John Henry Hallam

John was born in Nottingham in 1899 and was the son of Samuel a coal miner and Edith Hallam nee Froggatt of 28 Newcastle Street, Huthwaite . Samuel was born in 1877 in Nottingham and his wife Edith was born in 1882 also in Nottingham , they were married in December 1895 in the Mansfield Registration district, they went on to have 7 children , sadly one died in infancy prior to 1911, their children were John Henry b1900 Nottingham, Samuel b1904 Mansfield, Ada b1906 Barnsley, Edith b1909 Derby and Alfred b1910 in Huthwaite. In the 1911 census the family are living on New Street, Huthwaite and are shown as , Samuel , head 34 yrs a coal miner , living with him is his wife Edith 29 yrs and their children , John Henry 11 yrs, Samuel 7 yrs, Ada 5 yrs , Edith 2 yrs and Alfred 1 yr.

Formerly a miner at the New Hucknall Colliery,

Huthwaite

John enlisted in April 1918 at Mansfield , he served with service number 116859 with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment before transferring to the 9th battalion, Essex Regiment. He was at the Western Front from August 1918 and within 3 weeks he was wounded on 10th September 1918 and was treated at No XI stationary hospital, Rouen in France where he died the same day. He was buried in grave reference III. H. 23, St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. "His service number precedes Private 49640 Joseph Hadfield, also listed on the same memorial which suggests recruitment of friends or workmates.

Notts. Free Press 20th September 1918 Private - J.H. Hallam, Huthwaite Private John Henry Hallam, 28, Newcastle Street, Huthwaite, formerly a miner at the New Hucknall Colliery, joined the army five months ago, and had been out in France only three weeks when he was killed on September 10th. He was 19 years of age. The following letter has been received:- "You will likely have heard by now the sad news of your son's death in No. XI Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France, on the 10th. inst. The poor bot suffered from a very bad wound in the abdomen. He suffered much, although towards the end he was very weak and seemed to be more or less in an unconscious condition. I think that, under the circumstances, we might almost say that death kindly released him, and we may be sure that having done whar we could and laid down his life for the cause which we believe to be God's, his soul now rests in His holy and safe keeping. The funeral took place in the St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, with military honours, and the number of his grave is 6293. If you would like a photo of the spot with the little wooden cross, apply to Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries, War office, Winchester House, St. James' Square, London, S.W., and give all particulars-name, number, rank, regiment, cemetery and grave number. Yours very sincerely, and with deepest sympathy and prayers that Almighty God may comfort and sustain you in your dark day of loneliness and grief. - G. A. Johnston, C. F.