JOHN SAINT 1898–1956
Photograph from family collection
Son of Isaac, who served in the war
Born 27th October 1898 in Radcliffe on Trent
Baptised 27 November 1898 St Edmund’s Church, Holme Pierrepont.
Married in May 1925 to Florence Lamb from Radcliffe on Trent at St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe. He was a brick maker.
Died Hatfield, 12 March 1956 age 58.
1901 Census
Age 2 living with father Isaac, mother Rachel and sister Winifred 1, at Taylors Farm, Radcliffe on Trent.
1911 Census
Age 12 at school living with father Isaac, stepmother Clara, and sisters Winifred 11, Dorothy 2 months and brothers Frank 4, Richard 3. They lived at Hall Farm, Radcliffe on Trent.
Military Service
Rank: Private
Service Number: 49463
Military Unit: 2/5th Battalion previously 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, 51st Brigade, 17th Division
Theatre of War: France and Flanders
John Saint would have joined the army after 1916, due to his age. The 7th Lincolnshires were in France for the duration of the war from July 1915. John Saint may have been present at some or all of the following combats fought by his battalion: first and second battle of the Scarpe, capture of Rouex, first and second battles of Passchendaele (1917); battles of St Quentin, Bapaume, Amines, Albert, Havrincuort, Epehy, Cambrai, Sambre (1918). His military service record is not available online.
He had been transferred to the 2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment by 21 March 1918, when he was taken prisoner. (see below)
From Forces War Records:
21.05.18 Reported missing on War Office Daily List no. 5571
28.10.18 Reported Prisoner of War in lists received from the German Government
According to the WW1 POW records of the International Committee of the Red Cross John Saint was captured on 21.03.18 at Bullecourt, south east of Arras, northern France. At this time he was in B Company, 2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. He was not wounded and was sent to Parchim POW camp, Mecklenburg, Germany.
The UK, World War I Diaries of the 2/5th Battalion, Lincs Regiment give an account of the part taken by the 2/5th Lincolnshires in the German offensive commencing 21.03.18. Heavy fighting took place during the battle and it was estimated that between 21-25 March, 490 other ranks of the 2/5th Battalion were killed, wounded or missing, in addition to twenty officers.
30.12.18: Released Prisoner of War from Germany, arrived in England
John Saint pictured top row 2nd right
Medals Awarded: British War and Victory
Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register
No record
1921 Census
Address: Boarding at 28 Alison Rise, Nottingham
Employment: cheese maker, Mr Wood, Hunger Hill Road, Nottingham
Household: Isaac, his widowed father, and brothers Frank and Richard all boarding with the Wardle family. Frank is an assistant printer at the Guardian office, Forman Street, Nottingham.
1939 Register
Address: 40 Heathcote Avenue, Hatfield
Occupation: motor driver for BBC. His wife Florence Mabel was living with Albert and Amy Whitworth at 131 Eltham Road, West Bridgford.
Will – John of 28 Pooleys Lane, Welham Green, Hatfield. Administration London 10 July 1956 to Florence Mabel Saint, widow.
Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour
Lived in Radcliffe on Trent.