Name
J V H Purkis/Purkiss
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/12/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4201
Essex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHESHUNT BURIAL GROUND
12. CE.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Cheshunt Burial Ground, Cheshunt
Pre War
John Victor Henry Purkiss/Purkis was born in Little Sampford, Essex, in 1880, son of William Elijah Purkiss/Purkis a, Agricultural Engine Driver, and Mary Purkiss/Purkis (nee Cock). One of three Children.
1881 Census records, John aged 1, his parents, and brother David (3), living with his uncle Daniel Andrews (91), near Lews Farm, Little Sampford, Essex.
1891 Census records John (11), at school, his Parents, and brother Stephen (7), are now living in Stanstead Road, Hoddesdon, Herts, the family have a lodger, Joseph Humphrey. Brother David (13) is living with his grandparents Stephen and Ann Purkiss in Hempstead, Essex.
1901 Census the family are living in North Road, Hoddesdon, Herts, John (21), is working as a Nursery Man.
John married Alice Stimpson of Wades Mill, Herts, the daughter of John & Eliza Stimpson, on 28th July 1906 at Great Amwell, Herts. They went on to have two children Dorothy Lilian Maud Purkis born in January 1908 and Victor William Purkis born in 1909. Victor died in 1912, aged 3.
1911 Census records John as Victor Purkis, Married, with a daughter Dorothy (3) and a son Victor (1), living at, 33 Duke Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.
The family later moved to 1 Cadmore Lane, Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
John volunteered and enlisted for Home Service Duties only, on 16th November 1915, giving his age as 35, his occupation a Nursery Hand and his address as 1 Cadmore Lane, Cheshunt, posted to the Army Reserve the following day the 17th.
He was mobilized for Home Service Duties on 7th June 1916. Serving with the following unit in the UK, 29th Middlesex Regiment, service number 78599, Royal Fusiliers service number 55599, Essex Regiment service number 4201, in June 1917, he was transferred to the 427th Agricultural Company Labour Corps service number 241920. He died of Influenza and Pneumonia at the Military Hospital, Hounslow, Middx, on 3rd December 1918, aged 40. He was buried on 9th December 1918, at Cheshunt Burial Ground, Bury Green Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
Additional Information
Alice received a widow’s pension of £1-5-00 a week from 16th September 1919, and his war gratuity of £8-15-00.
John was not awarded a war medal as he did not serve outside of Britain
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
