Name
John Herbert Carey
01/09/1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
201257
Norfolk Regiment
1st/4th Bn.
'C' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GAZA WAR CEMETERY
XXIII. D. 1.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
LIFE HOW SHORT ETERNITY HOW LONG
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
John Herbert Carey was born in Bushey, Nr Watford, Hertfordshire on 1 September 1885, the son of John Herbert and Henrietta Carey (nee Bennett), and was baptised on 30 October 1885 in Oxhey, Herts.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 38 St Andrews Street, Leighton Buzzard where his father was a lodging house keeper. John grew up in Leighton Buzzard, where he was later employed as a cycle maker but on 11 January 1905 he enlisted in Bedford and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal on 18 October 1910 and was recorded on the 1911 Census as a Corporal with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in barracks at Longmoor Camp, East Liss, Hampshire. Prior to enlistment he been a member of the Bedfordshire 3rd Battalion (Reserve/Militia Battalion). He served in India with the 1st Bedfordshires.
Wartime Service
It is not clear if he was still a serving soldier at the outbreak of war, but if not, he would have been called up as a reservist and he served in France with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment from 12 September 1914. He was admitted to hospital with a bullet wound to the right foot on 16 November 1914 and repatriated to England.
Following recovery he was transferred to the 1st/4th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment and promoted to Sergeant, being sent to Egypt from Devonport on 18 January 1916 and arriving in Alexandria ten days later.
John was killed in action, aged 32, and death was presumed on or since 19 April 1917. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.
Additional Information
His sole legatee and fiancee, Miss Kate Powell, received a war gratuity of £18 10s and pay owing of £13 17s 6d. She also received his personal effects and medals and lived at 2 St Nicholas Street, Ipswich.
Although he had nominated Kate Powell as his sole legatee, correspondence exists in his military records from his mother regarding his medals. His mother also claimed a dependant's pension and was then living at 38 St Andrew's Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, although there is no indication if a pension was awarded.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer, Brenda Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
