Private
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) | 85888 | 3rd Battalion |
Royal Defence Corps | 64545 | 9th Battalion |
Photos courtesy Maureen Varty
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)
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, 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
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
two closed records