The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private J Rookley

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Photograph by - "LESUEUR Dominique"

Photograph by - "wallaby33"

Private John ROOKLEY, G/17651, 6th  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment died of wounds, (gun shot wound, left thigh), 9 General Hospital, France, 21st April 1917.

Born Halberton, Devon, son of John & Ann Rookley.

3rd November 1909, Parish of St Johns Church, Woking, Surrey, John Rookley, age 29, bachelor, gardener, Ray Cottage, St Johns, father John Rookley, gardener, married Mary Ann Hizzey, age 27, spinster, Bank House, St Johns, father Thomas Hizzey, greengrocer.

1911 Census - Ray Cottage, St Johns, Woking, Surrey - John Rookley, head, age 30, married, gardener, working for employer, out, born Devon; Mary Ann Rookley, wife, age 28, married 1 year, no children, born Chobham, Surrey.

Children - Dorothy Mary Rookley, born 28th June 1911, Woking, Surrey.

Enlisted Woking, Surrey, age 34 years & 7 months, height 5ft 6½ inches, weight 180lbs, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, requires dental treatment.  Resided Ray Cottage, St Johns, Woking, Surrey. Formerly gardener.

Home 27th November 1915 to 6th October 1916; BEF 7th October 1916 to 21st April 1917.

27th November 1915, enlisted; 28th November 1915, to Army Reserve; 3rd June 1916, mobilized; 4th June 1916, posted 12th Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment, (Queens), Service No.G/13830; 1st September 1916, transferred to 97th Training Reserve Battalion; 7th October 1916, posted BEF & transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment; 7th October 1916, embarked; 24th October 1916, joined 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, In the Field; 9th April 1917, wounded in action; 25th April 1917, Telegram to Regimental Paymaster Hounslow, "No.17651 Pte J Rookley, 6th Royal West Kent Regiment, is lying seriously wounded at number 9 General Hospital France who say he is not likely to live, aaa can arrangements be made for wife and sister to visit him aaa Military Hospital Woking."

28th October 1917, date when Separation Allowance of 16/- a week & Allotment of Pay of 3/6 a week, payable to widow, will cease.

29th October 1917, pension of 18/9 a week awarded to widow & one child.

28th May 1920, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Mary Ann Rookley, Church Cottage, St Johns, Woking, Surrey; Children - Dorothy Rookley, born 28th June 1911, Church Cottage, St Johns, Woking, Surrey; Father, dead; Mother, Ann Rookley, 2 The Parks, Minehead, Somerset; Sisters - Mrs Hoyle, Currwood? Villa, Ashstead, Surrey; Mrs Hales, Hope Villa, 11 The Parks, Minehead, Somerset.

Buried  at St Sever Cemetery Extension, O. IX. E. 1., Rouen, France.

Commemorated on Woking Town Great War Memorial.

NOTE: Soldiers Died in the Great War gives date of death as 21st April 1917; CWGC shows 22nd April 1917.