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View Tree for John Weldon SandersonJohn Weldon Sanderson (b. 14 November 1922, d. 14 January 2005)

John Weldon Sanderson was born 14 November 1922 in 24 Comer Terrace, Cockfield, Durham, and died 14 January 2005 in Clifton Hospital, Lytham St Annes.

 Includes NotesNotes for John Weldon Sanderson:
Born in Nursing Home in Inkerman Terrace, Bishops Auckland whilst parents living at 24 Comer Terrace, Cockfield, County Durham.
Friends with Cowley family. Wilf Cowley came to visit at Kirby Wiske, Jenny Cowley came to live at Kirby Wiske with them to help out( as a maid)
Moved to Kirby Wiske in 1925 - address - 1 New Row ?
Their house was larger than the others in the row, one of the few in the village with a galvanised water tank which was used to collect rainwater from the roof for washing. Drinking water came from the pump in the middle of the village. The pump had to be primed. Because of the need to carry water, many of the villagers had yokes, which fitted over their shoulders to which were fastened two jugs or churns.
House had the toilet at the bottom of the garden. The House was next to the Chapel, and on Sunday they were not allowed to go to the toilet whilst the service was on, because the congregation would be able to see them go down the garden path, and know where they were going! Sunday observance was very strict. Granny S (or possibly Granny R) would put her bobbin away on Saturday night in case she was tempted to use it on Sunday.
Attended Kirby Wiske C of E School 1927 - 1933
Attended Richmond School 1933 until March 1940.
1938 moved to Lockrys, Saltburn Lane, Skelton
March 1940 joined the National Provincial Bank at Stokesley (travelled there by motorbike for 2 years)
March 1942 went to Pickering to train and 6 weeks later became a Sherwood Forresters trooper.
mid 1943 Ashford, Kent joined a 'Pre-Off Training Unit at Rootham
Officer Training carried out at Alton Towers, Staffordshire - Commissioned 27th January 1944
Married 28th January 1944 at Zetland Park Methodist Church, Redcar.
Went to Triarde Bay, Anglesey with 5th Cheshires
(In support of 4" mortar, Vickers machine gun and Hispano cannon)
Sailed from Liverpool in April and arrived in Naples a fortnight later (May 1944)
Up to the line to the Apperirum(?) near Montegrande overlooking Bologne. (There was snow on the ground and things were static.)
In 45ish, sailed from Toranto to Haifa in Palestine in the Middle East. At Maj Dal, a tented camp near Gazza.
Objective was to keep the Jews and Arabs apart (Balfour agreement) Camp 148 ?
and to control immigration - boats coming across arrived at Haifa, the navy boarded them and locals waited on the dock.
A brigade with 3 divisions manned the process, Sherwood Forresters, Duke of Wellington, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
Then to Syria, Lebanon, Tripoli and Beirut.
In Syria was in the hills between Tripoli and Damsacus.
(Mention of a train load of Bren Gun Carriers going from Haifa to Beirut)
Camped at Bala - marshes alongside the Suez canal. (ex RAF airfield)
Played rugby in Cairo.
The LIAP (leave in anticipation of python (or demob)) - had a months leave.
Ended up at Camp 148 in Haifa. Demob in train (armoured car in front) - bomb?
Oranges thrown at train. 6th Airborne from Arnhem.
November 1946 - Port Said to Toulouse - overland to Calais (same as for leave)

Moved to 38 Winchester Road, Redcar in November 1946, then to 7, The Larches, Redcar (for 6 months) then back to 38 Winchester Road until 1951.
Joined bank on 7th Jan 1947 at Saltburn (It snowed and didn't shift until March)
Steven born at home in 1951.
Moved to Sheffield in1951 (initially in digs at Greystones)
In spring of '52, moved into 38 Tom Lane.
Started at George Street branch of National Provincial Bank, moved to High Street(2 promotions) then back to George Street as sub manager then Managers Assistant and finally Assistant manager.
March 1960 - Bessie died in Claremont after varicose vein operation (Mum decided to have Op because of Dad possibly becoming an inspector and having to travel)
Married 1961
Moved to Blackpool in December 1968 to take up Manager's post at Corporation Street, Blackpool.
Moved into 9 Balmoral Road, Lytham St Annes in April 1969.
June 1981 - moved to King Edward Avenue, Lytham St Annes.
Retired May 1982 aged 60.

