John Henry Widdowson

John Henry (known as Jack) was the son of William and Barbara Widdowson (née Cooke). His father William was born in Nottingham in August 1856 and his mother Barbara Cooke was born in Daybrook, Arnold, Nottingham, in December 1856, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Cooke. They were married at Sneinton St Mathias in July 1876 and probably had nine children at least one of whom died in childhood. With the exception of Mabel, who was born in Nottingham, the children were born in Sneinton: Alice b. 1876, Emma b. 1878, Edward b. 1880, William b. 1883, Mary Elizabeth b. 1885, Sarah b. 1888 d. 1889, Thomas b. 1890 bap. Sneinton St Alban August 1890, Mabel b. 1892 and John Henry b. 1896 (J/A/S). In 1881 William (24) a mechanic, Barbara (24) and their daughter Alice (4) were living with Barbara's parents at 79 Manvers Street, Sneinton. In 1890, when Thomas was baptised, the family was living at 25 South Street, Nottingham, but at Sneinton Terrace, Kingston Street, Sneinton, by the following year when the census was taken. William and Barbara were living with her widowed mother. They now had six children, another child, Sarah, had died in 1889: Alice, Emma (12), Edward (10), William (7), Mary (5) and Thomas (under 1 year). William, now an iron foundry labourer, and his wife were living at 46 Queen's Grove, Meadows, Nottingham, in 1901. Seven children were in the home on the night of the census: Emma a yarn winder, Edward an iron foundry fitter, William (18) a coal miner, Mary an errand girl, Thomas, Mabel (9) and John (5). Alice has not yet been traced after the 1891 census. By 1911 the family had moved to 13 Bosworth Terrace, Briar Street, Meadows. William was an out of work hawker. Only three of their sons were still at home: William a loader (coal mine), Thomas who was also an out of work hawker and John. Emma may have married Horace R. Hickling in 1904, Edward had married Florence Hudson at Nottingham St Andrew in 1902 and Mabel had married Robert Gladwin in 1910. Mary Elizabeth has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. William and Barbara later lived at 7 Spring Close, Old Lenton, and were still at the same address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Barbara died in 1940. At least two of his brothers served in the war, Edward and William who was also killed. (See 'Extra information.')

1911 - school. 1914 - coal miner

Enlisted Mansfield

7th Bn Leicestershire Regiment John Henry Widdowson enlisted at Mansfield on 28th August 1914. He gave his age as 19 yrs and 80 days, occupation coal miner. He landed in France on 29th July 1915. John died at No. 19 Casualty Clearing Station on 11th June 1916 from wounds received in action earlier that day. He was buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1. (grave reference: II B 5). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1 (extract): the town of Doullens is about 30km from Amiens. 'From the summer of 1915 to March 1916, Doullens was a junction between the French Tenth Army on the Arras front and the Commonwealth Third Army on the Somme. The citadelle, overlooking the town from the south, was a French military hospital, and the railhead was used by both armies. In March 1916, Commonwealth forces succeeded the French on the Arras front and the 19th Casualty Clearing Station came to Doullens, followed by the 41st, the 35th and the 11th. By the end of 1916, these had given way to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital (which stayed until June 1918) and the 2/1st Northumbrian Casualty Clearing Station.' (www.cwgc.org)

Two of John's brothers also served in the war. Edward attested on 27 November 1914 and served in the Royal Engineers (7139 Sapper) but was discharged on 20 January 1915, 'not likely to become an efficient soldier,' probably on medical grounds. William served with the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters (32652 Private) and was killed in action on 19 April 1918. (See record on this Roll of Honour)