Name
John (Jack) Biswell
11 October 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/07/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10474
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Leverstock Green Village Memorial, Leverstock Green Village School Memorial
Pre War
John Biswell (often known as Jack) was born on 11 October 1896 at Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Harry and Louisa Biswell, and baptised there on 26 September 1897 (the same day as his brother Harry). He was one of eight children.
Unfortunately his father was often in trouble and was fined 10 shillings plus costs for trespassing whilst ferreting in 1898. In March 1901 he was fined for obscene language whilst drunk and arrested for being drunk and disorderly on several occasions.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at Belconey, Leverstock Green, where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer. They remained there on the 1911 Census and John was working as a Brush Maker at G B Kent & Sons (brushmakers) in Apsley.
His girlfriend Nellie ( Ellen Elizabeth) Hadland, gave birth to their son, John Longueval Hadland after his death on 27 November 1916 and was baptised at Leverstock Green on 11 February 1917. (N.B. Longueval was where Jack died.) John Hadland became a foundling and was fostered by a family in East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. His name was changed by the Foundling Hospital to Philip Stockdale and he died in Maidstone, Kent in 1996.
Wartime Service
He travelled to Bedford to volunteer for the army at the age of 17 the day after war was declared and was accepted by the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. After basic training he was posted to France on 11 November, joining the Battalion in the field on the 24th.
He was wounded at Hill 60 in April 1915 and arrived at 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 20 April having been shot in the leg. It is not known how serious his injury was or how long he took to recover.
In July 1916 the Battalion was situated east of Mametz in preparation for an attack on Longueval, (part of the Battle of Delville Wood). As they began the attack on 27 July they were subjected to heavy artillery fire which made progress almost impossible. They were unable to achieve their objectives and suffered heavy casualties. Jack was initially posted as missing, but then confirmed as having been killed in action on 27 July 1916. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
Brother to Harry George Biswell who died in 6 May 1916 and is buried at Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium. His mother Louisa received a pension of 10 shillings a week in respect of both sons. His father received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £5 11s 6d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, google.com/site/leverstockgreenwarmemorial, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com
