| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
John Daniel Railton was born the 15 Mar 1877 at Hutton Cranswick, the son of Hosdale Railton, and Margaret (nee Gage). Hosdale was a brickmaker who later became the bailiff of a farm at Hull Bridge Road, Beverley. John had four sisters, Hannah Mary, Agnes Pamela who died in 1891 aged 16, Jane Alice and Sarah Harriet. In 1881 the Railton family lived at Watson Row on the west side of The Green, Hutton Cranswick. By 1891 they had moved to Little Beswick and 14 year old John was working as a farm labourer.
John, warrant number 121, joined the East Riding Constabulary on 16 Apr 1898. He stated he was previously employed as a groom to Mr Samuel L Beachell.
Police Constable Railton, aged 39, enlisted in the Army at Hessle on 11 Dec 1915 joining the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner on 1 Jun 1916 and disembarked in France on 21 Nov 1916 with the 193rd Siege Battery. Gunner Railton was admitted to hospital at Abbeville with shrapnel wounds to the left forearm and left hand received on 26 Aug 1917 at the Battle of Ypres. He was repatriated to England on 6 Sep 1917 and spent three months in hospitals in Kent. After leaving hospital and a period of home leave he was stationed at Catterick Camp until relegated to Class 'W' on 18 Apr 1918. He was discharged from the Army on 14 Dec 1918 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge.
John rejoined East Riding Constabulary on 11 Apr 1918, but was discharged as medically unfit on 30 Jun 1920 'in consequence of wounds received in action in France'. His service with the Force totalled over twenty-two years, including almost two years post-war. At Bridlington in 1922 John married Gertrude Castle, a widow, the daughter of the late William Taylor, auctioneer. John and Gertrude lived in Bridlington until John's death in 1940. He was aged 63. Gertrude survived him by fifteen years
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |