John Charles Attwood was born in 1889 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire. We find him in the 1891 census living at 181 Whitehall Road, West Bromwich with his family. The father was George Attwood a 27 year old iron shearer. His wife was Phoebe also 27. John Charles, 2 years old, was their only child.
Ten years later, in the 1901 census the family had moved to 21 Brook Road Connah’s Quay in Flintshire. John Charles was 12 years old and he had a little brother, Joseph G who was 4 years old. The father George, now 39 was still a shearer in the iron works but now at Shotton.
In the 1911 census the family was living at 140 High Street, Connah’s Quay. By now George was 47 and had been joined in the ironworks by his two eldest sons. John Charles was 22 and Joseph was 13. There was another, younger brother, William who was 9 years old and a scholar. There was also a ten year old adopted daughter, Dora who had been born in Lancashire.
His little brother William went to Hawarden County School.:- William was to go to Hawarden County School and the Admissions Register gives us information – No.532/589. ATTWOOD, William A. , Mount Pleasant, Beaconsfield Road, Shotton. Occupation – Ironworker. Total Exemption. September 1915 granted by Flintshire Education Committee. Tenable for School life. Date of birth 11th May 1901 Admitted 14th September 1915 – left 27th July 1917. Occupation Clerk.
Also another brother :-
1023/1519 ATTWOOD, Ken Charles born 13th October 1913, Belmont Villas, Connah’s Quay, Steelworker, entered 15th September 1925 from C.Q. County Council School, left the 9th May 1930 Inland Rev. (Deceased)
On the 14th December 1912, at St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay, John Charles, 23, married Janet Lilian Thomas, 23, Spinster who had lived at 1, Belmont Villas, Connah’s Quay and who’s father was Edward Bevan? Thomas. On the marriage certificate his address was 72, High Street.
In the Flintshire Observer 11th March 1915 C. Attwood was named as having been recruited into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. ( Hawarden County School Roll of Honour (Old boys) Non-Commissioned) On the memorial his name is J. Chas. Attwood.
UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914 – 1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk gives us the regimental details as above and tells us that he enlisted in Shotton. It also says he was Killed in Action.
His medal card contains the information that he first entered a theatre of war (France) on 19th July 1915, he was to be Killed in Action just over 2 months later.
John Charles Attwood in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatees were his widow Janet Lilian and their child who were paid £1. 9s 4d on the 27th January 1916 and his War Gratuity of £6. 10s 0d on the 31st July 1919
John Charles is mentioned in the book “Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1918 Royal Welsh Fusiliers Volume 28”.
Joseph George Attwood, the younger brother of John Charles died later in the war and is also named on the memorial and the newspaper cutting below. Follow the link to his page to read his story
Flintshire Observe 14th November 1918
John Charles is also named on the Hawarden War Memorial and the Hawarden County School Roll of Honour.
Thanks to Bill Tyrell, who allowed me access to the Minutes of the the Conservative Club Shotton where in a meeting on the 9th October 1916 the committee voted to give financial help to sixteen widows of the area. Mrs. ATTWOOD, Beaconsfield Road, Shotton, was one of those widows, they were each given 5/-. Please click on the link to read the names of the others who were mentioned in the minutes.
Addendum – If you would like a copy of the War Diaries for the 8th Bn R.W.F. please contact the website or they can be seen on Ancestry.co.uk.
