GINN, John



No.34742, Private, John GINN
Aged 37


8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 12th October 1917


John Ginn was born in Cowlinge (Risbridge Q2-1880 4A:543) son of James and Elizabeth GINN (née BRADDY).

1881 census...Aged 11 months, he was at Park Gates Road, Cowlinge with his father James GINN [40] farm labourer; his mother Elizabeth [40]; brothers Charles [16] farm labourer, James [13] and Joseph [5]; 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 (mother now recorded as born in Lidgate); brother Joseph (farm labourer); sisters Ellen and Elizabeth [9] born Cowlinge.

1901 census...Aged 20, a stable lad, he was at Main Street, Cheveley with his uncle James BRADY [52] stud groom, born Cowlinge, his aunt Bessie [60] born Stradishall and his brother Joseph GINN a stable lad. His parents (mother again recorded as born Lidgate) were "near the Green Man" Cowlinge with his sisters Elizabeth and Ellen and a nice Mabel Buel GINN [8 months) born Cowlinge, whose parentage is not known. 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.




He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds and served less than 1 year
The battalion were engaged in the 3rd Ypres, known as Passchendaele, trying to advance toward Poelcappelle despite the appalling weather and terrain. The mud was quite capable of drowning a man who fell. The start tapes were laid from Gloster Farm to Terrier Farm. A heavy enemy barrage accompanied by gas greeted the start of an unsuccessful operation.
The war diaries of the East Surrey Regiment are very lengthy and the 12 Oct can be found here
CWGC records show 92 killed, of which only 18 have identified graves.


The scene of the action



John Ginn is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, panels 79,80 and 163A

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


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