Name
John Batchelor
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/12/1917
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
78233
Royal Garrison Artillery
156th Siege Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
VI. BB. 42
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
ALL IS WELL
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Plaque, Berkhamsted, St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Yarcombe, Somerset
Pre War
(Thomas) John Batchelor was born in 1882 in Hawridge Bucks, the son of George and Emily Batchelor. Although his name was registered as Thomas John, he seems to have always been known as John.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Chesham Lodge, Wigginton, Herts where his father was working as a gardener labourer.
He married Constance Elizabeth Boden in 1910 in Shifnal, Shropshire and on the 1911 Census they were living at Crane Hill Lodge, Cornbury Park, Charlbury, Oxfordshire where he was working as an under gamekeeper.
On enlistment he gave his address as Keeper's Cottage, Yarcombe, Chard, Somerset. (His widow later gave her address on pension records as 68 Gossoms End, Berkhamsted.)
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Axminster, Devon on 8 December 1915 and was placed into the Army Reserve, being mobilised on 2 May 1916. After training he left from Folkestone, Kent on 9 September 1916 en route for Boulogne and served as Gunner 78233 with the 156th Royal Garrison Artillery.
He died of (gas) wounds in France on 26 December 1917 at 64th Casualty Clearing Station which had been stationed at Mendingham since June 1917. He is buried in Mendingham Military Cemetery,
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £7 and pay owing of £8 17s 10d. She also received a pension of 13s 9d a week. She was living at 68 Gossoms End, Berkhamsted, Herts., when she ordered his headstone inscription: "ALL IS WELL".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jo Bayley
