288296 John Reginald GARFORTH, 6 KOYLI, Padua War Cemetery

Hello everyone,

I found this information completely by chance on the CWGC website when looking at the casualties buried in Padua War Cemetery:

Lieutenant JOHN REGINALD GARFORTH

Service Number 288296

Died 18/11/1944 Aged 26

6th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Son of John William and Ethel Garforth; husband of Frances Dorothy Garforth, of Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire.

Now I was born in Dronfield Woodhouse, which in the '40s and '50s had only one main street, and everyone knew everyone. There was no one in the village durinig WW2 by the name of Garforth - this has been confirmed by a 90- year-old relative of mine whose memory is excellent.

Lt. Garforth does not appear on Dronfield War Memorial and perhaps he should do. So, if someone has access to the 1939 register perhaps they can turn something up regarding him or at least his parents.

Thanks in anticipation,

Vitellino

 

He might have been born elsewhere and only his wife was from Dronfield Woodhouse.

 

You could be right ...Just found this - Alec Bennett, buried in Salerno War Cemetery, WAS born in Dronfield Woodhouse (I know the family) but his wife, it seems, was from Sheffield

Lieutenant BENNETT, ALEC FREDERICK
Service Number 240277

Died 11/09/1943

Aged 23

East Yorkshire Regiment

attd. 6th Bn.
Lincolnshire Regiment

Son of Frederick William and Mary Susan Bennett; husband of Ursula Bennett, of Ecclesall, Sheffield.

 

John Reginald Garforth (288296)
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - 6th Bn.
18 November 1944, aged 26
Padua War Cemetery
Died in Italy


Walkley

 

Frances Dorothy Wilkinson married John R Garforth Q2 1944. Frances was living at Brynymor, Holmesfield Road, Dronfield in the 1939 Register, her dob 23 January 1919.

I believe Frances subsequently married William S May Q3 1952, she died, aged 84, 15 December 2003.

 

Probate index:


Should have added from 1939, presumably Frances living with parents:
George William Wilkinson, dob 4 Dec 1882, Section head, draper linen dept, Co-operative stores
Edith Roberta Wilkinson, dob 9 Jan 1884, unpaid domestic duties.
Frances was shorthand typist.

John Reginald Garforth's birth was registered Q4 1918, Eastbourne, Sussex, mother's maiden name Stannard.
Possible parents, John W Garforth married Ethel L Stannard, Q2 1918, registered Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire West Riding.

Walkley

 

It's the dreaded semicolon after the parents name. I've raised this with CWGC before.

I researched an airman who, although Canadian, had an American wife. Every time his name comes up he gets listed as a Yank in the RCAF, based exclusively on the CWGC entry. Truth be known he was actually born in India to Canadian missionary parents.

 

Thank you so much. I have been in 'Brynymor' - my mother's friend lived there in the '50s, no doubt moving in after Frances remarried, and I also believe that my grandfather's sister lived there in the period following WW1. I will now tell my 90 year old relative who will almost certainly have known Frances - in fact, I think she was known as Dorothy Wilkinson.

Vitellino

 

Hello

I was interested to read this, as John Reginald Garforth was my first cousin. His father was my uncle John. John junior was known as Reggie to the family, and was my Uncle and Aunt's only child. His father's family was originally from Walkley (Parsonage Street). Most of the family stayed on that side of Sheffield, but Uncle John was a pub landlord in Dronfield Woodhouse. My husband and myself visited Reggie's grave in Padua a few years ago. As far as I know, we are the only family members ever to have gone to see him.

Hope this helps

Angie (nee Garforth)

 

P.S. He is on the War Memorial at St. Mary's, Walkley as Reginald Garforth. I've spoken to another cousin who isn't 100% certain that Jack and Ethel's pub was in Dronfield Woodhouse, or whether it was in south Sheffield. This was all before my time as I was born in 1957, but I do know that Reggie's death devestated the family.

 

Hello Angela,

I will be phoning my Dronfield Woodhouse relative tonight and will ask about the pub. Frances was indeed Dorothy Wilkinson. If you would like to continue this family discussion please send me a private message.

Vitellino