John Henry Plumb

John Henry was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Plumb nee Parker. His father Samuel was born in Lambley, Nottinghamshire, on 19 May 1865 and his mother Elizabeth Parker in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, on 15 December 1867. They were married at St John the Baptist, Tibshelf, in 1883 (O/N/D Mansfield). Their son John Henry was born in Tibshelf in 1887 (O/N/D Mansfield). In 1891 Samuel (27), a coal miner, and Elizabeth (25) were living at Hill Field, Tibshelf, with their children Sarah Frances (6) and John Henry (3). By 1901 they were living at Hardwick Street, Tibshelf, with their three sons including John (13) who was a coal miner ganger. Also in the household was Sarah's widowed father, Henry Parker (62), her sister Emma (23) and brother Samuel (12) who was also a coal miner ganger. John Henry's parents were living at 26 Portland Street, Clowne, at the time the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled, his father was a pensioner. His mother died in 1942 (J/F/M Chesterfield) and his father in 1946 (J/A/S Mansfield). Ellen Bayliss was born in Tibshelf in 1887 (A/M/J Mansfield) the daughter of John and Charlotte Bayliss nee Raynes. Her parents had been married at St John the Baptist, Tibshelf, in 1883 and in 1891 were living at Hill Field, Tibshelf, with their four children including Ellen (4). They were still at the same address in 1901 by which time they had had five more children; Ellen (13) was still living at home. The army service record gives John Henry and Ellen's date of marriage as 13 July 1907 at a register office; they were then living at 53 Heale Street, Clowne near Chesterfield. They had three sons who were born in Clowne: Frederick b. 24 December 1907 (J/F/M Worksop), John Henry b. 1909 (O/N/D Worksop) death registered 1913 (J/F/M Worksop) and Frank b. 1911 (O/N/D Worksop). In 1911 John (24) and Ellen (24) were living on King Street, Hodthorpe, near Whitwell, Derbyshire, with their two sons, Frederick (3) and John Henry (1). Their third son Frank was born later that year while John Henry died three years later in 1914 aged 4 years. John and Ellen returned to live at 53 Heale Street as in 1917 his personal possessions were returned to his widow at this address. However, the later CWGC record gives Ellen's address as Gray's Buildings, King Street, Hodthorpe, near Mansfield. The widowed Ellen married Frank Wheeldon in 1919 (J/F/M Worksop). There is no indication of their address in John's service record; the form listing his surviving blood relatives was destroyed and the receipts Ellen signed in 1921 for his medals do not give an address. Of John and Ellen's two surviving sons: Frederick married Mary Ann Turner Ib. 28 July 1911) at St Lawrence, Whitwell, in 1931 (J/A/S Worksop). In 1939 they were living at The Bungalow, Broad Lane, Clowne. Frenerick was a coal miner ripper and his wife. Frederick died on 24 February 1980 (J/F/M Chesterfield); the probate record gives his address as 143 King Street, Hodthorpe. Frank has not been identified after his details appeared in his father's army record. John's sister, Sarah Frances Plumb married Frederick William Spencer at St John's Clowne, Derbyshire, in 1904 (J/A/S Worksop). In 1911 they were living at 102 Exchange Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham; Frederick Spencer was an assurance agent. By 1916 they were living at 22 Carnarvon Road, West Bridgford.

He was a coal miner.

John Henry joined the 9th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on a short service engagement ('duration of war') at Hamilton, Scotland (18021 Private). On 29 July 1915 he embarked at Folkestone for France with the 3rd Reinforcement, probably disembarking the same day. He joined the 9th Battalion then on 13 August 1915 was attached to an Entrenching Battalion. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers Regiment 'for the purpose of joining 175 Coy. RE' as his trade as a miner meant that he had the necessary qualifications for rating as a tunneller. He was posted as 155927 Sapper. The dates in his service record are confusing but John signed a form on 2 June 1916 agreeing to his transfer to the Royal Engineers. John was wounded (gas), casualty report C979/63074 dated 28 September 1916, but was discharged from hospital on 1 October. He was killed in action just over a week later on 9 October 1916 and was buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi (grave ref. III.G.25). John had served for 1 years 220 days and qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

John Henry Plumb does not appear to have ever lived in Nottinghamshire although his homes in Tibshelf, Clowne and Hodthorpe were close to the Nottinghamshire border and some of the of the births, deaths and marriages were recorded in the Mansfield and Worksop registration districts rather than Chesterfield. CWGC: 'Husband of Ellen Plumb, of Gray's Buildings, King St., Hodthorpe nr. Mansfield.' John's army service record survives ('burnt record') and contains a letter in reply to one sent to the Royal Engineers by his wife, Ellen (not on record), who appears to have had news of John's death from an unofficial source. The letter was sent from the Royal Engineers Record Office, Brompton Barracks, Chatham, October 1916, to Ellen Plumb, 53 Neale Street, Clown (sic) near Chesterfield: ‘Madam, In reply to your letter dated 17/10/16 concerning the illness of our husband, No. 155927, Sapper JH Plumb, RE, I have to inform you that no notification of his death gas been received in this offfice. The latest report is that he was discharged from hospital on 1/10/16. Any information received in this office will immediately be notified to you. I trust you have been wrongly informed. I am, Madam, Yours faithfully (Captain for Colonel i/c RE records)' John's widow, Ellen, received a pension of 22/11d a week w.e.f. 30 April 1917 for herself and two children. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 31 October 1916: ‘Plumb. Killed in action, October 9th, Sapper John Plumb, Royal Engineers, aged 29, ever-loving brother of Mrs Fred Spencer, 22, Carnarvon-road, West Bridgford.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)