John B. B.'s Story.
St Mary’s Weaverham “Roll of Honour” has three lads named Bancroft, these lads are brothers;
G.R.B. (George Raymond Beeston) Bancroft.
J.B.B. (John Bevis Beeston) Bancroft, Cheshirebmd records a John Bevis Beeston Bancroft born 1897 in Northwich.
G.W.B. (Geoffrey William Beeston) Bancroft.
Freebmd confirms the marriage of William Bancroft and Mary Ann H. Beeston in Nantwich 1888, mum and dad.
The 1911 census finds the Bancroft’s at Mere Bank Weaverham; William, head of the family, aged 46, a Solicitor (Own Account.) born Gorstage; Mary Ann Harriot wife, aged 45, born Audlem; George Raymond Beeston, son, aged 21, Solicitor Article Clerk (U/Graduate Manch. Univ.), born Northwich
The 1901 census finds the Bancroft’s at Chester Road Northwich; William, head aged 36, Solicitor, born Gorstage, Mary A., wife, aged 34, born Audlem, George R.B., son, aged 11, born Northwich; Geoffrey W., son, aged 5, born Northwich; John B. B., son, aged 3, Northwich.
N.A.M.C. - have a medal card for John B. B. Bancroft, he was with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Gunner, Reg. No 114397, awarded British and Victory medals, Theatre of War and Date of Entry not addressed.
N/wich Guardian 9th Nov. 1917; GUNNER J.B.B. BANCROFT, WEAVERHAM
Mr. & Mrs W. Bancroft of Mere Bank, Weaverham, have been notified that one of their three sons, Gunner J.B.B. Bancroft of the Royal Garrison has been wounded. They have received a letter dated Nov. 2nd, from his commanding officer in which he writes: “As his C.O. I would like to tell you how splendid he behaves. The shell burst 2 yards away from us killing the Major, another gunner and injuring three others. I only hope that when he is fit again we shall be fortunate enough to get him back to this battery.” Gunner Bancroft is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs Bancroft and is 19 years of age. When he joined the Colours he had just completed two years training at Manchester University and was about to proceed to Cambridge. Two of his brothers hold commissions in the Army.
The 1921 census records John Bevis Beeston Bancroft, now 23, living with his parents at Mere Bank W/ham, his brother George is also at home. John’s place of work is Trinity Collage Cambridge, whole time.
Whilst checking the 1921 census there was a link to a John Bevis Beeston Bancroft being killed in WW2, the article records; “Bancroft – Killed at sea while acting as a Seabourne Aircraft Identifier in June 1944, John Bevis Beeston, third son of the late Mr. William Bancroft and Mrs Bancroft now of Nibley House, Blakeney, Glos.” (with the date 22/7/44 added.)
C.W.G.C. remember John Bavis (Their spelling) Beeston Bancroft, Aircraft Identifier, Service No P/JS 2639, with the Royal Navy, H.M.S. President III (MV Derrycunihy) date of death 24th June 1944. Commemorated at Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 87, Column 2. With the additional information of Son of William and Mary A. H. Bancroft, M.A. (Cantab.), M.Sc. (Manchester).
With that John is remembered on the WW2 memorial in the Quadrangle of the John Owens Buildings at the University of Manchester, Oxford Road.
(M.V. Derrycunihy was sunk after striking an acoustic mine near Sword Beach, Normandy. She was carrying roughly 600 members of the 43rd Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment and a crew of 25, resulting in the loss of 189 passengers and 25 crew.)
(John is the second local lad I’ve come across to have survived WW1 to have moved areas, then been killed in WW2 and not remembered locally.
Research Bob H.
G.R.B. (George Raymond Beeston) Bancroft.
J.B.B. (John Bevis Beeston) Bancroft, Cheshirebmd records a John Bevis Beeston Bancroft born 1897 in Northwich.
G.W.B. (Geoffrey William Beeston) Bancroft.
Freebmd confirms the marriage of William Bancroft and Mary Ann H. Beeston in Nantwich 1888, mum and dad.
The 1911 census finds the Bancroft’s at Mere Bank Weaverham; William, head of the family, aged 46, a Solicitor (Own Account.) born Gorstage; Mary Ann Harriot wife, aged 45, born Audlem; George Raymond Beeston, son, aged 21, Solicitor Article Clerk (U/Graduate Manch. Univ.), born Northwich
The 1901 census finds the Bancroft’s at Chester Road Northwich; William, head aged 36, Solicitor, born Gorstage, Mary A., wife, aged 34, born Audlem, George R.B., son, aged 11, born Northwich; Geoffrey W., son, aged 5, born Northwich; John B. B., son, aged 3, Northwich.
N.A.M.C. - have a medal card for John B. B. Bancroft, he was with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Gunner, Reg. No 114397, awarded British and Victory medals, Theatre of War and Date of Entry not addressed.
N/wich Guardian 9th Nov. 1917; GUNNER J.B.B. BANCROFT, WEAVERHAM
Mr. & Mrs W. Bancroft of Mere Bank, Weaverham, have been notified that one of their three sons, Gunner J.B.B. Bancroft of the Royal Garrison has been wounded. They have received a letter dated Nov. 2nd, from his commanding officer in which he writes: “As his C.O. I would like to tell you how splendid he behaves. The shell burst 2 yards away from us killing the Major, another gunner and injuring three others. I only hope that when he is fit again we shall be fortunate enough to get him back to this battery.” Gunner Bancroft is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs Bancroft and is 19 years of age. When he joined the Colours he had just completed two years training at Manchester University and was about to proceed to Cambridge. Two of his brothers hold commissions in the Army.
The 1921 census records John Bevis Beeston Bancroft, now 23, living with his parents at Mere Bank W/ham, his brother George is also at home. John’s place of work is Trinity Collage Cambridge, whole time.
Whilst checking the 1921 census there was a link to a John Bevis Beeston Bancroft being killed in WW2, the article records; “Bancroft – Killed at sea while acting as a Seabourne Aircraft Identifier in June 1944, John Bevis Beeston, third son of the late Mr. William Bancroft and Mrs Bancroft now of Nibley House, Blakeney, Glos.” (with the date 22/7/44 added.)
C.W.G.C. remember John Bavis (Their spelling) Beeston Bancroft, Aircraft Identifier, Service No P/JS 2639, with the Royal Navy, H.M.S. President III (MV Derrycunihy) date of death 24th June 1944. Commemorated at Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 87, Column 2. With the additional information of Son of William and Mary A. H. Bancroft, M.A. (Cantab.), M.Sc. (Manchester).
With that John is remembered on the WW2 memorial in the Quadrangle of the John Owens Buildings at the University of Manchester, Oxford Road.
(M.V. Derrycunihy was sunk after striking an acoustic mine near Sword Beach, Normandy. She was carrying roughly 600 members of the 43rd Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment and a crew of 25, resulting in the loss of 189 passengers and 25 crew.)
(John is the second local lad I’ve come across to have survived WW1 to have moved areas, then been killed in WW2 and not remembered locally.
Research Bob H.