Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John William Trott was born 1891 in Downholme, Richmond, Yorkshire. My theory as regards his parentage is that he was the child of an unmarried woman. He was taken in by his grandparents John Trott and Mary Terry who were married in Leyburn, Yorkshire in 1860 and had 5 children of their own, 4 daughters and 1 son. Their daughter Ann born 1861 and son William Thomas 1863 were both dead long before Thomas William was born, Jane Trott, born 1866, was married and had children of her own as was Hannah born October 15th 1867, by the time John William was born. Youngest daughter Ada born in 1872 was probably his birth mother, she died in 1893, registered in the district of Richmond Yorkshire.
In 1901, aged 9, he was living with his grandparents at Main Street, in the village of Downholme, where despite his 66-years John Trott worked not only as a coal miner but also a farm labourer to support his wife, John William and also a second grandchild, Alice Holroyd (3), his daughter Hannah’s child. Mary Trott nee Terry died in 1904 and Thomas William had left his grandfather’s home by 1911 eventually making his was to Eddisbridge, Shotley Bridge, County Durham, employed as a shepherd.
War with Germany was declared, August 4th 1914, Thomas William Trott was conscripted after the introduction in January 1916 of the Military Service Act. He presented himself at Consett, County Durham, January 12th 1916, attested at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, May 30th 1916, he was assigned as Private 37868 to the 21st (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry and posted to the 4th Battalion at Seaham Harbour, September 1st 1916, part of the coastal defences but also a training unit for men destined for service overseas and a retraining unit for the recovering sick and wounded.
Warned of their imminent departure to the front, the men were given a pass in order to say their goodbyes. Private Trott made his way to Hamsterley Colliery to see his sweetheart, (Margaret) Ada Dobson, overstaying his pass by half a day, he did not return to Seaham until September 11th at 10:30 a. m. for which he was punished by the forfeiture of half a days pay.
Private Trott was posted to the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry prior to his departure with his regiment, September 14th 1916. The men of the 11th Battalion were the 20th Division’s Pioneer battalion and those already at the front were hard at work repairing roads and were in and out of the front line trenches during the Battles of the Somme, however, the new recruits upon their arrival remained at the Infantry Base Depot. Private Trott was posted to the 2nd Battalion D.L.I. October 6th 1916, the 2nd D.L.I. was a battalion of the Regular Army, 18th Brigade, 6th Division, and knowing he would soon be in the front line trenches, prior to leaving the Base Depot, Private Trott made a will, October 4th 1916, stating, “In the event of my death I leave my things to my sweetheart Miss Ada Dobson, No.1, School Row, Hamsterley Colliery, County Durham.”
He joined his regiment in the field October 6th 1916 which participated during the Battle of Le Transloy, October 9th-18th before moving to the Arras sector. During day to day trench warfare he received a grenade wound to the neck, February 10th 1917 and was taken by the 18th Field Ambulance of the 6th Division for treatment, he did not return to his unit until February 24th 1917.
The division did not take part in any other major battles until the Arras Offensive during the spring of 1917, April 9th-May 16th where it saw action during the fighting in the coalfields of Lens together with the 14th Battalion over Hill 70, beginning April 13th through to July 1917.
Private 37868 John William Trott Durham Light Infantry was killed in action April 25th 1917 and interred within Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France, grave II. A. 15. Mazingarbe is a small town between Lens and Bethune, the Communal Cemetery Extension was begun by the 16th (Irish) Division in April 1916 and used for burials until October 1918. Private Trott was 26 years of age and single.
As per his will, his sole legitimate beneficiary Miss (Margaret) Ada Dobson received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to her at No.1, School Row, Hamsterley Colliery, as were his personal effects consisting of; disc, letters, photos, xmas card, purse and cap badge.
Details of John’s sweetheart:
Margaret Ada Dobson born February 7th 1893, Medomsley, County Durham, was the daughter of Robert and Mary Ann Dobson, who in 1911 were living at 85, School Row, Hamsterley Colliery, County Durham, where her father was a coal hewer. After John’s death she married George William Carr, born April 8th 1892, during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1917 in the district of Lanchester, their son George William Jnr was born in 1919 at Easington. In 1939 they were living at 13, Wear Street, Chopwell, George was employed as a coal hewer. Margaret Ada Carr nee Dobson died whilst living at 8, Tees Street, Chopwell, County Durham, July 30th 1975 aged 82-years, George William Carr circa 1953.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John William Trott is remembered In Shotley Low Quarter on S28.01 and S128.07
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 97
