Name
John Males
6 May 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/09/1914
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
11158
King's Royal Rifle Corps
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor
Pre War
John Males was born on 6 May 1889 in Kilburn, London, the son of Edward and Matilda Males, one of twelve children, although four died in infancy. He was baptised at St Augustine, Paddington, London on 29 May 1889,
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 49 Albert Road, Willesden, where his father was working as a labourer. They remained in Kilburn on the 1901 Census, living at 3 Stevens Cottages, High Road, when his father's occupation was given as 'Scavenger' (a dustman or street sweeper).
He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 6 May 1907 for a period of 12 years, serving on several ships, Impregnable, Hogue, Venerable, Implacable and Vivid, as an able seaman but was invalided out on 16 February 1909 (reason unknown).
His parents were living at 20 Puller Ride, Boxmoor, Herts on the 1911 Census and none of their eight children were living at home (a further 4 had died). His father died in 1916.
Wartime Service
He was a serving soldier with the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps at the outbreak of war, stationed in Aldershot and was immediately mobilised, landing in Rouen, France on 13 August 1914.
They then travelled to Amiens and were in action in the Battle of Mons in August, and the following month in the Battle of the Marne and First Battle of the Aisne.
He died on 14 September 1914, the second day of the First Battle of the Aisne. He was said to have died of wounds on some records, but also that he was missing and accepted as dead.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received his pay owing of £13 1s 11d and his mother received a war gratuity of £5.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com.
