50904 RA John Henry Essom Sgt

[sreedjennings]

Relative John Henry Essom and his Wife Florence Amy

have found his Service records and on his Pension records says Florence struck off MR for misconduct ? sent back to UK

they were in Karachi and that is where they married

have noted he had some injuries and received the Silver War Medal

1911 he was in Philip Street Newcastle presume on a posting ? (it is known he adopted Edward Bell on the census)

although not listed with the children on service record

we have photos of his wife and children but nothing else

he died in Stratford London

many thanks for any snippets

[sotonmate]

Two periods of service with the Artillery:

1) as number 3230 pre-war from around 1900. Served in India Jan 1901 to Dec 1909.

Returned home for Home Service,service terminated on completion of period in Feb 1912 at Newcastle. Likely to have been serving locally as you say he was there for the 1911 Census. Into Army Reserve.

March 1914 re-signed for 4 years extra service as number 50904 (wouldn't have known at this time of likelihood of war before the year was out). Assigned to 121 Battery,which on outbreak of war was part of 27 Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Posted to France on 19 August 1914 as part of 5 Division's Artillery complement. Early activity here

http://www.1914-1918.net/5div.htm

Returned home in Nov 1915 with injuries. Here we should say that the service papers are damaged due to bombing in London in 1940 and that some of the info which might have made a more complete story has gone.War Diairy for the period Aug-Nov 1915 is digital and can be downloaded here for £3.30:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C14017081

Returned to France in Feb 1915 and served with A Battery of 89 Brigade RFA,part of 19 Division's artillery:

http://www.1914-1918.net/19div.htm

War Diary:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C7353020

Returned home again,injured,in Nov 1915 and remained on Home Service to war's end.

Discharged as no longer fit for military service on 16 Nov 1918. Silver War Badge issued.

[sreedjennings]

thank you very much at least that explains why he was in Newcastle

it appears he was in India on a long posting were they normally there for that length of time or did it depend on their particular role or is that a new can or worms

and where it says his wife was struck off MR is that the marriage register

many thanks

[sotonmate]

Can't answer your questions for sure ! I would think that such a posting would be desirous,with that extra quality of life with the family and a servant or two maybe (thinking of my own time in the mid-East !) and I guess if you wished to continue and your unit stayed without being relieved then you could.

The lady may have been relieved of her access to a Married Quarter,so maybe a Married Register,and might have had to find lodgings outside of the Garrison.I doubt that even the Army couldn't make her unmarried !

[sreedjennings]

many thanks for that information

I was a W/O in Germany and my husband used to refer to me as 'excess baggage' !