Name
John Wallace Pallett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/04/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
16271
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
VI. D. 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
John was the son of James and Margaret Pallet and born circa 1885. He was known as Walley.
In the 1891 Census, John, aged 6, was living with his parents and seven brothers: James W (13), Robert H (12), Herbert C (3) and sisters: Margaret E (10), Catherine M A (8), Elizabeth J (5), Miriam G (1), in Park Street, Hatfield. His father worked as a letter carrier. By 1901 John was still with his family, but they now lived at 11 Glebe Cottages, Hatfield. John now had additional siblings: Dulcie (6) and Maurice (5). John was working as a grocer’s carman and father was still a letter carrier.
Then in 1911 John was till with his parents and still at 11 Glebe Cottages. John was now a fish dealer, his father had retired and they now had a boarder
Officially recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hatfield.
Wartime Service
John was originally Private 16271, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and landed in France on 30th August 1915 and at some point promoted to Lance Sergeant. Number:
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men Mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “J. W. Pallett – Wild Hill – 3rd Beds Regt." and then in May 1917: “Killed, John Pallett, Bedfordshire Regt. “Our very deep sympathy with the relatives and friends of the brave men above who have fallen in the service of their King and Country.””
The Battalion War Diary for the date of his death recorded: In trenches between VERMELLES - GRENAY in Bde Reserve. At noon orders issued for battn to attack in conjunction with 1/The Buffs. Battn moved up to south of LOOS under heavy hostile barrage and finally occupied position in prolongation south of LOOS CRASSIER. C & A Coy firing line, B & D in Support. Casualties 28 O.R. wounded.
This was part of the Battle of Hill 70.
John was one of those wounded and poignantly, he wrote a last message to his parents: "Goodbye father & mother from Walley, God with us all."
Awarded victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914/15 Star.
Additional Information
James is also commemorated on the family headstone in Bishop's Hatfield (St. Luke) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF SERGT. JOHN WALLACE PALLETT BEDFORDSHIRE REGT.
WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION IN FRANCE APRIL 15TH 1917; AGED 32 YEARS.
AND THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN IN HIS NOTE BOOK AFTER BEING WOUNDED
GOODBYE FATHER & MOTHER FROM WALLEY
GOD WITH US ALL.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
