John Henry Bagnall

Born 15th December 1899

John Henry Bagnall was my Grandfather. He was born on 15th December 1899. We know this from his RAF documents. In the 1901 census he is listed age 1.

Baptised 31 January 1900

Baptised 31 January 1900 at St. Andrew's in Wakefield. Address listed as "Bagnalls Terrace". William & Harriet Bagnall listed as parents, William's occupation: "Builder".

1911 Census

In the 1911 census, John Henry is listed aged 11 with his parents William and Harriet, four siblings, and his aunt Mabel Bagnall, at 108 Stanley Road, Wakefield (ref 27385/RD504/SD4/ED9/SN188).

Apprentice Engineer 1915 to 1918

John was an Apprentice Engineer at the tender age of 15, at Fotherby & Co Engineers, The Anchor Foundry in Wakefield, from 1915 to 1918. This information came from his R.A.F. service record.

A 1918 trade directory confirms the firm: "Fotherby and Co., Anchor Foundry, Wakefield. Phone: 185." Foundry work is a common thread through Bagnall Ancestry it seems - George Bagnall and his sons were foundry labourers and iron moulders a century earlier, and George, Joseph and William were all Iron Moulders too.

R.A.F.

John Henry's service record (National Archives series AIR 76) confirms his date of birth, 15th December 1899, and his address, Moor Villa, 108 Stanley Road, Wakefield, with his father William listed as next of kin, a Builder and Contractor of Eastmoor, Wakefield. He joined on 13th February 1918, given Air Force No. 128273, trade "Misc. (Aviator) Pilot (Learner)", rank Private 2 / Air Mechanic 3rd Class, pay 1s 6d a day - he appears under this number in the R.A.F. Nominal Roll.

He was discharged on 3rd May 1918, on medical grounds: a medical board on 25th February 1918 found him "unfit F.O. [Flying Officer] in any capacity, unfit G.S. [General Service] as present, should have nose condition enquired into."

These records list his permanent address as Moorvilla.

Marriage 19 Aug 1922

John marries Dorothy Townsend on 19 August 1922, at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (See sign in background of wedding photograph), though the marriage certificate says "the Parish Church in the Parish of St Andrew, Wakefield"

(Click here to see an annotated wedding photograph)

1939 Register

The 1939 Register records John Henry, a Motor Omnibus Driver, living with Dorothy and their daughter Shirley (b. 1936) at 856 Leeds Road, Dewsbury, Yorkshire. Shirley was John Henry and Dorothy's youngest child: their eldest, Patricia ("Pat", b. 1924), was followed by Donald (b. 1930) and then Shirley - Donald had to help provide for his mother and two sisters after John Henry's death.

Pat later married Dennis, who was also in the RAF. Shirley married Steve Elsey.

John Henry Died in 1947

John Henry died aged 46 in 1947. Donald was just 17 and had to become the man of the house or breadwinner. These were austere, unhappy times for him. I never knew my grandfather since he died long before I was born. He is buried in an unmarked grave, possibly at Saint Paul's C of E Church at Hanging Heaton?