Name
John Charles William Page
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265542
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL
XII. E. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial,
Hatfield In Memoriam Book,
St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
John Charles Page was the son of John (senior) and Mary Page, later of 1, Gracemead Cottage, Newtown, Hatfield, Herts. He was born in Finchely circa 1895.
In the 1901 Census: John Page, aged 6, was living with his parents and Siblings at 6, Ford Terrace, Finchley, Middx. His father was working as signalman linesman. By 1911 John, now aged 17 was still living with his parents and siblings, but now at 1 Gracemead Cottage, Newtown, Hatfield. John was a lad porter with the railway company. His father now a signal fitter with the railway.
John was originally Private 2602, Hertfordshire Regiment, indicating that he had joined the Herts Territorials probably late 1913.
Officially recorded as born in Finchley Middx. and was living in Hatfield Herts., when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
As a Herts Territorial John was mobilised for Home service immediately that war was declared. Although not required to serve overseas many volunteered and John was one of those and land in France on the 6th November 1914. When the numbering system was revised in 1917 he received the new service number, 265542.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised form Hatfield: “Page, J. – Gracemead – 1st Herts. Territorials.”
Then in July 1915 it reproduced some extracts from letters sent from the Front, one from John Page on June 19th 1915:
“I was pleased to hear about Sergt. Lomax, I hope the report is right he will be the first Territorial N.C.O. to get the V.C. I heard that six of our chaps have been recommended for the D.C.M. for the last affair, the three who got them the other day, got them for the job at the brickfields when Sergt. O’Leary of the Irish guards got his V.C. I hope they got them we can do with a few D.C.M. men in our regiment and D.S.O.s too as the officers deserve something as well as the men. We have got, up-to-date, four D.C.M.s and I hope before the war is over we shall get a few more.......
John Page
More news in September 1916: “Missing – John Page, 1st Herts., attached to 10th Essex Regt.
“The Missing – Words cannot express how much warm feelings there is for the parents of the “missing”. Mr and Mrs. V. Austen, Mr and Mrs. Page, and Mr and Mrs. Panter. One realises what the anxiety must be while waiting for news. We pray with them that his longed-for news may soon come, and they may yet hear that their sons are safe and sound,” and finally in October 1916: “Relatives of the four “missing” Hatfield soldiers, Private Austin, Page, Panter and Skeggs, still maintain their courage and hopefulness, but it is an agonising time for them.”
The Herts Advertiser dated 12th May 1917, reported: “NINE MONTHS OF SUSPENSE: On July 20th 1916 Pte John Charles William Page of the 1st Herts. Regt, attached to the 10th Essex Regiment was reported missing. After nine months of anxiety and suspense his mother has received from the War Office that her son was killed on that date."
Awarded Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914 Star. Mrs M. Page applied for the clasp to the Star on 17th May 1920.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Page of 1 Gracemead Cottages, Hatfield received an “in Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Brother of Ernest James Augustus Page who also died.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
