No.3/8285, Corporal, John WEBB
Aged 42
6th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards)
Killed in Action on Saturday, 21st August 1915
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The CWGC have his age wrong, he was 42 years old.
John William WEBB, was born in Burwell in 1874 (Newmarket Q4-1874 3B:518) baptised in St Mary's on 28th October 1874, son of John and Sarah WEBB (née BIRD). 1881 census...Aged 6, he was at Church Lane, High Town, Burwell with his widower father John WEBB [36] a farm labourer, aunt Elizabeth WEBB [24] single; sisters Elizabeth [11] and Rose [5], brothers Fred [9] and Bertram[6]. All were born in Burwell. His mother appears to have died in Q3-1880 aged 34. Father then seems to have married Anna Maria BARBER (Newmarket Q3-1884 3B:897). 1891 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at High Town, Burwell with his father, stepmother Anna M [48] born Whitechapel, London; sister Rosa [15] 1901 census...Not found in this census, presumably abroad in the Army. His father and step-mother were at Isaccson's Corner, Burwell.. 1911 census...Not found in this census. Father and step-mother were at Isaacson's Corner, Burwell, father a labourer on heath for Jockey Club. His sole legatee was his niece Miss Florence M Jenkins |
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Believed to be 3515 Corporal John Webb, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who enlisted in May 1893 and served 18 years, 12 of them in India. Discharged (aged 36) at his own request in May 1911, intending to reside at Chapel Haddlesey, Selby, Yorks. The Newmarket Journal of 23rd October 1915 stated:- KILLED IN ACTION - Corporal John Webb, 6th Yorkshire Regiment, youngest son of Mr. John Webb of Isaacson's Corner, was killed in the Dardanelles, at the age of 42, on August 21st. He was an old soldier, and formerly belonged to the Suffolk Regiment, in which he served for 14 years in India. On leaving the Army he became a postman in Scarborough, but when war broke out he rejoined the colours. He was in the Boys' School under the care of Mr. Harries, 25 years ago. His father, who has also lost a grandson in the Life Guards at the front, was the recipient of a beautifully printed address from the Post Master General on October 19th 1915, and is as follows "General Post Office, London, 1915. I desire to express my deep regret at the death of Mr. John Wm.Webb, who, after four years of faithful service to the State as an officer of the Post Office, has lost his life while serving his country in war - HERBERT SAMUEL, Postmaster General". "Soldiers Died" has him born in Cambridge, enlisted in Scarborough, while resident in Bridlington. Most likely he was killed in action during the attempt by 11th Division to capture "W" Hills, south of the Anafarta Spur on the 21st August 1915, as part of the Battle of Scimitar Hill. The opening barrage looked terrific but achieved nothing prior to the attack at 3:00 pm and the 11th Division attempt to capture the "W" Hills collapsed in confusion when confronted by murderous counter fire and artillery fire from an Ottoman strong point. By 5:00 pm the attack had failed. As a consequence when the 1st battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers managed to capture the summit of Scimitar Hill they found themselves under fire from the defenders higher up the Antafarta Spur to the eat and from W Hills to the south. The Irish were forced to retreat from the summit while the undergrowth around them was set on fire by the shellfire, incinerating the wounded as they lay helpless.The Scimitar Hill battle was a massive failure, with appalling losses of over 5,000 allied soldiers killed. The 6th Yorkshire suffered 50 killed, only 6 of them with an identified grave. |
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