John Hinckley

War Service

The Wakefield Express, dated 6 April 1918, reported John’s death:
“Second Lieutenant John Hinckley of the Royal Artillery Siege Battalion was killed in action in March. He was the youngest son of Corporal and Mrs Hinckley of Hessle House, Patience Lane, Altofts and was only 19 years of age. Educated at the Normanton Grammar School he enlisted in the artillery when 16 years of age and in order that he might continue his army career he underwent a serious operation other than be permanently discharged as unfit. When he recovered after a rather lengthy illness he rejoined the ranks as a private and in June 1917, was granted a temporary Commission in the Garrison Artillery, going out to France in November last within a day of his brother, Lieutenant Arthur Hinckley who is doing his bit with the (censored??) in the present big battle. Another brother Capt. Phil Hinckley, M.C. has recently received his discharge and is at present under treatment. Corporal Hinckley, who gave up his position as colour sergeant in the K.O.Y.L.I., being in Normanton Depot during the rousing of the Normanton Companies of the local Territorials, in order to go out to France as a sapper is now engaged on military telegraphic work at Bedford. The deceased officer who at the time of his enlistment was in the employ of Messrs. Pope and Pearson’s Altofts Collieries is the nineteenth Normanton Grammar School boy to give his life in this terrible struggle.”
Second Lieutenant John Hinckley’s recorded death is “killed in action” on 27 March 1918, aged 19 years. He now lies in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, France.
Constructed after the Armistice when graves were brought into Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery from other battlefield burial grounds in the area.
The inscription on Second Lieutenant John Hinckley’s headstone reads:
“GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.”
The Commonwealth War Graves Index for Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery states: “Father and three sons all served in France”.
Around the time of John’s death his older brother, Captain Philip Hinckley M.C., had received his discharge papers and was undergoing treatment for his injuries/illness.
It must have been a very harrowing time for the family: to lose John in battle, with other members of the family still serving in France.
One later unsubstantiated report suggests Captain Philip Hinckley, M.C. died in 1927 the result of injuries sustained during the War.

Family Life

John was born in Altofts on 7 July 1898, the son of George William and Eleanor Sarah Fox Hinckley. John’s father William was born in Carlisle, but his mother Eleanor was born in Altofts. John was baptised in Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Altofts on 31 July 1898.
In 1911 John lived with his parents, older brother Philip, three older sisters Emily Jane, Kathleen and Lily Irene, his two younger sisters Violet Eleanor and Erdine Mary and his younger brother George at 2 Hessle House, Patience Lane, Altofts. At this time John was 12 years old and a student at Normanton Grammar School.
After leaving school, John went to work at Pope and Pearson’s West Riding Colliery, Altofts. He was 16 years old when he went to enlist, so eager was he to “do his bit for King and Country” he underwent an operation in order to continue his army career.
John’s father, William, worked as a sorting clerk and telegraph operator at the post office following over twenty-seven years service in the army. He was also an acting colour sergeant in the 4th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Territorial’s at Normanton. At the age of 54 years 8 months William rejoined the army, as a special case, his telegraph operator skills would be in demand. William transferred to the Regular Army Royal Engineers and served in France.