Private 1/4th (Hallamshire) York and Lancaster Regiment. Service number 33339.
Early life:
John was born in Oakworth on February 24, 1898 to parents John and Jessie Dunnett. Registered in Keighley in the first quarter of the year. He was three years old in the 1901 census and living
with parents, one sister and one brother at 144, Main Street in Wilsden. His father was a Police constable. He was baptised on May 18, 1902 at St Matthew’s Church in Wilsden along with his younger sister Ellen. The family were still at 144, Main Street.
By 1911 he was thirteen years old and living at 24, Royd Street, with his parents, one brother and two sisters. His father John was still a police constable for the West Riding Constabulary and John (junior) was working as a bobbin pegger for a woollen manufacturer. His employment seems to have been working for about three years as a weft lad, for Messrs. Rawnsley, Albion Mills on 15, Dewhirst Street in Wilsden, from about August 1910 until August 1913. Then from August to October 1913 worked as a worsted spinner for Alfred Ambler, Worsted spinner at Prospect Mills in Wilsden, followed by a spell of about five months working for Mr E. S. Myers, Motor Works at 52, Manningham Lane in Bradford as a shop assistant for about 5 months, leaving on March 9, 1914.
On 11th March 1914, John appears to have enlisted with the 7th (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards with the service number 8867 but he was found to have given a false answer about his age and was discharged on 4th April after 25 days. He told them he was eighteen years old, but was actually only sixteen.
War service:
On the 9th of June 1916 at the age of 18 years and 3 months, John enlisted at Aldershot with the Royal Army Service Corps and was issued with the service number 179391.
He was living at 7, Frederick Street in Aldershot and his father John was his next of kin at the home address of 24, Royd Street, Wilsden.
He was issued with a form authorising his despatch to join the Mechanical Transport Depot of the Army Service Corps at Grove Park, Lee, London, S.E. and declared medically fit for ‘General Service,’ ‘Garrison Service Abroad,’ or ‘Labour Abroad.’
He joined the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) at Grove Park in Lewisham on 6th June 1916 and was transferred to the ‘Learner’s Section’ on the 9th June.
Army Service Corps – Declaration form:
John signed a declaration which stated the following: I, John Dunnett, understand that I am being enlisted for the duration of the war for General Service in the Army Service Corps, with a view to being trained as a Motor Transport Driver, and that my pay will be 1 shilling and 1 pence per diem (per day) until such time as I am passed by the Military Authorities as a qualified motor driver, from which date I am to receive, in addition, Corps Pay at 1 shilling and two pence per diem, exclusive of any separation or other allowances to which I may be entitled under Army Regulations.
I also understand that, in the event of my not qualifying as a motor driver within a reasonable time (such time to be fixed by the authorities) I may be posted to some other branch of the Army Service Corps, and that my pay will be 1 shilling and two pence per diem and in addition such rate of Corps Pay as may be authorised.
Signed by John on 9th June 1916.
He passed the Learners test on the 13th October.
On the 16th of February 1917 he was sentenced to ten days field punishment number two, for driving Ford car no. 3 at an excessive speed down Hospital Hill at about 1.5 pm.
Note: Hospital Hill at Aldershot still exists today and it is a long, wide, straight road and given that it runs through the middle of the Army camp, it is easy to imagine a rather dim view being taken of anyone speeding a vehicle down it.
John was compulsorily transferred to the Infantry Training Reserve at Newcastle as ‘Competent’ on 30th March 1917 with the rank of Private. He was transferred to the 34th Infantry Base Depot on 7th July 1917. On the 21st July he was transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment and posted to the 1/4th Battalion as a Private on 21st July 1917.
He was later transferred to the 1/4th (Hallamshire) York and Lancaster Regiment – Territorial Force, with the service number 33339 on February 1, 1916 and carried out his infantry training. He was posted to France in July, 1917. John was killed in action on October 18, 1917 after the battalion had been relieved from their stint in the front line trenches and gone back to their billets at Potijze Camp.
WO-95/2805-1. War diary:
The 1/4th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment war diary:
“October 18. 11 am. An enemy aeroplane dropped bombs on the camp causing 50 casualties.”
Keighley News November 10, 1917:
WILSDEN.
Police Constable Dunnett, of 24, Royd Terrace, Wilsden, has received word that his youngest son, Private John Dunnett, York and Lancaster Regiment, was killed in France on October 18. In a letter his parents have received his captain says that Private Dunnett had been in the fighting and “over the top,” and come through without a scratch. He was at a rest camp immediately afterwards, when there was an enemy air raid, and a bomb from one of the enemy aeroplanes killed him while asleep. Private Dunnett was 19 years of age, and joined the Army on February 1, 1916, being drafted to France on July 1 last. He was previously a motor cycle engineer at Tidswells, motor cycle engineers, Preston Street, Bradford.
His elder brother, Private William F. Dunnett, has been in Serbia for the last fifteen months, with the Army Service Corps.
John was buried in grave 1, row AA of Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery. The headstone inscription from his family reads: “Gone But Not Forgotten.”
Memorial postcard:
The postcard featured here with John’s image was bought online a few years ago and it seems to have been made by a comrade of his and sent home as an expression of sympathy as it has a black lined edge, which was the custom for mourning stationery. It has a French 25 cent stamp which has been franked, possibly separately from the postcard itself and it is likely that the card was sent in an envelope with an accompanying letter. There is no writing on the rear face. The photo is identical to the one from the Keighley News and the text says:
‘Somewhere in France. Semper Fidelis. In Memoriam. Private John Dunnett of Wilsden. Killed for King and Country.’
The cap and jacket of his uniform has been coloured with a collage of brown, three halfpence stamps and a cut out of the King’s head is from the one penny red stamp.
Post war:
On 17th May 1918, John’s father received and signed for his personal effects which were: Tobacco pouch, cigarette maker, pair of scissors, pipe, purse, notebook, photos, letters, damaged wrist watch with strap and protector, coins: 1, 1/4 pence.
John was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service. these were sent to his father and signed for on 3rd December 1921.
He made the relatives declaration on 4th November 1919 and it was countersigned the next day by H. Roper, clerk in holy orders, of Wilsden Church.
A bronze war memorial plaque was received by John’s father, after the relatives form was returned.
His father John and mother Jessie received a payment of £12 12s 7d from his Army pay account as they were joint legatees in his will.
A war gratuity payment of £5 10s 0d was paid to them on 6th November 1919.
His mother received a Dependant’s pension of six shillings per week from 14th May 1918.
John’s parents John (aged 50) and Jessie Dunnett (aged 50) were living at 24, Royd Terrace in Wilsden in the 1921 census along with their daughters Barbara aged 30, a typist at S. H.Rawnsley, worsted coating manufacturers, Wilsden and Ellen aged 19, a typist in the manufacturing office of a dry soap manufacturer at Adolphus Street in Bradford.
John’s father retired as a Police constable on 21st November 1924 and received a pension of £164. 13s 4d per annum.
In the 1939 register they were living at Cragg House in Wilsden John was 67 and Jessie 68. their daughter Barbara was still living with them and aged about 48, working as a textile clerk.
John died on the 8th of March 1941 aged 70.
Jessie Dunnett died on the 22nd of December 1949 aged 79.
Remembrance:
Private John Dunnett is remembered on the Wilsden War Memorial.
He is also named on the Oakworth Great War Centenary roll of honour at Oakworth Community Hall.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
British Army Service Records 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920.
1921 Census.
1939 Register.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
West Yorkshire, England, Police Records, 1833-1914.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
