Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John William Rawlings, an agricultural labourer, born 1852 in Braunston, Rutland and his wife Harriette Rawlings (nee Goodwin, married in the 4th quarter of 1873 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1853 in Braunston. In the 3rd quarter of 1888 in the Oakham, Rutland district, John’s mother died, aged 36. John Charles, a schoolboy, was born on the 26th February 1882 in Braunston, his siblings were, Eliza, a housekeeper, born 1874, Samuel, an agricultural labourer, born 1876, George, a schoolboy, born in the 4th quarter of 1879 and Frederick, a schoolboy, born 1884, all his siblings were born in Braunston, in April 1891 the family home was in Braunston. In March 1901 John was employed as a farm horseman and was residing in the family home at 28, East Road, Braunston, together with his widowed father, an agricultural labourer. In the 3rd quarter of 1910 in the Oakham, Rutland district, John’s father died aged 58. In April 1911 John was employed as a farm waggoner and was residing in the family home at Braunston, together with his brother Frederick, a farm labourer. John’s older brother George fell in action in April 1916.
John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 21st November 1914 in Leicester. He gave his present home address as Braunston, Rutland, his age as 32 years and 9 months and his trade or calling as agricultural labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his brother Samuel Rawlings of Beeston, Nottinghamshire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 36 and 38 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 16071 on the 21/11/14. Posted to the Depot on the 22/11/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 27/11/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to the 2nd Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hand on the 11/7/16. Transferred to Frenchencourt on the 11/7/16. Admitted to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station on the 12/7/16. Admitted to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen on the 13/7/16. Transferred to England aboard H.S. St. George on the 14/7/16. Admitted to the War Hospital, Clopton, Stratford on Avon on the 15/7/16 – 5/8/16. Posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 15/7/16. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 15/8/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 29/8/16. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 31/8/16. Joined the 12th Infantry Brigade Depot on the 1/9/16. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicester Regiment on the 1/9/16. Posted and proceeded to join the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 7/9/16. Joined the 9th Battalion in the field on the 9/9/16. Admitted to hospital on the 22/2/17. Admitted to the 64th Field Ambulance suffering from dermatitis on the 22/2/17. Transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station on the 22/2/17. Rejoined 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field on the 15/3/17. Reported wounded and missing on the 3/5/17. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 22/11/14 – 28/7/15, 249 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 14/7/16, 351 days. Home Service, 15/7/16 – 31/8/16, 48 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 1/9/16 – 3/5/17, 245 days. Total service, 2 years 163 days. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by John’s brother Samuel Rawlings on the 11th September 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Joseph Orchard, Justice of the Peace, 9, Rylands Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, nil. Mother of soldier, nil. Full blood brothers of soldier, Samuel Rawlings, age 43 of 49, Humber Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Frederick Rawlings, age 35 of Braunston, Oakham, Rutland. Full blood sister of soldier, Eliza Walter, age 46 of Braunston, Oakham, Rutland. John’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 - BOIRY BECQUERELLE. 3.45am. 110th Infantry Brigade attacked FONTAINE LES CROISILLES. ZERO 3.45am. 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. advanced from BROWN LINE (T.6.a.4.7. – A.31.c.2.6.) 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. in Support at N.35.c.4.4. 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. in Reserve in area N.34.b and d. 4.30am. 7th Battalion moved up into position vacated by 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. in CONCRETE TRENCH from T.6.a.1.9 to N.36.c.9.8. 6.30am Battalion moved up to BROWN LINE. 6.15am. Orders were received for Battalion to occupy WOOD TRENCH as far as U.2.a.3.5., to get in touch with any posts or parties of our troops on either flank and to consolidate to either flank with the point U.2.a.3.5. as pivot. Casualties:- Captain H. H. HENDHILL, 2nd Lt’s. G. C. WHITE, J. C. WALLEY, W. A. CHAPMAN, M. C. McLAREN, S. WOOD, A. W. J. M. MANNERS, Captain R. B. WALLACE (ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS) all wounded in action. 15 other ranks killed in action, 3 missing, 90 wounded in action. 11.30pm. Battalion withdrawn to HINDENBURG SUPPORT line T.5.b. – T.6.a.
