Shortland, J
JOHN SHORTLAND
Remembered with honour Oak Dump Cemetery: Row H, Grave 5.
He attested 12 January 1903 in London for Short Service (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserve), as Private 6728 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment: a gardener aged 18. He was transferred 20 October 1904 to the 4th Division Cycle Company, and transferred again 13 January 1915 to the Army Cyclist Corps. On 7 September 1915 he signed A.F.W. 3125 in the Field to continue his service for the duration of the war. He had many spells in hospital, mainly suffering from boils; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 23 August 1914, and was killed in action.
There is an article about John in the Watford Illustrated dated 17 July 1915; plus In Memoriams in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 6 July 1918 and 5 July 1919.
Son of Harriet (nee CHALK ?) SHORTLAND of Leavesden, Herts; husband of Laura Elizabeth (nee WYNNE) SHORTLAND of Watford.
Harriet married Alexander SHORTLAND, but the marriage is proving elusive. Alexander died 1921 in the Watford district aged 73, and was buried 10 May at All Saints, Leavesden; Harriet died 1930 in Watford aged 83, and was buried 17 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
John CHALK was born 1887 in Watford, and John SHORTLAND married 6 July 1912 at Christ Church, Watford; they had two children. He resided in Watford. Laura never remarried, she died 1961 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 25 August in North Watford Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, John CHALK aged 4 lived in Abbot’s Langley, Herts, with his mother, step-father and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, John SHORTLAND a boy on a farm aged 15, lived in Leavesden Green, with his mother, step-father and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, an asylum attendant aged 26 he lived in Leavesden.
Service number
1106Rank
CorporalUnit
10th BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
06/07/1917Age at death
31Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
aka J H CHALK- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)