John William Sheldrake

William's military  record and Jane's photo's

  • Born: 12 March 1889 (from Service Record)
  • Where: Hapton, Norfolk
  • Enlisted: 7 September 1914
  • Rank: Private
  • Service No.: 14849
  • Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
  • Service : 9th Battalion
  • Date of Death: 2 October 1917
  • Cemetery: Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay (CWGC link)
  • Grave Ref.: II. M. 14.

References sources:

Further Info:

  • Full name John William Sheldrake
  • Son of Thomas and Susan Sheldrake, of Hapton, Norfolk.
  • 1889: birth (1889 Q1 Depwade Vol 4B Page 273
  • 1891 Census: Hapton, Norfolk, age 3 (RG12 Piece 1546 Folio 48 Page 5)
  • 1901 Census: Tharston, Norfolk, age 13, errand boy (RG13 Piece 1862 Folio 125 Page 2)
  • 1911 Census:Forncett St. Mary, Norfolk, age 22, lodging with James Long and family (RG14 PN11459 RD230 SD3 ED5 SN110)
  • 1916: 1 March transferred: Soldier Number 152898, Rank Private, Corps Royal Engineers, then returned to Norfolk Regiment
Quotes from the Roll of Honour website ...
Private 14849, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 2 October 1917. Aged 29. Born Hapton, enlisted Norwich. Son of Mr. Thomas Sheldrake, of Hapton, Norfolk (attestation papers state Thartson, nr. Long Stratton, Norfolk). Admitted to Gissing School, Gissing, Norfolk 1898, born 12 March 1888. Railway Labourer prior to enlistment. Attested and passed fit 7 September 1914 in Norwich. In the 1891 census he was aged 3, son of Thomas and Sarah Sheldrake, born Hapton, Norfolk, resident Hapton Street, Hapton, Depwade, Norfolk. In the 1901 census he is the son of Thomas and Esther (2nd wife) Sheldrake, aged 13, an errand boy, born Hapton, Norfolk, resident Tharston Street, Tharston, Depwade, Norfolk; his brother George is listed above. In the 1911 census he is aged 22, lodging with James Long, in Forncett St Mary, Long Stratton, Norfolk. Previously Sapper 152898, 120th Railway Company, Royal Enigneers - platelayer proficient, transferred to 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, 7 September 1916. Entitled to British War and Victory Medals. Embarked in France 30 August 1915. Height 5 feet 5 inches, weight 118lbs, chest 34 inches, fresh complexion, briown eyes, brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. Buried in MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, GRENAY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row M. Grave 14. See also Liverpool Street Station, London and Forncett St. Mary.


[Listed as W J SHELDRAKE on memorial] Permanent Way Labourer, Civil Engineering Department - Private 14849, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 2 October 1917. Aged 29. Born Hapton, Norfolk. Son of Mr. T. Sheldrake, of Hapton, Norfolk. Joined Great Eastern Railway 3 June 1913. Enlisted 1914 in Norwich, Norfolk. Admitted to Gissing School, Gissing, Norfolk 1898, born 12 March 1888. Railway Labourer prior to enlistment. Attested and passed fit 7 September 1914 in Norwich. In the 1891 census he was aged 3, son of Thomas and Sarah Sheldrake, born Hapton, Norfolk, resident Hapton Street, Hapton, Depwade, Norfolk. In the 1901 census he is the son of Thomas and Esther (2nd wife) Sheldrake, aged 13, an errand boy, born Hapton, Norfolk, resident Tharston Street, Tharston, Depwade, Norfolk; his brother George is listed above. In the 1911 census he is aged 22, lodging with James Long, in Forncett St Mary, Long Stratton, Norfolk. Previously Sapper 152898, 120th Railway Company, Royal Enigneers - platelayer proficient, transferred to 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, 7 September 1916. Entitled to British War and Victory Medals. Embarked in France 30 August 1915. Height 5 feet 5 inches, weight 118lbs, chest 34 inches, fresh complexion, briown eyes, brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. Buried in MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, GRENAY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row M. Grave 14. See also Tharston, Norfolk, and Forncett St. Mary, Norfolk

Private 14849, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 2nd October 1917. Aged 29. Born Hapton, enlisted Norwich. Son of Mr. T. Sheldrake, of Hapton, Norfolk. Buried in Maroc British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row M. Grave 14. See also Liverpool Street Station, London and Tharston

Jane's photos ...

Page last updated: 5 Sept 2018