John Dawes (1899–1968)

Private

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 85888 3rd Battalion
Royal Defence Corps 64545 9th Battalion

Photos courtesy Maureen Varty

John Dawes c1960s

John Dawes c1960s

Biography
John was born in 1899, the son of John and Margaret Dawes who were publicans at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Crich. He enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters at Derby in May 1917 and was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps in the September of that year. Six months later in March 1918 he was wounded and discharged, having been awarded the Silver War Badge. When John enlisted aged eighteen, his record stated that he was a voluntary enlisted miner under War Office letter 27/ Gen. No. /6110 dated 12th March 1917. John Dawes married Lilian Barnes in 1922 March qtr (Belper reg district)

Site of the Wheatsheaf Pub in Crich

What was once the Wheatsheaf Pub where John Dawes and his family lived.

John Dawes (1899-1968) was the publican of the Cliff Inn at Crich for a number of years from the 1940s. He later became the licensee of the Comrades Club at Crich; his grandson, Ken Dawes, is the present licensee (2017).

John Dawes and family

John Dawes, wife and family at the Comrades Club c1960s
L–R: Lilian (née Barnes), John, Elsie, John (known as Ken), Jennifer

Silver War Badge
64545 Dawes John R.D.C. 485965; enlisted 8/5/17 discharged 20/3/18 aged 18

Army Pension Record
John Dawes attested at Derby 8 May 1917 giving his address as Sheaf House, Crich. He was aged 18 years 4 months; a coal miner. The record states he was a voluntary enlisted miner under War Office letter 27/Gen.no/6110 dated 12 March 1917. His height was 5ft 5in and next-of-kin given as father John William Dawes of Sheaf House Critch.
8/5/17 to 20/3/18 – Home
11/5/17 – posted to 3rd Sherwood Fioresters
14/9/17 – transferred to Royal Defence Corps 9th
20/3/18 – discharged under Para 392 xvi King's Regulations; no longer physically fit for War Service
He received £15 gratuity; 10% disability.

Newspaper report

Derbyshire Courier, 3 November 1917
ILL IN HOSPITAL
Pte. J. Dawes, Crich

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John W Dawes Head 29 Publican Crich
Margaret Dawes wife 30   Crich
Audrey Dawes daughter 5   Crich
John Dawes son 1   Crich
George Curzon servant 55 General worker Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 44 page 7

1911: Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John W Dawes Head 29 Publican Crich
Margaret Dawes wife 30   Crich
Audrey Dawes daughter 5   Crich
John Dawes son 1   Crich
George Curzon servant 55 General worker Crich

RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN152

1939 Register: Oak Cottage, Crich
John Dawes b.4 May 1899; coal lorry driver, heavy work
Lilian Dawes b.6 December 1903
two closed records