No.15992, Private, John BACON
Aged 45
No overseas service, therefore no medals
8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of Illness on Monday, 8th November 1915
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John BACON was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q4-1870 4A:411), son of Joseph and Joanna BACON (née CLAYDON). Baptised in St Mary's, Haverhill on
12th August 1879 with his siblings Lydia and William. His father was a Steeple Bumpstead farm labourer and mother was born in Great Bradley. They were married in 1858 and lived for a while with Joseph's parents at New France House, Sturmer before setting up their own home at Burton End 1871 census...Aged 5 months, he was at Burton End with his father Joseph [37] farm labourer, here recorded as born Haverhill; his mother Johanna [30] born Great Bradley; sisters Mary Ann [8], Jane [4] and Lydia [2], the children were all born in Haverhill. 1881 census...Aged 10, he was at Parson's Yard, Haverhill with his parents (father now recorded as born Steeple Bumopstead); sisters Mary Ann, Jane, Lydia and Eliza [1]; brothers William [7] and Abraham [5]. The new siblings all born in Haverhill. 1891 census...Aged 21, a bricklayer's labourer, he had moved next door to his parents, to lodge with William and Jane Jacobs and their family at 5 Parson's Yard. His parents were at 6 parson's Yard with his brothers William (ropemaker), George (hair weaver), Abraham (rope maker) and Henry [7]; sister Eliza (scholar). On 1st August 1891 he married Emma HARDING [26-8-1869] at St Andrew's Church, Helions Bumpstead. She was the daughter of Stephen and Harriet Harding, both of Helions Bumpstead, father a gamekeeper and mother a slop maker. They set up home at 4 Parson's Yard, Haverhill. 1901 census...Aged 31, a brick layer's labourer, he was at 4 Parson's Yard with his wife Emma (jacket finisher); sons Albert [9], James [7] and John [3]; daughters Lilly [4] and Eliza [1]. All the children were born in Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 40, still a brick layer's labourer living in Parson's Yard with his wife (jacket finisher); sons James (farm labourer), John, Arthur[9-4-1902] and Willie [24-9-1910]; daughters Emma [10-6-1903] and Alice [ 3-11-1905]. Another daughter, Nellie, was born 7-12-1912. Emma had borne 11 children but only 6 survived. Emma's grief was further compounded by the death at the same sanitorium in Bury St.Edmunds some 7 months earlier of their son James and their daughter Emma died aged 13 in 1917. The pension card has Emma at 4 Parsons Yard with Arthur, Emma, Alice, Willie and Nellie His nephew, Conrad Bacon was killed in France on 9th August 1916 see here |
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He enlisted on 8th November 1914, in Haverhill, the South West Suffolk Echo listing him on 21st November 1914 as Private, 15992, John Bacon, 8th Suffolk Regiment.
He gave his age as 34 years 11 months,(a considerable reduction in actual age), a brick layer's labourer born in Haverhill. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall(172,7 cm), weighed 150 lbs (68.3 kg), chest 37.5" to 38" (95.3 to 96.5 cm), brown eyes, brown hair, Church of England. He gave his wife's address as 4 Parsons Yard, Burton End, Haverhill. Posted to the 8th Battalion on 11th November 1914, and the Depot on 25th August 1915. He developed a cough at Colchester in December 1914 which was eventually diagnosed as phythisis (TB of lungs), but not attributable to or aggravated by military service. He was discharged, no longer physically fit for war service on 15th October 1915. He died at Bury St.Edmund's sanitorium. His name was added later to the Haverhill war memorial The Haverhill Echo of 7th September 2014 carried an article by Lily Thake, a relative, which stated " John enlisted in the 8th Suffolk Regiment in 1915. His granddaughter tells how when John enlisted, his 15 year old son Jack did too. When the name John Bacon was called, they both stood up. Neither said any-thing about the other being the wrong age to enlist."
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
