Photo: Dorothy Hall
In Chilton Cemetery is a headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Jane Ann Stanworth
died 13th January 1949 aged 74 years
Also John Stanworth
beloved husband of the above
Killed in Action 27th March 1918
Aged 41 years
At Rest
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Stanworth was born 1877 in Castleford, Yorkshire the son of Thomas Stanworth (1850 Stafnal Shropshire - 1907 Bishop Auckland) and Mary Ann Bevan (1852 Rhuabon, Wales - 1912 County Durham). Thomas and Mary Ann were married 1872 in Shropshire and went on to have 10 children, 5 boys, 4 girls and girl, Margaret, who died in infancy. In 1891 Thomas was working as a coal miner and continued to do so all his life, John, who was only 14, worked as a driver at the coal mine whilst the family we living at Gray’s Row, Stockley. In 1898 he married Jane Ann Stephenson born 1875 in Willington. By 1901 he was working as a hewer and they lived at 156 Old Row Stockley, his wife had given birth to their first child, a son William and a new born daughter Mary Ann. 1911 found them living at 28 West Chilton, Ferryhill, their family had grown with the birth of Thomas jnr (7), John (5), Elizabeth (3) and Caroline (7 months). John was now a coal hewer overman at the colliery below ground.
As a married man with family he would have been conscripted in about 1917 and would not have been given the choice of regiment as with men who volunteered earlier in the conflict. He was assigned as Private John Stanworth 56002 Royal Army Medical Corp, 28th Field Ambulance attached to the 9th (Scottish) Division. The Field Ambulance was a front line medical unit, (not a vehicle), with the responsibility of operating a number of points along the casualty chain, from the Bearer Relay Posts, the Advanced Dressing Stations, the Main Dressing Stations and also assisting the walking wounded, they were never less than 600 yards from the front line. Private 56002 John Stanworth Royal Army Medical Corp was wounded in the line of duty during the First Battles of the Somme, March 1918 and died of wounds March 27th 1918. He is interred in Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, grave IV G 3. He was 41 years old. John was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His widow Jane Anne died January 1949, she did not remarry.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Stanworth is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04, C107.09 and C107.12
