NUNN, John Robert Salisbury


No.20754, Private, John Robert Salisbury NUNN
Aged 32


1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Thursday, 28th June 1917


John Robert Salisbury Nunn was born in Burnt Fen on 16th September 1884 (Ely Q4-1884 3B:563), son Robert Charles and Hephzibah Ann NUNN (née BUTCHER).

He attended Adelaide Bridge Junior Middle School in 1889

1891 census...Aged 6, he was at The Drove, Middle Fen, Ely with his father Robert NUNN [32] farm labourer born Horringer, Suffolk; his mother Hephzibah (Epsapy)[29] born Burnt Fen; brothers William [10] and Arthur [8] both born Burnt Fen.

1901 census...Aged 16, farm labourer, he was at Soham Road, Stuntney with his parents; brothers William and Arthur,both farm labourers, and sister Hannah J. born Chettisham, Cambs.

On 13th April 1907 in Soham, he married Eliza PEACOCK [27-8-1885], the sister of Fred PEACOCK- see here



1911 census... Aged 26 a farm labourer, he was at The Shade, Soham with his wife Eliza [25] born Stuntney. They went on to have a son, John William NUNN, born 25th November 1912 at The Cotes, Soham.

His widow re-married to Thomas POWELL and lived 18 Bushel Lane, Soham.

Army family form completed by Eliza on 26th May 1919 gave his parents as being at Bray's Lane, Ely, brother Charles William [37] at Common Road, Ely, brother Arthur [36] at Stuntney, sister Hannah Jane SMITH [26] at Qua Fen Common, Soham.

His son, John William NUNN was killed in the RAF in 1943- see here



He enlisted in Newmarket, attested Bury St Edmunds 29th June 1916 and posted No.20754 to the 10th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He gave his age as 31 years, stood 5 feet 8 inches (172.7 cm)tall, weighed 159 lbs (72.1 kg), chest 39.5" to 42" (100.3 to 106.7 cm).
On 1st September he joined the 3rd battalion before embarking at Folkestone for Boulogne and the BEF. There, from the Base Depot, he was transferred to the 1st battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Detached to the 251st Tunnelling Coy,.Royal Engineers on 21st December 1916, he returned to the 1st battalion on 23rd January 1917.
On 10th June 1916 he reported to 13 Field Ambulance, diagnosed P.U.O. ie Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (Army medical speak for don't know) and returned to unit on 13th June. On 28th he was recorded as killed in action. His body was never identified.

In this attack on Oppy Wood, the Norfolk were left of centre, going over in two waves at 7:10 pm. They suffered some casualties from "shorts" of our own artillery but reached their objective with a little opposition and progressed 80 yards into the wood, capturing some 7o Germans before consolidating their position at 9 pm. Their losses were 15 killed, 46 wounded.
Below is the line (yellow) that was their first objective.



Local press report:-
Mrs. Nunn, of Cotes Cottages, has been informed of the sad news that her husband, Pte John Robert Nunn, Norfolk Regt.,was killed in action on June 28th. He enlisted in June 1916, and about 7 months later went out to France.A letter conveying the sympathy and regret of his fellow comrades in the loss they have sustained by his unfortunate death has been received by the widow, who is left with one little child.




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



John Nunn is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens, bay 3

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

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