What is the 'silver vase from Bishop Hook' referenc?
___________________________________________________
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 11:36 PM
Subject: A JWS War Story.


For Heather.

After watching yesterday's commemoration of the D Day assault on Europe I have to say that anything I mght have to say would be small beer by comparison - that being so I'll confine my little ditty to your private ear

Although I was commissioned into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, a regiment which specialised in providing support for the infantry,they did not have the same level of casualties and having arrived in Italy it came as no surprise when I was posted to join the Sherwood Foresters who were fighting in the Gothic Line, a mountain range overlooking Bologna and the River Po valley.So I embarked on a train ( carriages were open and had printed on the side 40 hommes or 12 chevaux)The journey from Caserta to Arezzo lasted 3 days and you had to hope that your need for a toilet coincided with the time when the train,for whatever reason, stopped by the side of the track.
Or arrival at the Foresters , who were out of 'the line' ( not fighting) it was to learn that their Mortar Platoon ( comprising one Officer and 30 men had been taken prisoner by the Germans. It appears that the platoon had been moving position in mountainous and muddy conditions and were virtually exhausted when they came across an empty chapel, too good an opportunity to miss and they sttled down to sleep, forgetting to post a sentry on guard.I was trained in 4.2 inch mortars( a weapon which fires a missile high into the air to land and explode on the other side of an obstacle like a hill or building.and I expected that I would be asked to form a new mortar platoon for the Foresters. However they were equipped with 3 inch mortars and the powers that be thought I ought to be schooled in their use and I was shipped all the way back to Benevento i n southern Italy - 3days in the same sort of carriage and of course another 3 days going north to rejoin the regiment.

Within a matter of days it was time to go back to the fighting so 2nd Lieutenant J.W.Sanderson set off on foot at the head of his 30 men most of whom had seen action and all of whom were wanting to see how I would shape up under fire.I have to explain that the Mortar itself is generally sited some way back and its operation is directed from an observation post in the front line. This was my responsibility and my post was in an old farm cum chapel on a hill (part of the Gothic Line) and called Frasinetto.This hill was very exposed and surrounded by the Gernans on three sides on the lower slopes. It follows that we could not move in day time and had to rely for supplies being brought up to us at night by mule train.I was able tu use a narrow window in the chapel as my observation post but I had to stay there all day until it was dark enough for me to join my comrades back at the farm.

Our food in those days took the form of K Rations which came in a carboard box labelled 'Rations for 1 man for 14 days r for 14 men for 1 day.It was edjble but that was about all so when a fat pig appeared in the vicinity (left behind when the farmer fled) it was too good an opporunity to miss so the animal was coaxed near enough to be shot and dispatched with a machine gun. Who cut it up or cooked it I don't know but my batman(Jock Maguire) produced some lovely pork for several days.Eventually the word got back to C company that we were living on pork and our lads agreed they could have some if they came to collect it at night. This they did but sadly the meat had by then begun to go off and there were tummy upsets in C company which led to our lads being ordered to dispose of 'our ' pig to prevent furthe catastrophe. So it was back to K Rations.

Sitting with me in my observation post I sometimes had a sniper( a rifle marksman) whose job it was to pick off any German who dared to lift his head in day time. It was very much a waiting game. On the German side they had their own snipers and I recall one who was behind a bank about 200 yards away. He too was waiting for some Englishman to show himself ( which they did not)and to pass the time and to tease our sniper used to bend the branch of a willow tree and make it sway just to let us know he was there - a lighter moment.

After many months we were relieved by the Americans and eventually found ourselves in Palestine - a different kind of warwhere you were never quite sure where your enemy would pop up. We were sent to Syria to sort out as revolt by French troops and to the Canal Zone on the Egyptian border. I was able to play lots of rugger and hockey and I did a lot of competetive running all at his Majestie's expense. Finally I sailed from Port Said in November 1946 and Captain J.W.Sanderson became plain Mr J.W losing in the process his Captains pay of £14 per week and exchanging it for the National Provincial Banks £4.50.1947 was the most severe winter for many years but it wasHOME again and the start of another chapter!!!

A true story but not for publication.


More About John Weldon Sanderson:
Burial: 20 January 2005, Lytham Park Cemetry and Crematorium, Lytham St Annes.

More About John Weldon Sanderson and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: 28 January 1944, Zetland Park Methodist Church, Redcar.

Children of John Weldon Sanderson are:
  1. John Morgan Sanderson.
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