John Duesbery (Sherwood Foresters) killed on Somme
Casualty Search Results
Letters and postcards to mother during the war
Letter from Infantry Record Office, Lichfield informing of death
Letter from British Red Cross
Newspaper extract of John and brother Ernest
Letter from War Office, Imperial Institute
Letter from Minstry of Pensions
Birth Certificate
Pocket book with last letter to mother
Various medals incl 2nd Sherwood Foresters badge
Map of where Foresters were in action
Photos of War Memorial at Swinefleet x3
Photographs of John x2
Commonwealth War Graves Commission letter
Book of postcards: Lan Grande Guerre 1914-17; Arras Apres le Bombardement
The Somme: Peter Barton page 308 shows the likely position of body
Letter from Peter Barton to Kenneth Duesbery.
Plaque sent to parents when deceased
.
John Duesbery was from Swinefleet, Goole. His surname is spelt incorrectly as Dewsbury on the medals, and also sometimes in the official documents. He joined 2nd Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) as a machine gunner, in March 1915 (army number 18260). He fought and died in Battle of the Somme, in the attack near Guillemont, September 15, 1916, aged 25.
A letter was sent to his mother on 22nd August 1917, saying that it was assumed he had been killed in action on September 15, 1916, or later. More official correspondence ensued, and finally a pocket book with his last letter to his mother was found on his body and returned to the family (some time after November 1917). It contained the last letter to his mother, written while lying mortally wounded in a shell hole at the Somme. The story has been used in Peter Barton's book, The Somme. John Duesbery has no known grave, and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
See also the entry for his brother Ernest (BL96)
John Duesbery
Reproduction of map from The Somme page 308, by Peter Barton (book originally published 2006), showing location of John Duesbery's body. He was a private in the Notts & Derbyshire Regiment, and was reported missing on 15.9.1916. The original document was sent to his mother on 22nd August 1917, saying that no further news having been received, they concluded he was dead.
Map showing location of John Duesbery's body, from Barton's book, The Somme
Book
Reproduction of map from The Somme, page 309, by Peter Barton (book originally published 2006), showing location of John Duesbery's body. He was a private in the Notts & Derbyshire Regiment, and was reported missing on 15.9.1916. The original document was sent to his mother on 22nd August 1917, saying that no further news having been received, they concluded he was dead.
Official document
Sherwood Forester roll, with John Duesbery's date of death
Letter from British Red Cross re John Duesbery
Letter
Letter assuming that he had been killed in action, now that a year has passed without further news.
Memoir
Photos of war memorial at Swinefleet
John Duesbery, Sherwood Foresters
Studio photograph of John Duesbery, Sherwood Foresters in uniform, probably early 1915.
Photograph
Studio photograph of John Duesbery, Sherwood Foresters
Studio photograph of John Duesbery, Sherwood Foresters, probably early 1915.
Map of where Foresters were in action
Map
Somme
Letter to his mother telling him of enlistment, and written early 1915. He advises her to apply for an allowance that is payable to soldiers who don't have a father.
Letter of 1915 from John Duesbery to his mother
Letter of 25th June 1915 from John Duesbery to his mother
Letter of 18 July 1916 from John Duesbery to his mother
Trench Life
Letter of 2nd Aug 1916 from John Duesbery to his mother
Letter of 31st August from John Duesbery to his mother. I think it is best to tell you we are to make a Big Charge this next month about 10th Sept. ... so if you do not happen to hear from me you will know that there is something the matter
Letter of 31st August 1916 from John Duesbery to his mother
Artillery
Letter of 19th August 1916 from John Duesbery to his mother
Field Service post card of 23rd Aug 1916
Postcard
Letter of 3rd Sept 1916 from John Duesbery to his mother
Lichfield
Letter from Infantry Record Office, Lichfield, informing of death
Other
Newspaper cutting of John Duesbery's death
Includes the following information
o amount due from Army funds to his estate; and he officer in charge of Infantry has been instructed to forward to you any person effects and he late soldier executed a valid military will udner which you are the sole legatee
Letter from War Office, Imperial Institute re John Duesbery's accounts and personal effects
London
Deutsch
arras
Bombing of Arras
Book of postcards: Arras after the bombing
Book of postcards. Printed on cover: La Grande Guerre 1914-17. Serie 9. Arras Apres le Bombardement. Cartes postales detachables.
On verso: Made by Levy, fils et Cie, Paris.
Letter requesting copyright permissions for reproduction of portions of the archive for his book The Somme. This was published in 2006.
Letter from Peter Barton to Kenneth Duesbery re the John Duesbery archive
Bradford
Email correspondence which includes pieces from the diary of Lieutenant Brandt, detailing events of 10 Sept
Email from Peter Barton to Kenneth Duesbery re diary of Lt. Brandt.
Memorabilia
Pocket book found on John Duesbery's body
John Duesbery's last letter to his mother, written from the Somme
John Duesbery's last letter from the Somme
Page from the pocket book found on John Duesbery's body. It is the last letter to his mother, written while lying mortally wounded in a shell hole at the Somme. It is deeply moving, showing great courage, patriotism and love for his mother and family. It is written in the same cheerful, direct style that he wrote all his letters, and it is remarkable that he managed to write it with such composure.
Medal
John Duesbery's medals
CONTRIBUTOR
Kenneth Duesbery
great nephew of John
DATE
1915-03-21 - 1916-09-15
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
128
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
Discover Similar Stories
James Killer-Hawley | the Devil’s Own | and the Sherwood Foresters
7 Items
In the transcript attached, Tony Killer Hawley gives an insightful profile of his father James, a law student and Derbyshire man affiliated with the Inns of Court regiment (historically known as 'the Devil's Own'). James was an introvert whose War injuries caused dangerous internal damage, which he only tentatively discussed.Contributed via Age Exchange (http://www.age-exchange.org.uk) as part of the Children of the Great War project (http://www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk) at a collection day at Age Exchange, UK. To see all material contributed by Age Exchange, or to see more contributions from this collection day, follow the links at http://www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk/archive.html - For further information email: greatwar@age-exchange.org.uk || Interview transcript and photographs || || James Killer-Hawley in uniform || James Killer-Hawley || Photograph || || James Killer-Hawley with comrades || Photograph || || Photograph || James Killer-Hawley with comrades || James Killer-Hawley || || James Killer-Hawley || Interview || Interview with Tony Killer-Hawley
Frank Langton Wilkinson | killed on the Somme
1 Item
Photograph of the regiment. Close up of Frank from the above. Death plaque issued to the family. || Frank Langton Wilkinson was the contributor's uncle. He was killed on the Somme in September 1916. Born in 1897, and joined the West Yorkshire Regiment as a Private, possibly in early to mid 1916. He has no known grave.
Trevor Richards | Royal Naval Division | killed on the Somme
1 Item
A photograph of Philip Richards, approximately 5 years old, returned with the possessions of Trevor Richards (Bristol Z/171, Howe Battalion, RND) killed at the Battle of the Ancre, 13 November 1916. || The attached photograph is one of two possessions returned from AB Trevor Richards, b. 22/11/1895 from Penyrheol, Gorseinon, Wales, who was killed on the Somme on 13 November 1916 (Bristol Z/171, Howe Battalion, RND). It is a photograph of his younger brother, my grandfather Philip Richards, who would have been around 5 years old at the time. He is dressed in a sailor suit due to his older brother, Trevor, serving in the Royal Naval Division.