JOHN ROBERT TALBOT 1897–1945

RGA

Brother of Charles

Born 13th November 1897 at Caythorpe

Baptised 2nd January 1898 Caythorpe cum Frieston, Lincolnshire

Married in 1920 to Lily Elsie Emans in Nottingham

Son John E. born 1924

Died 5th January 1945, Nottingham, age 47

Known as Jack

1901 Census

Age three living in the parish of Fulbeck, Lincolnshire with father Robert, thirty-eight, farm foreman, mother Eliza, thirty-eight, and brothers Henry, eighteen, general labourer,  Fred ten, and Charles, seven, who also served in military. The household included Charles Thacker, twenty-seven, waggoner on farm and William Bellamy, seventeen, ploughman on farm.

1911 Census

Age thirteen, at school and living on Sydney Grove, Radcliffe on Trent, with father Robert, unemployed and mother Eliza Robinson Talbot. His brother Fred Talbot was working as a domestic valet and his brother Charles was a clerk in a soap works. The house had four rooms.

Military Service

Rank: Acting Battery Quartermaster Sergeant at end of war

Service Number: 98022

Military Unit: Royal Field Artillery

Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 21.5.15; Italy from April 1918

Enlisted on 29 August 1914

Claimed to be 18 years and 9 months on attestation. Actual age 16 years 9 months

Birthplace: Parish of Bydes (Byard’s) Leap, Lincs.

Occupation: Hall Boy. Single.

Height 5ft 6ins, weight 138 lbs. Chest expanded 37ins, expansion of 2ins, blue eyes, fresh complexion, brown hair

1.9.14: Home. Posted Gunner

8.9.14: Posted Driver 156 Battery RFA

21.5.15: France

24.9.15: Home until 10.6.17. Sick and admitted to North Evington War Hospital in Leicester

11.6.17: France until 16.4.18. Posted as acting bombardier

23.7.17: Wounded

17.4.18: Italy until 21.12.19

13.2.19: Appointed Acting Corporal with pay

22.2.19: Appointed paid A/BQMS (Battery Quartermaster Sergeant)

12.3.19: Appointed Acting Sergeant with pay

2.7.19: Volunteered for services in the army of occupation until 1.12.19

Rank given as A/BQMS, at present serving in RFA No.9 Rest Camp, Taranto, Italy

25.7.19: Fourteen days leave to U.K.

22.12.19: Home, Dispersal Centre at Ripon

His Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity for demobilisation states that he was born in the year 1886. Medical category B3

19.1.20: Demobilised

Disciplinary record at start of service in 1914 and early 1915 while based in England included overstaying leave, insolence to Non Commissioned Officer, not complying with order, irregular conduct whilst employed in officers’ mess as caterer when he obtained a pass without the approval of the Mess President and absence from Church parade.

John Talbot’s service record includes an extraordinary letter written in Belgium on July 25th 1917 by an officer and addressed to his mother expressing condolences for his death. However, he reappeared and was recorded as wounded on 23.7.17.  He was possibly a prisoner who escaped. Unfortunately, two letters from his mother providing useful information about his whereabouts are torn with sections missing.

To see a copy of the original letter regarding his ‘death’ and transcriptions of subsequent letters click here.

Service record includes a request to substantiate his rank on admission to hospital for neurasthenia in 1918.

15.3.20: Awarded a 20% disability pension of 8 shillings (40p) per week due to neurasthenia

25.8.22: Final weekly allowance of 7 shillings 6d (35p) for 70 weeks for 6-14% disability

Medals Awarded: 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Sydney Grove, Radcliffe on Trent

1921 Census

Address: Sprotborough Terrace, Nottingham

Employment: dairyman, A E Evans, Dairy, Robin Hood Street, Nottm

Household: wife Lily Elsie boarding with Florence Oaks, lace finisher

1939 Register

Address: Hayswood, 20 Alexandra Street, Nottingham

Occupation: Club steward

Household: living with wife Lily, club stewardess, and son John, office worker

His year of birth is given as 13th November 1898 on the 1939 Register and 1897 on the England and Wales Birth Index. His baptismal record gives his date of birth as 13.11.1897.

Other information

Address at date of death: Hayswood 20 Alexandra St, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham.  Survived by wife Lily Elsie Talbot. He is buried in the Rock Municipal Cemetery, Nottingham.

Reason for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived in Radcliffe on Trent.