Name
John Charles Geary
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/12/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
T/24301
Army Service Corps
H.T.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot D, Row 6, Grave 353.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of John William and the late Sarah Maria (nee ARCHER) GEARY; husband of Ada (nee GRIFFITHS) GEARY.
His parents married 1883 in the Medway, Kent, district. Sarah died 1917 in the Dartford, Kent, district aged 54; John died 1925 in Dartford aged 62, and was buried 24 November at Holy Trinity, Dartford.
John was born 1883 in New Brompton, Kent, and married 16 November 1914 at St Mary’s, Watford. He died in Watford, and was buried 21 December. Ada possibly remarried 1919 in the Watford district to Archibald W JAMES.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 he lived in Bushey, Herts, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1901 Census, a coal carter aged 17, he lived in New Brompton, with his parents and no siblings.
He originally enlisted 19 February 1906 in Chatham, Kent, for Short Service (2 years with the Colours, 10 years in the Reserves): a carman aged 19, 5’3″ tall, C of E. He joined the A.S.C. at Woolwich, London, and was transferred to the Reservists 18 February 1908.
On the 1911 Census, he is possibly the brewer’s labourer aged 26, a boarder in Aldenham, Herts.
Wartime Service
He was mobilised at Aldershot, Hants, 6 August 1914, and served at Home until 20 March 1915, when he embarked aboard the Campenella, disembarking Alexandria 4 April 1915.
He was sent to hospital suffering from dysentery 28 July 1915, and invalided to England aboard H.S. Asturias 15 August 1915.
He was discharged 14 August 1916 at Catterick Camp, being no longer physically fit for War Service: a carman aged 29, 5’3″ tall, of Watford.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 21 March 1915; his Silver War badge was issued 25 March 1917.
Additional Information
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
