Corporal
Royal Field Artillery | 231252 | 218 Brigade; 1104 Battery |
Photos courtesy Elizabeth Griffiths
Biography
John William was born in 1885 to Samuel and Eliza Else of Crich. John, employed as a frame minder at Lea Mills, married Ethel M Martin in 1913 March qtr (Belper reg district). Joining the army on 10th April 1917 aged thirty-three, he was posted to India where he received parcels of hosiery, writing paper and food from J.B. Marsden-Smedley, his employer. He at Kingsway Camp, Delhi, India when he received the parcels of hosiery in December 1917 and groceries in January 1918. Distance and duties meant that his replies were delayed. The hosiery was acknowledged in a letter when he wrote of ‘a very useful parcel and also thank you for the undershirts and writing paper which was forwarded on to me by my wife.’ The food was provided by Austin’s of Derby.
He was photographed with the regimental football team in India.
On Crich Roll of Honour and in the Lea Mills parcels book he is listed as “Driver John William Else”, but the photograph of him with the footballers indicates that he was a Corporal.
During the war a set of three postcards was produced by Lea Mills showing men who had volunteered. John was one of those men featured on the postcards.
Lea Mills postcard
Lea Mills postcardsHe returned to Crich after demob and to his employment at Lea Mills. An application had been made for his return to the factory by August 1919. J.B. Marsden-Smedley, the managing director of Lea Mills, had promised all returning servicemen their jobs back when war ended.
Medal Roll Index Cards
Awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Letter to JB Marsden-Smedley
Delhi
March 14th 1918
Dear Sirs
I beg to acknowledge your parcel just received for which I am very thankful I think it was a very useful parcel & also thank you for the undershirts & writing paper which was forwarded onto me by my wife it is nice to think you think of us out here I am very pleased to say I am in the best of health & spirits also wishing you the same & every success to Lea Mills again thanking you
Yours truly
J W Else
His brother James Frederick Else is also on the Roll of Honour.
1901: The Common, Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel | Else | Head | 45 | Steel wire drawer | Crich |
Eliza | Else | wife | 43 | Holloway | |
Sam | Else | son | 18 | Coal miner | Crich |
Eliza | Else | daughter | 17 | Cotton winder | Crich |
Jno W | Else | son | 15 | Woollen weaver | Crich |
James F | Else | son | 4 | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 60 page 6
1911: Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel | Else | Head | 56 | Iron & steel wire drawer | Crich |
Eliza | Else | wife | 53 | Holloway | |
Eliza | Else | daughter | 27 | Wool & cotton winder | Crich |
John William | Else | son | 25 | Hosiery frame minder | Crich |
James Frederick | Else | son | 14 | Loop twister wire mills | Crich |
RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN53
1918 Voters List
John William Else, The Common, absent on military service.
1939 Register: The Dimple, Crich
John Else b.25 November 1885; hosiery overlooker
Ethel M Else b.4 June 1888; school teacher
Roy Else b.12 March 1916; tool draughtsman