Sergeant John William Raybould MM
200029 & 575 (Lance Corporal) 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment)
John William Raybould was born in 1887 in Silverdale, Staffordshire son of Benjamin Raybould and Elizabeth (nee Wrench). He had brothers and sisters Joseph, Albert, George and Ethel. His brothers Joseph and George also served in WW1, George sustained a gunshot wound but survived and Joseph was killed in action in 1917.
On 17th June 1908, at the age of 21, John joined the Sherwood Foresters at Ripley, Derbyshire, signing up for 4 years in the Reserves. He remained at home at Stone Row and continued his civilian occupation as a coal mining corporal with James Oakes & Company but was expected to attend regular military training exercises and would be called up in the event of national emergency. In the early Summer of 1914 John married Rose Hannah White. He would have been mobilised just a few months later, on the outbreak of war, but remained in the UK until early 1915 when, on 1st March, he embarked for France. On 14th July 1916 John was wounded in several places. (His brother George had been wounded just days before on 6th July.) John’s actions of gallantry on the French battlefield are described below in a local newspaper article published in 1917.
Hospital Parade at Jacksdale. Presentation to Military Medallist. On Saturday afternoon the second hospital parade and demonstration took place at Jacksdale under the most auspicious circumstances. Practically the whole of the residents of the district entered into the work with enthusiasm, with the object of making the event a thorough success. The result of the labours was that everything passed off in a most creditable manner. The whole of the district was en fete, garlands, streamers, flags, bunting, etc., being displayed by the inhabitants along the route of the procession. The proceedings commenced with the parade, which was headed by Brinsley Church Brass Band, and included decorated drays and prams, walking characters, comic bands, Sunday School scholars, etc. The procession started from the Ironville Parish Church …………….
Addresses were given by Mr. and Mrs. McLaren, Mr. J. H. Williams and Mr. Cartledge. Advantage was also taken to present to Sergeant J. Raybould, M.M., of Stone Row, Jacksdale, a beautiful sideboard bearing a suitably inscribed brass tablet. This had been subscribed for by the inhabitants of the district to commemorate the interesting fact that the recipient had been presented with the Military Medal for meritorious work on the battlefield in France. During a severe engagement with the enemy this gallant soldier continued for over four hours the heroic task of saving his comrades’ lives. Sergeant Raybould has been wounded in several places, and is now at home discharged from service. Mr. McLaren made the presentation, the sergeant who was accompanied by his wife and child, father and mother responding. He received a very hearty reception from those present. Mrs. McLaren, at the close of the meeting, presented the prizes to all who had been successful in the day’s events. ………….. It is not yet known how much money was realised by the demonstration, but everything pointed to the event proving even more successful than last year when nearly £100 was raised towards the fund of this most worthy institution.
John was officially discharged from the Army on 23rd August 1917 returning to the marital home at 13, Tunnel Row, Pye Hill, Jacksdale. John & Rose had children Gladys, Audrey(who died aged 17 months) and possibly Hilda. Presumably it was Gladys born early 1917, who was with her parents as a ‘babe in arms’ at the medal presentation.
John was a recipient of the Military Medal, the 1914-15 Star, the Victory and British War Medals and also Silver War Badge B5202.
It is likely that John and his family later moved to the Leeds area as his daughter Gladys was married there. A death for a John William Raybould is also recorded at Leeds in 1967.