Name
John Albert Weeks
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9335
Royal Fusiliers
20th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
John was born in 1894 in Lambeth, London and baptised on 15 March 1915 in St John the Devine, Kensington. His parents were William Alfred and Eliza (Elizabeth) Edith Weeks (née Sainsbury), they married on 20 March 1890 in St Mary’s Church, Newington: Kennington Park Road, Southwark,.
In 1901 the family were living at 59 Holland Road, Lambeth, London. Present were both parents: William (36) and Eliza (31), with William working as a commission agent working for himself. Their children were: Edith Ethel (9), William Herbert (8) and John Albert (6). Also present was Alice M Sainsbury (24) a sister-in-law, Arthur Sainsbury (16) brother-in-law, and a general domestic servant Eliza M Taylor (16).
By 1911 the family were living at 7 Bedford Road, Clapham Rd, Stockwell S W. Present were both parents, William now working as a dining room proprietor and his wife assisting in the business. The census recorded they had been married for 21 years with 3 children, all living and all present. John was 16 and working as a clerk. A boarder, John Macdonald (24) was also present.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in London and was living in Hitchin, Herts. when he enlisted there.
John’s only association with Hitchin found so far is the SDITGW information above, so we must assume that he moved there after 1911.
Wartime Service
At present we know little of John’s war, but the lack of any sort of ‘Star’ medal recorded on his medals card, means that he did not go abroad un after the start of 1916.
His father died on 13 June 1916 and John about 5 weeks later. However he was first posted as missing and then, later as killed on or since 20 July 1916. On that date his regiment was at near High Wood, in the Martinpuich area od France. On that date his battalion were part of the 19th Brigade and attacking alongside the 1st Cameronians and 5th Scottish Rifles with the 2nd Welsh Fusiliers in reserve. The attack on High Wood commenced at 3:35am. The North corner and North West corner were not taken but the West was and consolidated and they held it until m midnight and they were relieved. Their casualties were 1 senior officer wounded, 4 officers were killed, another missing and another missing believed killed. Of the other ranks 375 men were killed wounded or missing. One of whom was John and his body was never found.
Additional Information
After his death £3 7s 11d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother, Mrs Eliza E Weeks on 31 October 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 26 September 1919.
His pension cards record Mrs E E Weeks as his mother and as his dependant, living at 7 Bedford Road, Clapham, London SW 4. She was awarded a pension of 7s a week from 5 October 1917.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
