| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
John Wilfred Churchill, son of Nehemiah Churchill and his wife Hannah, nee Plumb, was born 6 Jun 1885 at Netherton, near Dudley, Worcestershire, his father was employed as a labourer in an iron furnace. Shortly after John's birth the family moved to Ashfordby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire where they spent a couple of years, before settling in Cransley, near Kettering in Northamptonshire. In 1901 John Churchill was employed as a shoe-hand to a bootmaker
John enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment at Northampton Jan 1905. In 1911 he was stationed with the 3rd Battalion at the Regimental Depot, Queensgate Barracks, Beverley. Following nine year's service with the East Yorkshires, John was discharged in Jan 1914 and was placed on the Reserve List. After a short period of leave spent with his married sister, Hannah near Chesterfield, he joined the East Yorkshire Constabulary on 16 Feb 1914. Number 137, Police Constable John Churchill, was described as “much respected and a thoroughly trustworthy man”, he was based at Cottingham Police Station, Finkle Street.
On 5 Aug 1914, 8109 Lance Corporal John Churchill was recalled to the colours and rejoined the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshires (18th Brigade, 6th Division). The Battalion mobilised at twenty minutes notice on 7 Aug 1914. The 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, part of the British Expeditionary Force, embarked at Southampton on the S.S. Cawdor Castle and arrived at St Nazaire on the 9 Sep 1914. Between 13 Oct and 2 Nov 1914 the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshires was engaged in the Battle of Armentiers. During the British attack on enemy forces at Paradis Ridge on 18 Oct 1914 Lance Corporal John Churchill was killed.
John Churchill has no known grave. His name is remembered on Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainault, Belgium and on the East Yorkshire Regiment Memorial in Beverley Minster. He is also remembered on the East Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary Memorial in St Mary's Church, Beverley
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |