JOHN HOWELL WILSHIN

Image courtesy of ukphotoarchive.org.uk

Born: 1898, Barton Regis, Gloucestershire.

Baptised: 31st July 1898, St. Mary’s, Devizes, Wiltshire. Parents: Herbert & Fanny Wilshin.

Died: 21st April 1918, age 19: Died of Wounds received on the morning of the 27th March, while rescuing his men from a barn which was being heavily shelled, he was dangerously wounded in the chest and back, and his right arm was amputated.

Residence: ‘Harbourne’, Belstead Road, Ipswich.

Received his commission – 20th June 1917 for the Royal Fusiliers and at once proceeded to France. He saw considerable fighting in the Ypres salient. During the March German offensive his battalion made a splendid fight.

Date of Entry Therein: 19th July 1917 – France.

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant: Service Number: 9918

Regiment: Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 6th(attached to 1st) Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

Mentioned for ‘Special Patrol Work’ – October 1916.

Grave Reference:

Officers B. 7-4.

St, Sever Cemetery,

Rouen,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Only son of Fanny Cecile Graham (formerly Wilshin) of Belle Vue, Devizes, Wiltshire and the late Herbert Wilshin.

CENSUS

1911   Stubbington House School, Preparatory School for Boys, Stubbington, Hampshire. (school known as the ‘The Caddle of the Navy’).

John was 12 years old, he was 1 of 85 boys boarding at Stubbington House School.

John also attended Ipswich School – entered March 1913. At the School he was a keen footballer, and obtained his 1st XI. Colours and also a silver medal for Gym.

Ipswich School Magazine June 1918.

Father: Herbert Wilshin, born 1868, Devizes, Wiltshire – died 1st July 1906, at 235, Gloucester Road, Bristol – a bank which was the family home –  Herbert was the Bank Manager.

Mother: Fanny Cecilia Wilshin (nee Howell), born 1874, Merthyr-Tydfil, South Wales.

John’s medals were sent to his mother, Fanny Graham, on the 15th February 1922.

Probate to Fanny Cecilia Graham – mother, wife of Joseph Lewis Graham.

John is also remembered on the Ipswich School Chapel war memorial.

Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 6th(attached to 1st) Battalion.