South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Caterpillar Valley Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 18 Jul 1915 in France | ~ | Bishops Itchington |
| Harbury | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Leek Wootton |
| Battle of Delville Wood (Somme) | Septemeber 1914 in Warwick | |
| Other War Memorials | ||
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | ~ |
| near Le Petit Bazentine | ~ | |
Circumstances of Death
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John is listed as being killed in action on 30 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme at Delville Wood. The 10th Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below:
Trenches - 30-7-16 - Sunday: During the night of 29th/30th a patrol went out to ascertain the amount of wire the enemy had in front of his line. The patrol returned safely and reported that the wire was well cut.
Zero hour was fixed for 6.10pm and there was to be an intense bombardment for one minute at 6:09pm as a matter of fact there was heavy shelling by both sides for quite one hour before the assault which rather upset things.
At one minute to zero the Coys, who were now all in the front line, crept out under the barrage, B&C making the first line A&D Coys the 2nd line. A, B and C Coys reached their objectives D Coy were stopped halfway by heavy M.G. Fire and lack of officers (casualties). Nevertheless they were led up into the line later. Meanwhile urgent messages came down to Batt HQ for reinforcements and more munitions. The H.Q Coy was then sent out to support and the Coys began consolidating. About 20 prisoners were taken and a machine gun, the majority of the prisoners being killed by their own shell fire together with their escort on the way back. The S.W. Borderers then went up and the communication trench was dug back to our original line. The Batt got into touch with the Kings Own Regt on the right but had no one on our left as the 10th Worcesters had failed. We were in fact the only Batt in the Bde who had gained their objectives. The shelling all through was very severe. END |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 11 Dec 1889 in Bishops Itchington | ~ |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Christopher Constable (step-father) and Rachel Morgan | Binswood End, Harbury |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1889 - Bishops Itchington | 1901 - School age |
| 1891 - High Street, Bishops Itchington | 1911 - Labourer at Cement Works |
| 1901 - Lower End, Bishops Itchington (with uncle) | 1914 - Cement Works? |
| 1911 - Bishops Itchington (boarder) | |
| 1914 - Binswood End, Harbury | |
- We have not been able to establish a firm connection to Leek Wootton. The Leek Wootton History Group notes that his maternal aunt
we Hannah Edwards nee Morgan of Leek Wootton and that a possible cousin, Alice Morgan, was a kitchen maid at Wootton Court. - John's father is not named on his birth certificate and his mother Rachel is noted as being a Domestic Servant. It took nearly two
months for his birth to be registered. - In the 1891 census of Bishops Itchington it is clear that his mother Rachel had married Christopher Constable