Name
John Robert Christopher
27 December 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/11/1914
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
7150
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
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Post Office Memorial (*1), Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Rickmansworth, Letchworth Town Memorial, Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
John Robert Christopher was born 27 December 1881 at Sleaford, Lincolnshire in 1882, John was the son of John and Mary Ann (nee Medley) Christopher.
His parents married 1876 in the Bradford, Yorks, district. Mary died 1932 aged 77; John died 1936 aged 81; both in the Hitchin district.
In 1901 the family were living at 37 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents: John (36) and Mary (36), with John working as a Carpenter. Their children were: Charles (13), Charlotte Ann (12), Herbert Samuel (10), John Robert (9), Harold (7), Alfred (5), Mabel (1) and Wilfred at kust one month.
He originally enlisted 12 February 1902. It is not clear how long he served, but in by 7 December 1907 he had been appointed as assistant town postman in Watford. He seems to have remained there until 5 December 1909 when he became town postman in Hatche end.
1911 John was a postman boarding with Annie Hapgood and her sister Ethel at 1 Caroline Cottage, Pinner. In 1912 John married Jane Jepps (b 28/2/1886), the marriage being registered in Watford, and their son John was born in 1914.
When war was declared he was a postman in Rickmansworth and was called up from the Army Reserve list.
Officially he was recorded as born in Sleaford, Lincs. and was living in Hitchin, Herts. when he enlisted there.
Jane did not remarry after John’s death and in 1939 was living 25 Ferrol Road, Gosport with her son John, a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, and two boarders.
Wartime Service
It is suggested that he re-enlisted in Hitchin, Herts; but he seems to have gone to France by 30 August 1914, which suggest he was serving or at lease in the Army Reserve
As a regular army Battalion, John’s unit landed in France on the 16th of August 1914 as part of 15th Infantry Brigade 5th Division.
The Letchworth Chronical reported that on October 27th, 1914 he wrote home saying that he had been in the trenches for 14 days, had lost all his kit and only just escaped with his life.
The Division fought in all the early actions of the war including the Battles of Le Cateau (in which 5 Victoria Crosses were won), Marne, Aisne and La Basse. John was killed during the First Battle of Ypres near the Comines Canal.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals.
Additional Information
After his death £5 19s 5d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow and child on 13 March 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 20 September 1919. The post office also gave a gratuity of £76 14s 3d on the 2 March 1915.
His pension cards record Jane Christopher as his widow and dependant, living at Apsley End, Shillington, near Hitchin. It also records their child as John William (b 23/4/1914). She was awarded a pension of 15s a week from 14 June 1915 for her and the child.
He had four brothers serving in the Army. At the time of his death his family were living in Green Lane, Letchworth.
*1 He appears under the Rickmansworth section of the Watford Post Office memorial.
Unfortunately, John’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
