Name
John Shortland
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
8380
East Surrey Regiment
13th Battalions
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
John Shortland was born at Abbots Langley on 26th January 1893 and was baptised in the village on 1st April 1893 He was discovered when researching a man from the Parish of Leavesden with the same name. He was not recorded in any of the local Parish records. John was one of ten children (five sons and five daughters) born to John (senior) and Julia Shortland. At the time of the 1891 Census the family was recorded living at Kitters Green, Abbots Langley, where John (senior) worked as a General Labourer. In the 1901 Census the family was recorded living at Garden Road, Abbots Langley. John (senior) still worked as a General Labourer, but died in October 1901, and John (junior) was listed with the name Jack in the Census record.
By the time of the 1911 Census the family lived at 3 Garden Road, and John (junior) worked as a Farm Labourer. Very early in the War, John (junior) joined up. He enlisted at Watford on 8th September 1914 and was immediately posted to the 4th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He undertook a medical at Watford and was considered fit for the Army. It is not known when he was mobilised but between February and October 1915 he was disciplined for five separate misdemeanours, whilst training with the East Surrey’s, and was confined to barracks for 36 days in total.
On 12th February he was insubordinate on Parade; 24th March for not complying with an order; 27th June was Absent Without Leave; 27th July left the barracks without permission; 28th September was found acting as an Officer’s servant without being detailed and also being Absent from Parade.
On 5th October 1915 John was posted to the 9th East Surrey> He was sent to France and on 31st October was posted to the 11th East Surrey’s at the same time. He remained in France until 29th August 1916 when he returned to England for treatment having received a gun-shot wound to his back on 16th August. He was posted to the 3rd East Surrey’s on12th February 1917, and then to the 8th East Surrey’s on 15th March, before joining the 13th East Surrey’s on 6th April 1917. Later in April, on 24th John received a gun-shot wound to the right thigh, and after being posted to the 8th and then 4th East Surrey’s in April and August 1917 he went before a medical Board and was pronounced “Not physically fit for War service” on 8th October 1917. He was provided with a £1 advance and a suit of clothes, and proceeded from hospital to 10 Diamond Road, Watford.
John Shortland received a weekly pension of 27/6 for four weeks and then 13/9 to be reviewed after thirteen weeks due to a disability concerning damage to a lung attributable to War Service
John Shortland survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th & 11th Battalions East Surrey Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
