Wharf, John

Service number: 96841 | Rank: Private | Regiment: Tank Corps

Killed in action, August 29, 1918, in Flanders.

Buried at WINDMILL BRITISH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX, Pas de Calais, France.

Born at Lakenheath, enlisted at Attleborough.

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT JOHN …

John was born in 1898 and was the eldest son of Elijah and Elizabeth Wharf. Elijah was also born and bred in Brandon and was a gas stoker in the town. At the time of the 1901 census they were living at The Mount, along Bury Road. Ten years later the family had moved to The Drove, in Town Street, and John had two younger sisters and a younger brother. At that time Elijah had changed jobs and was an assurance agent for Pearl Assurance.

When John was old enough to enlist he went along to Attleborough in Norfolk and signed up. He was placed into the Tank Corps and in the summer of 1917 he went over to France. The 11th Battalion, Tank Corps, were in action in August 1918 and were at the ‘Third Battle of Albert’ in France, a battle that signalled the beginning of the collapse of the German army.

His parents, Elijah and Elizabeth, were expecting him home on leave when they received a telegram from the War Office informing them that he had been killed in action. John was 19 years old.