Name
John Desborough
13/01/1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31242
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France to the missing. Bay 5.
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Village Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour - incorrectly shown as survived
Pre War
John DESBOROUGH was born in Tyttenhanger Park, Herts, on 13th January 1881, son of George William Desborough, a Gamekeeper on the Tyttenhanger Estate and Susannah Desborough (nee Franklin). One of their seven children although on died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 5th June 1881, in Colney-St Peter, Herts.
1881 Census records John aged 3 months living with his parents, brothers George (12), and Arthur (6), sisters Emily (9) and Florence (3) at Tyttenhanger Lodge, Ridge, Herts.
1891 Census, John aged 10, is at school, living with his parents, brother Arthur (16), sisters Florence (13) and Annie (4) at 2 Tyttenhanger Lodge, Colney Heath, Ridge, Hets.
1901 Census, John (20) is working as a Carpenter, living with his parents, sister Annie (14), at 60 Main Road, London Colney, Herts. His nephew Ernest Arthur Desborough (7) is living with the family. His father is recorded as a Retied Gamekeeper.
His father George William Desborough died in the early part of 1904, aged 55.
John married Florence Mary Grimsdell the daughter of Henry and Clara Grimsdell. of Amersham, Bucks, in St Albans in 1905. They went on to have four children Annie Florence, Vera Emily, Beatrice Maud and John.
1911 Census records John (30) as married to Florence, occupation, a House Painter, they have three daughters Annie (5), Vera (2) and Maud (1), living in London Road, London Colney, Herts. His nephew Ernest Desborough (17) a Shop Assistant is living with them.
Wartime Service
John enlisted at Bedford posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment and issued with the service number 31242. On completion of his training John was sent to the Western Front. John was killed in Action on 23rd March 1918, aged 36, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing. Bay 5.
Extract from the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire regiment War Diary
23-3-18. Before dawn the Battalion marched to BUSSU and dug in hastily on the east side of the Village. When both flanks became exposed, the Battalion retied to a line of trenches covering the PERONNE-NURLU Road. After covering the 4/5th Black Watch Regiment on the left the Battalion withdrew to the ST. DENNIS line which was stubbornly defended. The Battalion then retired with difficulty to the line protecting the PERONNE-CLERY Road with the remainder of the 116th Inf. Bde. To cover the retreat of the 117th and 118th Inf. Gdes. When this had been successfully completed under very harassing machine gun fire from the enemy, the Battalion conformed to the general retirement on CLERY Village where it concentrated. The remnants of the Battalion then defended a line of trenches between the village and running down to the river.
Additional Information
Florence was awarded a widow’s pension of 33/9 (£1-13s-09d) a week from 30th December 1918, and a grant of £5, on 19th August 1919, and his war gratuity of £9. At the time Florence was believed to be living at Lorne Cottage, Main Road, London Colney, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
