John was born on the 16th June 1889 in Deal, Kent to parents John and Eleanor and baptised on 12th February 1890 at St Andrew’s Church in Deal.
He was aged two on the 1891 census, the couple’s only child - the family lived at 12 Duke Street in Deal and John Snr supported his family working as a carpenter.
He can’t be found on the 1901 census and was next recorded on his service sheet who left his job as a warehouseman to join the Navy on 7th August 1906 for 12 years, starting as a Boy 2nd Class. He was 5'3" tall with light hair, brown eyes and a small scar between the knuckles of his first and second finger.
His service is listed:
HMS GANGES - 07/08/1906 - 08/01/1917, rising to Boy 1st Class on 07/11/1906
HMS MAGNIFICENT - 09/01/1917 - 21/05/1907
HMS LONDON - 22/05/1907 - 18/04/1909, rising to Ordinary Seaman on 16/06/1907 and Able Seaman on 03/03/1909
HMS PEMBROKE I - 19/07/1909 - 18/10/1909
HMS CRESSY - 19/10/1909 - 09/05/1910
HMS PEMBROKE I - 10/05/1910 - 30/05/1910
HMS LANCASTER - 31/05/1910 - 04/11/1912, aboard during the 1911 census, stationed in the Mediterranean
HMS PEMBROKE I - 05/11/1912 - 12/12/1912
HMS HECLA - 13/12/1912 - 31/12/1913
HMS DIDO - 01/01/1914 - 16/01/1914
HMS PEMBROKE I - 17/01/1914 - 20/08/1914, rising to Leading Seaman on 01/02/1914
HMS DUNCAN - 21/08/1914 - 30/09/1914
HMS PEMBROKE I - 01/10/1914 - 05/02/1915
HMS EGMONT - 06/02/1915 - 06/02/1916
HMS PEMBROKE I - 07/02/1916 - 30/05/1917, rising to Petty Officer on 1st May 1916, he also married Julia Smith in the Spring of 1916 while based on shore.
HMS VANGUARD - 31/05/1917 - 09/07/1917
John missed participating in the Battle of Jutland and spent just 40 days aboard HMS VANGUARD before he lost his life.
His pension was awarded to his widow Julia following his death, along with his Star, Victory and British war medals. John was awarded the Serbian Silver Medal for "zealous service" during the defence of Belgrade.
(#85 - 454/843)
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
1891 and 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 421
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 008 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/8; Scan Number: 1204
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 111/0515/JOR-JOY
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 107
Photo source-Deal Museum