No.PW/5844, Private, John CHALLIS
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John Challis was born in Soham (Newmarket Q4-1876 3B:642), son of Charles and Mary CHALLIS (née MANTLE).
1881 census...Aged 4, he was at Qua Fen Common, Soham with his father Charles CHALLIS [57] a sawyer born Helions Bumpstead, Essex; his mother Mary [49]; brothers Thomas [21] and Samuel [17] (both farm labourers); sisters Bertha [12], Polly [10] and Julia [8]. All except his father were born in Soham. 1891 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at Qua Fen Common with his parents and brother Thomas with his wife Adelaide [22] born Upware. 1901 census...Aged 24, farm labourer, he was at Nornea Farm, Stuntney with brother Samuel and his (2nd ?) wife Ellen and their 7 children. His widower father was at Qua Fen Common with a housekeeper Harriett SARGEANT. His mother appears to have died around 1896. 1911 census...Aged 34, single, a farm labourer, he was boarding with his widower brother Thomas and his 4 sons at Qua Fen Common, Soham. The Soldier's Personal Effects entry detail more of the family as legatees, they were brothers Thomas and Samuel, sisters Lizzie PALMER, Bertha TAYLOR, Polly BROWN and Julia FITCH, also George BADCOCK (noted 'chum's ppty') His nephew Walter Challis, serving in the Royal Field Artillery, died in Swanage in 1916 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. The "Die Hards" moved south in December to a part of the line previously held by the French. On the 14th the 1st Middlesex went into the line just north-east of Bouchavesnes, they were then on the extreme right of the whole British line in France and Flanders. Their time there was uneventful, and when the Battalion was relieved they had lost only 5 other ranks killed and 18 wounded.
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