1898 in Nottingham aged 36 yrs.
John William Dann enlisted in Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 26 August 1914. He was 22 years and 351 days of age, 5 feet 3 inches in height. Also noted that he had previously served in Notts and Derby Special Reserve - discharged as medically unfit. Obviously he was fit enough for war service. He was sent to the depot on 29 August and 3rd reserve on 3 September. After training he was posted to 1st battalion in France arriving in theatre on 11 December and was with a draft of 112 other ranks arriving with the battalion on 14 December. At 5 am on 12 March 1915 the Germans shelled Headquarters and attacked in overwhelming numbers. The battalion inflicted heavy losses on the enemy but were forced back to the support trenches some 150 yards to the rear. The battalion then counter attacked and Private Rivers (VC) caused chaos in the enemy ranks with his bombing. The battalion regained the front line trenches by charging the enemy and by 7 am, all of the former line was in their hands. At 3 pm casualties' were suffered in what is now termed 'friendly fire' shelling. Ay 9 pm the battalion withdrew to the support trench and a new defensive line was taken up. At some point John William was killed and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France. John Morse
additional research and information Peter Gillings
