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