Report on Operations by 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment May 3rd 1917
(1) On the evening of May 3rd the Battalion was holding the BROWN LINE along the Brigade Front with 2½ Companies. The remainder of Battalion being employed on various carrying parties. At 6.15pm. orders were received to occupy WOOD TRENCH as far as A.2.a.3.5. to get touch with any posts or parties of our troops on either flank, and to consolidate to either flank with the point A.2.a.3.5. as pivot.
(2) The following dispositions were reported:- (a) Light gun post 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.
established on ROTTEN ROW at A.1.b. central. (b) Light gun post 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on WOOD TRENCH at A.1.b.8.7. (c) Post 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. established in front of FONTAINE TRENCH at about A.32.c.2.2. (d) Men of 8th and 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. believed to be in small detachments along line of YORK TRENCH to north west of it. (e) Enemy believed to be holding YORK TRENCH.
(3) Instructions for attack were issued as follows:- “A” Company 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.
(Captain VANNER) to work down ROTTEN ROW to point U.1.b.5.5. “C” Company (2nd Lt WHITE) to work simultaneously down WOOD TRENCH to point U.3.b.8.7. “B” Company to work down WOOD TRENCH in support and carrying bombs. From these points “C” Company to continue down WOOD TRENCH to U.2.a.3.5. getting touch with parties of 9th and 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on their left and to consolidate in a direction facing east. “A” Company keeping touch with “B” Company to form line from U.1.b.5.5. to U.2.a.3.5. facing south – to get in touch with parties of our men reported to be in front of YORK TRENCH and push forward right flanks as far as possible towards road from U.1.d.7.9. to U.2.a.3.5.
(4) At 7.15pm. the advance commenced at the same moment our artillery barrage started. The enemy
at once brought a very heavy barrage of heavy Howitzers to bear on ROTTEN ROW, and the area including WOOD TRENCH. “A” Company were able to push on down ROTTEN ROW as far as U.1.b.4.5. “C” Company had difficulty in tracing WOOD TRENCH which was found to be merely a trace trench, but not dug, except where our men had consolidated small posts in it. On finding WOOD TRENCH the leaders of “C” Company were shot from north east probably by machine gun fire. This and the extremely heavy barrage made it impossible for “C” Company to advance with no cover, and they became somewhat disorganised. 2nd Lt. WHITE drew his Company back to ROTTEN ROW, and got it reorganised – “B” Company conforming. They were unable to advance. Captain VANNER on reaching front U.1.b.4.5. found the enemy advancing in force from RIVER ROAD, they were driven back by rifle and Lewis gun fire. The existence of following dispositions was established by Captain VANNER by personal reconnaissance:- U.1.b.4.5. - Light gun post (6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.). U.1.b.3.6. – Light gun and 10 men of 110th TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY. U.1.b.8.7. – Light gun post (Lewis gun but no team left). He therefore established the line U.1.b.4.5. to U.1.b.8.7. with an immediate post at U.1.b.6.5. He then reconnoitred to his flanks, and on the right he found a N.C.O. and 4 men of the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. at about U.1.b.3.3. They knew nothing of other parties on their flanks, the enemy was in YORK TRENCH strongly. On his left he found a N.C.O. and 14 men of 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. at about U.2.c.0.9. He could not find other men on his flanks here. The posts at U.1.b.3.3. and U.1.b.4.5. were strengthened and strong points dug at these places. He accordingly reported at 10.00pm that his flanks were unprotected, and that he was not in a position to repel a strong counter attack. On reference to Brigade HQ. orders were then issued to withdraw all men to BROWN LINE. This was successfully accomplished, a number of wounded men of other Battalions being brought in.