Job Reddin was born the 2nd January 1904 to Job & Catherine Reddin (nee Jones) who married in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay on the 31st January 1892. (Flintshire (Mold) C104/01/E312).
Job was in a large family and had two brothers who were to lose their lives in WW2, Kenneth and William.
They are seen on the 1911 census living at 13, Dock Road, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire (5 Rooms). Head of the household was Job Reddin, 45, a Labourer in the Iron Works, with his wife Catherine, 39 telling us that they had been married 18 years and 9 children had been born to them, all still living. They also tell us that they whole family had been born in Connah’s Quay. The children were Mary Alice, 17, single and in Domestic Service, Hilda, 15 at home, while children Thomas,13, Edward Peers, 8, Job, 7, Kitty, 5, Percy, 4 were at school, Agnes, 3 and baby John, 1 made up the family. Later that year William Reddin, was to be born in 1911 and was a brother to Kenneth, he too was to lose his life in the War years, please click on the link to read his story.
The story of Job obviously follows that of Kenneth Reddin, and his brother William, (Click on the links to read their stories) in that they were the sons of Job & Catherine Reddin, and one of the many families in Connah’s Quay and Shotton, whose sacrifice to their country was heavy.
I believe that Job had started a life in the Merchant Navy as there is a seaman’s Identity Card in the National Archives, but there is a discrepancy with his date of birth, he states on that that he was born in 1905.
On the 1921 census the family are still living at 13, Dock Road, Connah’s Quay, but circumstances had changed radically, Job (Snr) had died, I believe, in the June quarter of 1917 (Holywell Vol. 11b Page 277). William would have been 6 years old; Kenneth would have been only 2 years old, but Job (Jnr) would have been 13 years old then.
The 1921 census was taken on the 19th of June 1921 and shows Catherine as head of the household, she was now 49 years and 7 months old and a widow. Her children were: – Thomas Reddin, now 23 years 7 months old and he was a Merchant Seaman, but “Out of Work.” Edward Peers Reddin, 19 years old, a Labourer, Job Reddin, 17 years 5 months old, also a Labourer, Kitty Reddin, 15 years 11 months old was “At Home.” Percy Reddin was 14 years 11 months old and a Labourer, all the men were “Out of Work.” It was the time of the Miner’s strike and 2 of them worked at John Summers & Sons, Hawarden Bridge Steelworks. The remaining children were all in school “Whole time,” Agnes Reddin was 14 years old, Robert John Reddin was 12 years old, William Reddin was 9 years 7 months old and Kenneth Reddin was 6 years 3 months old.
By 1931 Job had met and married Mary Turner in a Civil or Registrar Attended Marriage in Wirral (Wirral WW/23/117), so when the 1939 National Register was taken on the 29th September 1939, Mary is seen living at 26, Bolton Road, Bebington, Cheshire, with a child, whose name was redacted for the register, but who, I believe to be Gordon Reddin, born in 1931.
With the family history Job could have been in the Merchant Navy, but his Commonwealth War Graves Citation states that he was in the Royal Engineers and probably already in the fight for our survival in WW2, as there is only one little card that gives us anything regarding his Army Service, which just states that he died and gives his Regimental Number, and he was on “Class Z Reserve.”
So, I have no idea what he did in the war, except that he was to lose his life on the 31st of January 1946, age 42 years old and is buried in St. Andrews Churchyard, Heswell, Cheshire. Any information would be gratefully received.
Job must be remembered as he sacrificed his hopes and dreams to make sure we were safe and the fact that he died after the war shows that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission honoured men from the services up to the 31st of December 1947.
Taken from : – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/frequently-asked-questions/
CWGC are responsible for the commemoration of personnel who died between
4 August 1914 and 31 August 1921 and 3 September 1939 and 31 December 1947 whilst serving in a Commonwealth military force or specified auxiliary organisation.
Personnel who died between
4 August 1914 and 31 August 1921 and 3 September 1939 and 31 December 1947 after they were discharged from a Commonwealth military force if their death was caused by their wartime service.
Commonwealth civilians who died between 3 September 1939 and 31 December 1947 as a consequence of enemy action, Allied weapons of war or whilst in an enemy prison camp.
Job is also remembered on the website https://www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=32280/1986912-serjeant-Job-Reddin
FATHER, IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING
