No. 34742, Private, John GINN
Aged 37
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This is the only J.Ginn appropriate to our search on CWGC or "Soldiers Died". If indeed this is he, then it follows that as a civilian, he is the man below.
No connection with the Westley Waterless has been found, the nearest being Cheveley. The pension cards add nothing n the way of explanation, this is the best we can do.
Born in Cowlinge on 20th April 1880 ( Risbridge Q2-1880 4A:543), son of James and Elizabeth GINN (née BRADEY) 1881 census...Aged 11 months, he was at 11 Park Gate Road, Cowlinge, with his father James GINN [4], farm labourer; mother Elizabeth [40]; brothers Charles [26] farm labourer, James [13] and Joseph [5], and sisters Ada [9], Ann [7] and Ellen [3]. They were all born in Cowlinge. 1891 census...Aged 10, he was at Park Road,Cowlinge with his parents, brother Joseph (labourer), sisters Ellen and Elizabeth [9] born Cowlinge, and a visitor Richard Braddy [60] born Lidgate. 1901 census...Aged 20, a stablelad, he was at Main Street,Cheveley with brother Joseph, staying with his uncle and aunt James and Bessie Bradey. His uncle was a stud groom. His parents were now 'near the Green Man', Cowlinge, (his mother now recorded as born Lidgate) with sisters Elizabeth and Ellen and their granddaughter Mabel Bush GINN [8 months], born in Cowlinge. In 1907 he married Sarah BOWTER (b.1-7-1879). 1911 census...Aged 31, a labourer, he was at Park Road, Cowlinge with his wife Sarah [31] born Stradishall and their two sons, Charles Leslie (b.12-6-1907) and Harry John (b. 20-3-1910) both born in Cowlinge. The pension card records another son, Hugh Joseph (b. 14-4-1912), his family living at Park Road still. |
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Enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. "Soldiers Died" has him born in Cowlinge. Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour has this to say of him: "GINN, John, Private, No.34742, 8th (Service) Battn. The East Surrey Regt.,son of the late James Ginn of Cowlinge by his wife Elizabeth: born Cowlinge, Newmarket, co. Cambridge, 20 April 1880:educ. Cowlinge Village School; was a labourer: enlisted in the East Surrey Regt. 14 Dec.1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from 1 Aug.1917, and was killed in action at Poelcappelle 12 Oct. following. Buried on the battlefield. Second Lieut. Fred W.Lovell wrote: " He was a great favourite with his comrades, who sadly miss him and on more than one occasion he has done his duty under most difficult and trying circumstances, and set a good example to the younger soldiers." He m. at Cowlinge Church, Sarah (Park Road, Cowlinge, co. Suffolk) dau. of Charles Bowyer, and had three sons; Leslie Charles, b.12 June 1907; Harry John, b. 20 March, 1910, and Hugh Joseph, b. 14 April, 1912." The war diary of the 8th East Surreys is far too long for this article, see here ..... but in essence, from getting lost on the way to their jumping off point, (tape from Gloster Farm to Terrier Farm) floundering in the mud, ineffective barrage from our artillery and suffering a great number of casualties, the episode was a disaster. They were actually in the region of Gloster Farm (many failing to get even 100 yards forward), and suffering from a machine gun post shown below. Their objective was the green line shown. |
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