FULLER, John William


No. 45345, Corporal, John William FULLER
Aged 29


Machine Gun Corps
Died of his Wounds on Saturday, 12th February 1921


John William Fuller was born in Burwell on 6th April 1891 (Newmarket Q2-1891 3B:561), baptised on 3rd March 1893 in St Andrew's Chapel, Burwell, son of George and Sarah Jane FULLER (née BENTLEY).

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Heath Road, Burwell with his father George FULLER [37] cow man on farm; his mother Sarah Jane [36]; brothers Watson [15] shepherd's boy and Harry [4]; sisters Florence [12] and Ada M. [7]. They were all born in Burwell.

1911 census...Aged 19, hotel waiter, he was at Heath Road, Burwell with his parents; brothers Watson (farm labourer) and Harry (stock boy) and sister Ada May. Also brothers George [9], Joseph [5] and Bertram [5], all born in Burwell. All eight children survived.

On 16th September 1916, aged 27 ?, he married Ethel Daisy TUCKER [28] (b. 29-2-1888 (15 Elgar Road, Reading), at St. Giles' Church, Reading. They had two children, Olive Sarah May [1915-1983] and John "Jack" Arthur (1916-1995).

Strangely the pension card has no mention of the children.

Thanks to his grand-daughter Pamela Rice we have more details:-
John lived at Parsonage Lane (1891), 70 Heath Road (1901 and 1915) and Hythe Lane (1921).Prior to enlistment he was a domestic valet. His widow Ethel re-married to Frederick A. Ridgeon in 1925 and remained in Burwell.
It seems he enlisted in the Suffolk regiment and was transferred on 28th July 1916, There are indications he was in the 149th Company MGC. His grand-daughter says they understand he was shot in the ankle towards the end of the war and lay out for several days, alone, until found by the Germans. (He is not recorded by the International Red Cross as a prisoner of war). However apparently gangrene set in and he had a number of operations to remove more of his leg. He seemingly had not been discharged from the Army by 24th April 1920.


It is not known where he enlisted or where and when he was wounded.

Newmarket Journal of February 26, 1921, under Burwell news is this item:-
"Death of an ex-soldier - We record with regret the death of one of Burwell's war heroes Mr John Wm Fuller who passed away on the 14th inst at Addenbrooke's Hospital, aged 29 years leaving a widow and two young children. Mr Fuller who was much respected had a leg amputated and subsequently suffered from phthisis. The interment took place on Thursday of last week in the churchyard after a service conducted by the Rev J W Upton in the Congregational Church. There was a very large attendance and general sympathy is felt with the widow and children."

Phthisis is a term often used in those days for any disease which caused wasting of the body, now generally known as tuberculosis.



John Fuller, pre war and on his crutches at the Burwell Victory Parade



photo:- Pamela Rice 2014


John Fuller is buried in Burwell (St Mary's) Churchyard
The exact location is not known hence the inscription along the top of the headstone which was dedicated on 12th June 2014

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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