When Michelle Flanaghan sent me the initial information on Henry Davenport, it included a photo of the wooden cross over the grave of Pte. John Hill; this is the story of John’s death.

A summary of the events of John’s death Pte. Watson who died with John Hill

The photo on the right shows the wooden cross erected shortly after John’s death.  Seeing this photo, and the information it contained, caused me to look for his service record at Kew. Luckily, it was not one of the burnt records.  The following is what I was able to put together from the record.

31713 Private John Hill; 13^th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment.

John Hill’s attestation was in April 1916 in Pontefract, at the time he was 22 yrs and 2 months old, stood 5ft 4ins tall and weighed 122lbs.  He had ‘tatoo marks’ on both forearms, and had ‘slight flat feet’; he was married to Ellen, they had no children and lived in Mexborough.  I believe Ellen was pregnant as there would be a pension payment for a child on John’s death.  He may not have seen his child. 

John was like many other soldiers, his conduct sheet shows three entries, only one of which is legible; he went absent for a day for which he was awarded 2 days CB.  After initial training John was posted to 13^th Battn. On 13 October 1916. He would be dead only a couple of months later, on 3 January 1917. 

John’s death would have remained as unremarked as many others except for the chance discovery of the photo of the hand-made cross erected by a ‘mate’ where he was buried in 1917.  This photo had all the information necessary to track him down in the PRO records. His service record is at W0 363 H1404 from frame 1040 on the film.  Because of a unique circumstance, all the facts related to his death were officially recorded.

As was normal when a soldier was killed the Ministry of Pensions became involved in the payment of a pension to the surviving widow.  In this case Ellen Hill became eligible for a pension of 18/9 a week for herself and her new child.  This was less than she had been receiving; a separation allowance of 21/- plus Allotment of Pay of 3/6.  In the case of John Hill there was some confusion.  On 26 Oct 1917 The War Office wrote to No. 2 Record Office in York to say that;

“two soldiers had evidently been confused.  Will you please state whether the identity of the men is now established.  From the Base reply it would appear that the man who embarked on 3rd October, 1916, with draft from 4th (Res) Battalion West Riding Regiment, was erroneously posted as 5580 J.E. Hill, who at that time was in No. 2 Eastern General Hospital, Hove, Brighton.

If not already done, enquiries should be made of the next-of-kin of both men to ascertain their previous records, and the case cleared up as quickly as possible, as the Ministry of Pension requests definite information confirming the report that the above named soldier was Killed in Action on 3rd January 1917”.

It must have been of some concern to the next-of-kin to find that the Army was confused over which of their husbands was dead.  It was then found that J.E. Hill “has been questioned and he states that his correct regimental number is 31713, and further that he previously served in 1/4^th West Riding Regiment under regimental No. 5580”.  Both J.E. Hill and John Hill had the same regimental number, but different Regiments; this had caused the confusion.  However, to show that the Battalion admin knew what had happened to John Hill, they then wrote down the circumstances of his death, and this appears in his record.

1. O.C. ‘A’ Coy wrote; “I also made enquiries from the men in Pte Hill’s platoon and all who know the man are perfectly sure he was killed. Stretcher Bearer Pte LANGLEY carried Pte WATSON away who recognised the latter [Hill].  A grave was dug at Sailly-au-Bois by Pioneer ARMITAGE and the Padre held service. A cross was made [the one in the photo], labelled by Pte M^cDAVITT”.

2. This was followed up by a note from the Adjutant; “A Coy records are all marked to the effect that the man was ‘Killed in Action’ on 3/1/17.  From the enquiries made it appears that Pte Hill was on Water Guard at the time under L/Cpl WOMERSLEY.  A shell exploding completely blew Pte Hill to pieces and wounding Pte WATSON (also on the guard) to such an extent that he died in a few hours.  Sanitary man Pte EBBAGE was sent to collect the remains which was carried out and a sandbag labelled Pte Hill 13^th York & Lancs regt was filled.  The pay book was sent [the rest is not legible]”.

Because of the mix up over the numbers, and the diligence of those who recorded the event we know what happened; who was with him, who carried the stretcher for the other wounded man, who made the cross, who dug the grave, who collected the ‘remains’ into a sandbag and that the padre held a service.  Pte Watson, who was with Hill, is buried alongside him in Sailly-au-Bois.  I have also taken down details of Pte Watson from his service record. 

The Battalion war diary for the day states “Finding working parties.  Casualties 2 killed & 1 wounded (other ranks).”

Pte T. Watson

Private Watson was killed by the same shell that killed Henry, and they are buried side-by-side.  Watson was almost 31 years old, married to Charlotte Ethel West on 4 December 1912 at Rotherham, they had two children, one called Cyril. He had three brothers, William, Herbert and Harry.  Before joining the army he was a surface colliery labourer.

It is a little sobering to see the private effects that were posted to his wife; diary, photo, letter, paper cuttings, purse, mirror, comb, cap badge, broken knife, spoon and a pair of folding scissors.  Soldiers travelled light.