Ira John Ivin (aka Ivor John Ikin)

The Hawarden War Memorial gives the name of Ira John Ivin  which I believe is correct.  On his Military records  and sometimes the censuses, however,  his name is written as Ivor John Ivin.

Ira John Ivin was born circa 1887. The first census I have been able to trace him on is the 1901 one.  He was living with his family at Shaftesbury Terrace, Risca County, Monmouthshire. The head of the household was Ira’s mother Elizabeth, a widow who was 53 and who had been born in Undy, Monmouthshire. Her listed children were William  27,  a Labourer at the steelworks,  Ralph,  20, a Striker at the Steel works, May was 18, Bertie and  Ira,14 were both labourers in the steelworks. All the children had been born in Monmouthshire.  A Visitor was recorded in the household that night, William Rees, a widower age 71, living on his own means.

The 1911 census sees the family still in Monmouthshire, but at 37 Trafalgar St., Pontymister.   Widowed Elizabeth was  69. (This time she stated she was born at Gray Hill, Monmouthshire).   The listed children were William 39, still single and a General Labourer.  Albert  26 was a Crane Driver,  Ivor (Ira) was 23 and a Blacksmith’s Striker,   Agnes E.M. Jones ( this could be May from the 1901 census) was 28 and married to  Charles E.T. Jones, who was 23 and an Insurance Agent.

Ira John Ivin married Catherine Elizabeth Tilley on 12th September, 1916 at St. Francis’s Church, in Sandycroft, where he was then living. The marriage details tell us that Ira John was 31, Bachelor and a Soldier.  His deceased father was Richard Ivin, Provision Dealer. Catherine Elizabeth was  29  and lived  in Sandycroft. her father was Edward Tilley, a Costs Clerk.

Catherine Elizabeth & Ira John were together for a very short time, in fact according to the “Soldiers died in the Great War”, (on Ancestry) he died on the 27th September 1916, 15 days after the wedding.   According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, however,  he died on the 10th October 1917, so would have had about 12 months more married time.   I have pursued  this with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and in their reply they said that they too have the same conflicting dates.

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  confirms the regimental information above and tells us he was born in Pontymister, Monmouthshire. His residence was Hawarden and he enlisted in Flint.  They say he died on 27th September 1916. His medal card also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medal entitlement.

Ira is also named on the on the Sandycroft War Memorial in St. Francis’s Church

Forces Genealogy tells us that Ivor John Ivin died on the 20th October 1917.

Is there a family member who can clear up the mystery of Ira’s death date? Any help would be appreciated.