Name
John Henry Green
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1914
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5392
3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales' Own)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 3
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
John was born in 1894 in Hitchin and christened 23 January 1895. His parents were Arthur Thomas and Maria Green.
In 1901 the family were living at 17 Wratten Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Arthur (50) and Maria (40), with Arthur working as a French polisher. Their children were: Alice (16), William (14), Florence (12), Edward (10), Lilian Edith (9), John (6), Horace James (4), Christopher Howard (2) and Albert Victor at 3 months.
By 1911 the family were living at 109 Whinbush Road, Hitchin, Herts. Present were both parents, Arthur still working as a French polisher and Maria now a boarding house keeper. The census recorded they had been married for 12 years with 12 children, all living. John was not present and has not been found in the 1911 census so far, but his military Soldiers’ Effect records show that he had enlisted in the Army on 12 December 1910 and that before then he was a book binder.
Officially John was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts., and living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He was a regular soldier who had joined the Dragoons in 1909 or 1910 and had served for two years in Egypt and landed in France on the 31st October 1914. The 3rd Dragoons, at the date of his death, were in the 6th Cavalry Brigade of the 3rd Cavalry Division. The unit was being used as dismounted cavalry near Hooge and Gheluvelt in extremely violent fighting in the 1st Battle of Ypres.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 3 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £4 17s 7d was authorised to go to his father, Arthur, on 4 March 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to his mother, Maria, on 20 August 1919.
His pension cards record his mother as his next of kin and mention the other son, John Henry who died, but do not give details of any pension awarded.
Of John’s brothers Horace James was also killed, Edward Charles was with Canadian Foresters in France and William was Petty Officer in the Navy, and luckily had been home on leave when his ship was sunk.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
