Sarah Ann White
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Edward Codd was the only son of John Edward Codd Snr originally from Sleaford, Lincolnshire, born 1836 and Jane Hope-Pearson nee Wardhaugh born 1842 at Reaveley, Northumberland.
Jane Wardhaugh’s first marriage to John Pearson in 1861 in the district of Alnwick, Northumberland, seems to have ended in separation as she had re-married under the surname of Wardhaugh in 1869, at Morpeth, Northumberland, to widower Alexander Hope prior to John Pearson’s demise. Alexander Hope had 3 children from his previous marriage and a child with Jane, Eleanor, born in 1870 at Warkworth. Alexander Hope died in the district of Morpeth, aged 49 years in 1872, Jane gave birth to a son in 1874, at Alnwick, whom she named William Wardhaugh Hope, however, the name of his true father is unknown.
Post 1874 Jane left Northumberland and relocated to Gateshead, County Durham, where she was married to John Edward Codd in 1883, John Edward Codd Jnr was born April 22nd 1884 and baptised at St. Edmund, Gateshead, May 18th.
John Edward’s father was deceased by 1891, he, his mother and half-brother were living at Park Road, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. William Hope (16) was employed as a coal miner, John Edward (6) was a scholar and to make ends meet their mother had found employment as a washer woman. Ten years later only John Edward was living at home with his mother (declared age 52, actual age 59), now 16 years of age he too had found employment at the colliery as a screener above ground, also living with them was a boarder, coal miner John Irvine (36). Despite their age difference of 20 or so years Jane Codd and John Irvine were married in 1902 at Gateshead, they were living alone in 2 rooms at 19, Victoria Cottages, Felling, in 1911, as John Edward had also married.
John Edward Codd was married at St. Mary’s Church, Heworth, Gateshead, December 3rd 1904 to Sarah Ann White, native of Felling born March 27th 1886. Sarah had given birth to 4 children by 1911 of whom only 3 had survived, Eleanor White Codd, May 18th 1905, John Edward Jnr 1907 and Thomas Henry 1909.
The 1911 census entry shows the family living in 1 room at 35, Tarlton Place, Split Crow Lane, Felling, Gateshead, he supported his family employed as a colliery labourer above ground. Unfortunately, their son Thomas Henry died, aged 1-year old, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1911 while his wife was pregnant. Sarah Ann gave birth during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1911 to their daughter Jane Wardhaugh Codd. Another of their children Clara born 1914 also died within 3 months.
After the declaration of war John Edward Codd enlisted at Gateshead assigned as Private 3469 to the 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The 1/9th was a Territorial Force of the first line destined for service overseas. The main body of the regiment departed from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, April 19th 1915 bound for France and within days without any nursery training were fighting for their lives on the Belgian salient during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Private Codd did not depart for the front until August 19th 1915, joining his regiment in the field still in the trenches of the Ypres salient and Armentieres where they remained until August 1916 before moving south to the Somme as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division.
September and October of 1916 the battalion attacked Starfish Line north of High Wood and the Flers Line at Eaucort L’Abbaye. The Butte was captured also, however, the battalion was pushed back, unable to hold their position sustaining about 300 men killed or wounded.
During the 1st quarter of 1917 Private Codd was in England, whether this was due to illness, wounding or simply on leave, in the absence of a military record, it is unknown. He returned to his regiment with a new service number as Private 203619 and was posted to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry which had returned to Belgium from the Somme.
After a successful attack in June 1917 at Messines Ridge, July 7th the 13th Battalion D.L.I. was in the trenches at Klein Zillebeke and had moved to the Menin Road sector by September participating during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
Private 203619 John Edward Codd Durham Light Infantry was killed in action September 20th 1917, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades and marked with a cross bearing his name and military details. After the Armistice at the request of the Belgian and French governments all isolated graves and smaller concentration were brought into larger cemeteries for re-burial.
Remains found at map reference J. 20. b. 85. 52, without a cross on the grave, once exhumed were identified by means of 2 discs as those of Private Codd. He was brought into Ypres Reservoir North Cemetery, later renamed Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, May 23rd 1921 and interred with full military honours by an Army Chaplain. He is at rest grave VII. C. 34, at the time of his demise in 1917 he was 33 years of age.
His widow Sarah Ann gave birth to their daughter May Codd during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1917 and whilst grieving for her husband suffered the added pain of losing their daughter within 3 months of her birth.
She received all monies due to her husband from the Army, a pension for herself and their 2 surviving children, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also the 2 discs found on his remains.
Their daughter Eleanor White Codd did not marry, she died in 1975 aged 70 years, registered at Gateshead.
John Edward Codd Jnr married in 1931 to Annie Speller O’Brien born at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, February 18th 1909 and with whom he had 5 children. Their youngest daughter Ida and his wife both died during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1947, which gives rise to the possibility both can be attributed to a difficult birth. Only a few months later his mother, Sarah Ann Codd nee White, died July 16th, aged 60 years. John Edward re-married in 1949 to Annie May Brotherton or Harmer native of Gateshead born 1899. Annie May Codd (nee Brotherton or Harmer) died in 1968, John Edward Codd Jnr, January 12th 1984.
The death of Private John Edward Codd’s mother Jane Irvine-Codd-Hope-Pearson nee Wardhaugh preceded that of her son during the 1st quarter 1917, at Gateshead, County Durham, aged 75 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Edward Codd is remembered at Windy Nook on W95.01 and W95.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 254
