REMEMBERING THE FALLEN OF WW1

Born in Cullompton, Devon 01/06/1893. He was baptised on 26/06/1893. 

His parents were John Denner(23/11/1869-08/03/1966) and Emma Jane Gatheridge(04/12/1872-11/12/1958).

They were married on 15/07/1892.

John had 3 brothers, Gilbert(22/12/1901-31/08/1974), Harold(16/10/1908-03/06/1989) and

William (1906/1914-1998). He also had 5 sisters, Artie(06/06/1895-01/04/1946), Lily (27/09/1897-12/02/1975),

Daisy (1899-1900), Daisy Kate (10/06/1904- 28/05/1974) and Violet (14/02/1912-2002).

John started school at the Cullompton school on 23/03/1898 – On admission he was class IV (educational standard)

and when he left on 26/10/1900 to be transferred to the boy’s school he was class I.

In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living at London Inn Court, Cullompton, Devon.

Johns father was employed as a brick works labourer.

No records are available as to when he left the Boys School, but it is clear from the following press cuttings that he

followed his father into the brick works industry. 

 

The Western Times – Tuesday, June 18. 1907

Accident at Cullompton

A very serious accident occurred at the brick works near Strongford, Cullompton. Of which Mr J. Reynolds is proprietor, on Friday afternoon. John Denner, a lad, was working by the line on which the trucks run. When it is supposed, through the jerking of the rope attached to the engine, a truck knocked him into a pit, partially filled with water. The truck also overturned. No one saw the accident,

but the lad being missed, an employee, Mr. Ephraim Moore, made a search and found the boy unconscious. Dr. Alleyne was quickly on the scene and had Denner removed to his home in a cab. The lad is suffering from concussion of the brain and the effects of the water getting in the inside.          

 

Tiverton Gazette & East Devon Herald, Tuesday, June 18, 1907

Cullompton

East Culm brickworks was the scene a few days ago of an extraordinary accident, involving serious injuries to a fourteen-year-old

youth named John Denner, son of Mr. John Denner of Station Road, Cullompton. The young fellow was knocked over by an overturning of a truck which was conveying clay to the machinery and after a few minutes’ search was found lying in a pit containing six feet of water. He was taken out in an unconscious condition and on his being examined by a medical man he was found to be suffering from concussion of the brain.​​

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In the 1911 census the family were still living at Station Road, Cullompton, Devon having moved there between 1901

and the accident in 1907. Both John and his father were still employed as brick works labourers. 

When John enlisted, he left Cullompton via train to Exeter and a sad story of this event was related to me by his Great Niece, 

Shirlee Cottam, who I must also thank for permission to use Johns photograph on this page. Shirlee is the Grand Daughter

of Johns sister Daisy Kate and it was Daisy, who past onto Shirlee, how the whole family went down to the railway

station with John to see him off. John owned a little dog and after John had boarded the train, the dog tried to follow John, getting onto the tracks where it was sadly killed chasing the train. 

 

John was killed in action on 01/07/1916.

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Western Times – Friday 14 July 1916

Roll of Honour

West-Country Causalities in the Great Advance

Pte John Denner son of Mr and Mrs Denner of Station Road, Cullompton, has laid down his life in the great advance.

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He was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.

His father was awarded a gratuity on 08/02/1917.

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Johns name appears on both the​ Cullompton War Memorial at Higher Bullring Cullompton and also on a memorial

in the Cullompton Baptist Church on the High Street, Cullompton.  

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Shirlee also told me that her Grandmother worked for a company called Foxes of Cullompton and they were responsible for producing khaki cloth and puttees for the war effort.