JOHN WILLIAM WELBANK was serving as a Gunner with "D" Battery, 286 Brigade, the Royal Field Artillery when he on killed in action on 11th October 1918. He was aged 26 and is buried in Naves Communal Cemetery Extension. 

He was the son of Alice Welbeck having been born in Norfolk and was managing the boilerette works in North Newington. In 1911 he married Carrie Darville in Eton, Berkshire. They had two sons 

286 Brigade of the RFA was a territorial unit formed in February 1915 and coming under the orders of the 57th Division. They saw action at the Second Battle of Passchendaele in October and November 1917. They fought against the German Spring offensive in 1918, during the Battles  of Lys in April. On the offensive in August they took part in the Second Battles of Arras and assisted in the capture of Cambrai, shortly after which Gunner Welbank was killed.

Steve Kingsford