Born December 22nd 1895, my Great Uncle John, was a foreman at a box factory in Nottingham. At only 5'2" he was too short to join up. He was turned away on two occasions and was presented with white feathers by the girls at work. On his third attempt he pleaed with the recruiting sergeant who relented exclaiming 'we'll pull that extra inch out of you!' He joined as Private John James 31390 of the 15th Battalion Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) in September 1915. A Bantam battalion it recruited those men deemed too short for regular battalions. July 17th 1916 his battalion entered the carnage of the Somme offensive. Postioned near Trones wood the line was heavily shelled that night. My Great Uncle was never seen again. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial he is never forgotten. God bless you John James.

Steven Charlesworth