Name
John Walter Beaven Pakenham
24 November 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment *1
10th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
EPEHY WOOD FARM CEMETERY, EPEHY
V. B. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted Collegiate School, Berkhamsted
Pre War
John Walter Beaven Pakenham was born on 24 November 1898 in Chelmsford, Essex, the son of William and Ada Pakenham, and one of four children. He was baptised on 26 December 1898 at St Mary's Church, Widford, Essex. (N.B. His name appears on the Jan-Mar 1899 quarter of the civil registration birth index.)
On the 1901 Census the family were living at The Gables, Chelmsford, Essex, where his father was working as an electrical engineer. They were then employing two servants.
He was educated at Berkhamsted School, Herts until 1916.
By 1911 they had moved the Berkhamsted and were living at 37 Kitsbury Road, (St Cuthberts). His father was then a general manager (electrical engineer) at a lamp making factory. They also employed a cook and housemaid. All four children were at school.
Wartime Service
He initially enlisted as a Private 305589 with the 5th Battalion, London Regiment, later obtaining a commission and serving as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 10th (County of London) Battalion (Hackney).
He was killed in action on 21 September 1918 during the Battle of the Somme and is now buried in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, France, having initially been buried on the battlefield and reinterred at the end of the war.
Additional Information
His father received a £5 war gratuity and pay owing of £67 2s 6d.
Brother Thomas served as a Royal Navy Captain.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Hackney).
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
