Pte 57718 John George Haywood

• Age: 35
• From: Sutton on Trent
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 4th December 1917
• Commemorated at: Hooge Crater Cem, Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: X.D.5

John George Haywood was born in 1882 at Sutton  on Trent and was the son of the late Thomas Haywood a boot maker and Mary Ann Haywood née Barlow of Newark. His father Thomas Haywood was born in 1838 at Newark and died in 1884 aged 66 yrs his death was recorded in the Southwell Registration area. His mother Mary Ann was born in 1836 at Bleasby, they were married in 1863 at Newark and went on to have the following children all of whom were born in Newark; Ellen b 1867, Lizzie, Arthur b 1871 b 1873, Mary b 1875 Henry b 1876, Herbert b 1878 and John 

He was apprenticed to the joinery business with Mr G. Henderson, and later entered the office of Mumby & Sons, Ltd. Following which he was Liberal agent for the Newark Division. He was an insurance agent with Prudential Assurance prior to enlistment. 

In the 1911 census John George is living at 12 Wilson Street, Newark, he is shown as being 28 years old, single and an insurance agent, he is living with Sarah Dent aged 66 a widow and boarding house keeper and her two daughters.

John George married Ellen Dent in 1913 at Newark they lived at 43 Milner Road, Newark they went on to have a son John born in 1916 in Newark. 

He enlisted at Newark, Nottinghamshire and joined the Army Cyclist Corps as Private 15660. He subsequently transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57718 and was killed in action on 04th December 1917 aged 35.The battalion had moved into the line at Gheluvelt on the 4th December and that night had to face a heavy bombardment from the German artillery. In this shelling six N.C.O`s and men were killed in action and seven wounded and John George was killed outright. 

The 18th Bn War Diary records -

On 4th December the battalion moved up to front line trenches at Gheluvelt, No.3 Coy on right, No.4 Coy in centre, and No.2 Coy on left.  Heavy enemy shelling, all calibres and Minenwerfers. Several direct hits on R. Coy posts. Retaliation asked for but little response from our guns.  Casualties 6 killed, 6 wounded. 

John George Haywood was one of those casualties referred to in the diary as killed. The other men killed on the same day were;  James Gerald Baron, Thomas James Hennessy, Cornelius Palfrey, Edward Ernest Roberts, and Peter Walsh.

His death was reported in an article published 15th December 1917 in the Newark Herald : 

OUR HONOURED DEAD

Private J. G. Haywood

A valued and honoured life has been laid down in the great cause by the death in action of Private John George Haywood, King's Liverpool Regiment. Mrs Haywood, who resides at 47 Milner Street, Newark, received the sad intelligence on Wednesday from a chaplain who stated:-

"Dear Mrs Haywood, your husband was killed in action on the 04th of December, and buried in the trenches where he fell. Owing to the machine gun and shell fire, I was not allowed to take the burial. We are all sorry for you, for we too have lost a good man. God make you a brave to bear your heavy cross in sure hope of going to Him again when God calls. You are only one of thousands who have given their very best. God bless and comfort you and all who loved him."

The deceased resided with wife and nine month old son at 47 Milner Street. He was born in Sutton-on-Trent, but the greater part of his life was spent in Newark where he was apprenticed to the joinery business with Mr. G. Henderson, Cherryholt Lane and Barnbygate. Later he entered the office of Mr. W. Mumby J.P. (now Messrs. W. Mumby and Son Limited, wholesale and retail clothiers), and later he held the appointment of Liberal agent for the Newark Division. At the time of his enlistment in May 1916, he was connected with the Prudential Assurance Company, when he joined the Midland Divisional Cycle Corps, and was transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment last November. He went off to France about a year ago and was wounded on April 09th. After being in hospital in France he was brought to Woolwich, and ultimately recovered at Eastbourne, where he spent a month, following which there were ten days leave given. Private Haywood then rejoined the regiment at Pembroke, Wales, proceeding again overseas in July last. He remained at the base for some time owing to septic poisoning in one of his wrists, and had only been in the firing line nine weeks when he was called to lay down his life. He leaves a widow and a little son, a year and 9 months old. Private Haywood was closely connected with Barnbygate Wesleyan Church for many years, attending there from boyhood. He was a member of the Young Men's Bible Class, conducted by Mr. O. Quibell, and Mr. John White (honorary secretary of the local preachers Mutual Aid Association), and was later placed on the local preachers' plan, in which he did good work in the villages of the circuit. 

John George was buried closed to where he fell but following the war when graves were concentrated he was reburied now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT ACCORDING TO HIS POWER" COL1.11

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Ellen, 47 Milner St, Newark.

His probate proven on 01st March 1918 at London shows him as John George Haywood 47 Milner Street, Newark on Trent, died 04th December 1917 in France, his effects of £320 14 shillings were left to Ellen Haywood widow.

John is also commemorated  on the following Memorials:

St Mary's Church, Newark, Parishioners War Memorial

Roll of Honour Newark Cemetery War Memorial 

Barnaby Gate Methodist Church War Memorial , Newark.  

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