John William Archer
The soldier:
John William Archer first enlisted into the army on the 30th November 1893 aged 18. He served in both Indian and South Africa. He was discharged on the 2nd March 1914, at the age of 38, having served 20 years and 110 days, receiving the Army’s Long-service and Good Conduct medal.
He re-enlisted on the 24th June 1916, in Southport, Lancashire re-joining the Norfolk Regiment as a Lance Corporal (being assigned regimental number 20444). He was ‘killed in action’, aged 41, on the 2nd October 1917 whilst serving in its 9th Battalion and is buried in the Maroc British Military Cemetery, two miles North of Lens, France in grave II. M. 9.
As befitting of a seasoned, professional soldier, his Captain wrote of him immediately after his death (cited in De Ruvigny’s ‘Roll of Honour’ 1914-1919);
‘He died doing his duty without a thought for himself, like the true soldier he was, he had been in my company for several months and had always performed his duties to everyone’s entire satisfaction; his loss is deeply felt by his platoon officer, his brother NCOs, his men and myself, and I may add that it would be impossible to find a soldier with a finer conception of duty, and who lined up to that standard; he was always well-liked by his men and was very happy with them’.
The man:
John William Archer was born on the 21st January 1876 in Ringstead, Norfolk to Johnathan and Sophia (nee Cornwall) Archer.
He was baptised on the 5th March 1876 in Ringstead, Norfolk.
John William had an older brother Herbert Cornwall/Archer (b. 1866 – in the year before his parents marriage) and three older sisters, all born in Bagthorpe, Norfolk; Edith (b.1868), Annie (b.1870) and Sarah (b.1874).
By, April 1880, when John William was 4, the family had moved to Syderstone, as his mother gave birth to a younger sister, Emma Easter there.
This was confirmed in the 1881 census, when John, Sophia and children, Herbert, Edith, Annie, Sarah, John and Harry were shown residing at an address in Syderstone Street, Syderstone. John’s (also John) father’s occupation was listed as ‘farm labourer’.
It would appear that the family moved several times with John’s father’s employment over the next few years as John’s younger brother Fred (b. 1884) was born in Harpley, Norfolk his sister Harriet (b. 9th Dec 1884) and his brother Harry (b. march 1887) were born in Houghton, Norfolk and his brother William (b.1890) was born back in Ringstead.
In the 1891 census, John William (now 15) and the entire family, bar Annie and Sarah were living at Neats Ling, Ringstead, Norfolk. John William’s occupation is listed as ‘agricultural labourer’.
As described above, John William enlisted in to the army two years later in 1893 and stayed ‘in’ for over 20 years, until 1914.
During his time in the army his family remained in Sedgeford for a period, but by the 1911 census his parents and several siblings had moved the short distance to Lodge Hill Farm, Snettisham, Norfolk. By now John Snr.(67) and Sophia (63) had been married 44 years. In Snettisham with them were Fred (now 26), Harry (now 23) and Willie (now 21).
Following his discharge from the army on the 2nd March 1914, John William married Edith Maud Styles (of 2, Norman Road, New Catton, Norwich – daughter of Charles A Styles) on the 23rd March 1914, in Norwich.
He became a ‘postman’ in 1914, joining the Postal Service and being given ‘worker number’ 16083. He was assigned to Southport District and moved with his new wife Edith to Southport, Lancashire.
On the 24th June 1916, two years later he re-enlisted into the army and went off to the front, never to return.
Sadly, there are no known children from his too brief marriage to Edith. The army’s register of ‘soldiers effects’ shows his belongings being returned to her.
John William’s widow, Edith went on to re-marry James Allen in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 1922. Her new address being listed on the UK Register of Graves as ‘Roseley’, Langhorne lane, Outwell, Wisbech.
picture: John William Archer proudly in uniform – taken form De Ruvigny’s ‘roll of honour’ 1914-1919
