Name
John (Jack) Manning(*1)
Circa 1998
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/7302
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CITADEL NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, FRICOURT
V. A. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary’s Church, Hitchin St Mary’s Church Memorial Book, Hitchin, Not on the Sandon Memorials
Pre War
John, known as ‘Jack’ (John is used here) was born around 1889 in Sandon, Herts and was believed to be christened on 14 April 1889(*1). His parents were Elijah John Manning - born in Sandon, Herts and Winifred M’Dermott born in Athlone, Ireland. They married in Athlone, Ireland in 1881. Elijah had served in the 60th Rifles, enlisting 1879.
They have not been in the 1881 but it seems likely that both Elijah and Winifred were in Ireland and married there after the census.
In 1891 Winifred and children Louisa (9), Daisey (3) and John (Jack) (2) were found living in Sandon (possibly Rushden nearby) in the home of John’s sister, Catholoina Clark (née Manning). John was elsewhere.
In 1901 the family were living at Wallington, Herts. Present were both parents: Elijah (41) and Winifred (now Winnie) (38), Elijah working as a Hay ? (something connected to ‘Hay’). John was 14 and already a farm labourer, Catholoina (10), Charles (7) and Harry (2).
John’s family has not yet been found in the 1911 census(*2).
Jack married Polly Ludford (b 6/3/1891) in Hitchin in 1913. They had a child, Dora Louisa born on 31 May 1914).
In SDITGW he was recorded as born in Sandown (sic Sandon), Herts. and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
John was allocated Regimental Number 4/7302. He served with the 1st Battalion of the Regiment in France and was killed in action, arriving there on 27 December 1914.
He was wounded on 13 June 1915, as medical records for 14 Field Ambulance Hospital record John as 7302 Manning J and a sergeant - although all other records found record him as a private, and that he was admitted on 13 June 1915 with gunshot wound to his face. Later on the same day, he was transferred by sick convoy to No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul on the same day. This may have been a recording error because he was received at No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul on the 14th where the wound was clarified as gunshot wound to his right eye. It appears to record that he was then transferred to No. 10 A T (Ambulance Train?). The wound was serious enough for him to be evacuated, but did not stop him returning to duty after his recovered.
On the 27th September 1916 the Battalion had moved to the ‘Citadel’ in the Somme Sector, a hutted camp. They were out of the line and moving north to a quiet area. In the darkness a plane dropped several bombs. One struck the comer of a hut killing three men and wounding eighteen others. Fires had been lit to dry clothing that had been soaked in a heavy shower. The plane was apparently a frequent visitor to the camp.
He was buried in Plot 5 Row A Grave 9 in the Citadel Military Cemetery in Fricourt in France.
Biography
Additional Information
*1 his full name was probably Elijah John Manning as baptised in Sandon on 14 April 1889.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
