John Mickleburgh
The soldier:
John Mickleburgh joined the army early in the war. He enlisted in Heacham, Norfolk and was assigned to the Norfolk Regiment, being given regimental number 6348.
He was ‘killed in action’, aged 33, on the 18th April 1915 whilst serving as a Private in that regiment’s 1st Battalion.
He is commemorated on Panel 4 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and on both of Snettisham’s memorials and ‘Roll of honour’.
The man:
John Mickleburgh was born on the 20th May 1883 in East Dereham, Norfolk to Charles and Elizabeth Mickleburgh (nee Hancock). Both parents were 39 years old.
He was baptised on the 8th June 1883 in East Dereham.
John had several older siblings; Robert G (bn. c. 1869), William H (bn. c. 1873), Ann E (bn. c.1875), Mary (bn. c. 1876) Jane (bn. c. 1880) and Charles (bn. c. 1882).
John’s family had clearly moved around, with his parents Elizabeth born in Snettisham and Charles in Honingtoft. Robert was born in Westminster London, William, Ann and Mary in Snettisham, Jane in Honingtoft and Charles and John in East Dereham.
John’s brother Frederick was born on the 21st November 1886 in Dunton, Norfolk.
By the 1891 census, the entire family were living at an address in Kircham Road, Tatterset. Charles occupation was listed as ‘agricultural labourer’.
It is highly likely that the family moved back to Snettisham in 1895 as Frederick was enrolled in Snettisham school (Snettisham’s still existing primary school) on the 25th March 1895. He remained at the school until the 8th September 1899, when he reached leaving age.
In December 1898, John’s father, Charles died aged 58.
In the 1901 census, John’s mother has remarried, David J Robinson (aged 59) and taken his name. Charles (now 20), John (18) and Frederick (14) live with them. David, Charles, John and Frederick are all recorded as ‘agricultural labourers’.
By the 1911 census, David and Elizabeth (John’s mother -now aged 65) are living at an address in Fisher’s End, Snettisham. John (now 28) and Frederick (now 24) live with them. John is still recorded as ‘single’ and a ‘labourer on farm’.
Following his death, Private 6438 John Mickleburgh’s personal effects were recorded by the army as going to his sole N.O.K Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists Elizabeth’s address as Alms Houses, Snettisham, Kings Lynn.
John’s sister Mary Ann died in July 1915 in Swaffham. His mother Elizabeth died in 1931, aged 88.
All of John’s siblings survived the war.
However, a tragic footnote is the fact that his older sister Jane, married a Snettisham widower, Charles Dodman in 1906. Charles was almost twice Jane’s age and the local ‘Chimney Sweep’. He and his family lived at the address next door to the Mickleburgh’s in the 1901 census. Jane looked after Charles’ older children as her own. One of these Thomas Dodman, also went off to serve his country and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. He was ‘killed in action’ on the 10th March 1917 and his name is on both Snettisham memorials and its ‘Roll of honour’ alongside John’s, meaning Jane Mickleburgh effectively lost both her brother and son to the war.
