JOHN EDWARD HAMBLIN

IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL | Posted on 12th March 2016 |

Born: 14th October 1885, St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Died: 24th March 1918; age 32; KiA.

Residence: 19, Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich.

Date of Entry Therein: 14th November 1915.

John was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant (on probation) – 4th August 1916 – 13th Suffolk Regiment.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 12th Battalion.

Formerly Private, 6846, of the Royal Fusiliers, 18th Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War + 1915 Star.

Memorial Reference:

Bay 4.

Arras Memorial,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Fourth son of Matilda Blanche Hamblin & the late Robert Hamblin; husband of Amy Eveline Hamblin (nee McIntosh).

CENSUS

1891 Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich.

John was 5 years old and living with his parents, siblings & father’s cousin.

Robert Hamblin, 38, a Boot & Shoe Maker, born St. Nicholas, Ipswich.

Matilda Blanche Hamblin (nee Porter), 36, born Stoke, Ipswich.

Robert Arthur Hamblin, 9, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Charles Arthur Hamblin, 8, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Katherine Mary Hamblin, 7, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Thomas Richard Hamblin, 6, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Elizabeth Theresa Hamblin, 3, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Anne Wilson, 17, a Mother’s Help, born Felixstowe, Suffolk.

1901 Christ’s Hospital School, Newgate Street, London.

John was 15 years old and a student at the school.

1911 Station Road, New Milton, Hampshire.

John was 25 years old, a Manager – Stationery & Tobacconist – Shopkeeper. He was a widower and Head of the Household.

Robert, 2.

Amy, 7 months.

1 housekeeper.

1 stationery & tobacconist shop assistant.

1 general domestic servant.

In July 1897, 11 year old, John was successful in winning an open scholarship at Christ’s Hospital Boys’ School, London.

He entered the school in 1897 and left in 1901.

On the 30th December 1907, Ipswich, John married Amy Eveline McIntosh, of Richmond Road, Ipswich, born 1883, Kirkby, Laythorpe, Lincolnshire – died 1910, Lymington, Hampshire.

They had 2 children:

Robert John Hamblin, July 1908, Pokesdown, Hampshire.

Amy Eveline Hamblin, born August 1910, New Milton, Hampshire.

Probate to Robert Hamblin – father, a Gentleman.

Soldiers’ Effects to Robert Hamblin Esq. – father.

John’s medals were sent to his son young Robert John Hamblin, via his grandfather and guardian Robert Hamblin, of 19, Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich.

John is also remembered on the war memorial at the Unitarian Meeting House, Friars Street, Ipswich, and at Northgate High School. Formerly Ipswich Grammar School for Boys. John is remembered on the headstone of his parents, and paternal aunt Mary Ann Hamblin, and paternal uncle Alfred John Hamblin at Ipswich Old Cemetery.

John’s Grandfather – ROBERT HAMBLIN

The Hamblin family had been associated with Ipswich since the 1620’s. They had been able to trace back their lineal predecessors on the Freemans Roll without a break to that date, a record of which any family might be justly proud. In July 1874, this entitled John’s grandfather Robert Hamblin to become a Freeman of the Borough of Ipswich by inheritance. On leaving school, Robert Hamblin was apprenticed to a master bootmaker to learn his father’s trade. His master was an Army bootmaker attached to a regiment which he followed to its various stations. The young apprentice accompanied the regiment to Edinburgh, and was well treated by his master. However, at the age of 15, he left his master, and started to walk back from Edinbugh to Ipswich, with 5s. 6d. in his pocket. At Newcastle a friendly sea captain brought him safely into the Orwell. Robert first worked in London, Surrey and Yorkshire. In 1848 Robert Hamblin started a business of his own in Silent Street, Ipswich, moving from there into St. Nicholas Street then into Queen Street finally establishing his well known business in Westgate Street which he carried on for 40 years. He retired in 1896. Robert was named an executor of Mr. Hill, a wireworker of Westgate Street, Ipswich, who left a large sum of money for the restoration of some of the almshouses in Lady Lane, originally erected in 1515 by Edmund Daundy. Robert vigorously pursued a legal informality in the bequest at the courts until eventually the money becam available to carry out the testator’s intentions. Robert retired in 1896. Robert was an ardent Liberal; he was a man of keen intellect, with an intelligent appreciation of events. From his earliest Ipswich days he was associated with the Unitarian Church, and was a member of the Church Committee for upwards of 40 year, and was a trustee of the properties of the Church. He died in 1906, at his residence at Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, aged 85.

John’s father, Robert was also a shoe and boot maker. He worked with his father for 30 years. He too held the position of a trustee of the properties of the Church and was a pillar of Unitarianism in East Anglia and was a Liberal of the old school.