Private John James Wadsworth

 

 

John James Wadsworth was born on 15 December 1893 in New Row, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the second of three children of labourer Richard Wadsworth and his wife Rebecca (née Vaughan). His father died when he was just a year old. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Henry Street, Enniskillen, with his mother, his surviving sibling, and his maternal grandmother.

Wadsworth enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 6 and 10 October 1914 (No. UD/20). On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In September 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Wadsworth, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt some days later. Wadsworth was issued regimental number 41095.

No information has been discovered about Wadsworth's service with the 9th (NIH) Battalion through the latter part of 1917 and during 1918, but he probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917. On 15 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

On 19 May 1920 Wadsworth married Mary Rankin in the Church of Ireland Parish Church, Enniskillen. The couple had at least five children over the next eight years. In June 1927 the family emigrated to Canada, settling in Edmonton. John died in a house fire on 5 May 1967 and was buried in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Edmonton.

 

 

 

Image of Private Wadsworth (from 10 November 1918) and newspaper article sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees – contributor Diana Perry. Cemetery image sourced from the Find a Grave website.

 

This page last updated 14 January 2023.