G/9021 Sgt John Derrick, 8th Bn, RWK Regt

G/9021 Seregant John Derrick of the 8th Battalion, Queen's Own, Royal West Kent Regiment, was killed in action on the 30th October 1915. He was born in Camberwell, was living in Hertford and enlisted at Hertford in July 1915. He arrived in France on the 11th October 1915. John was 22 years old, the son - according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - of John and Evelyn Amelia Derrick of 63 Alderney Street, South Belgravia, London. He is buried in Elzenwalle Brasserie Cemetery at Ypres.

John Derrick's badly damaged service records survives in the WO 363 series at The National Archives and from this we also see that he was married at the time of his death, and that his widow - also Evelyn Amelia Derrick (nee Massingham) received a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and one child with effect from the 15th May 1916. It is also noted that his effects were to be returned to her. Did the Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his wife's name as his mother's name?

We know that John and Evelyn married in Essex in the December quarter of 1914, that marriage recorded in the Orsett district, and that Evelyn had a son - Frederick J Derrick - whose birth was recorded at Orsett in the June quarter of 1915. I know nothing else about John however, and have been unable to identify him on the 1901 or 1911 census.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC, WO 363)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission