http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/451567/BLACKWELL,%20J
John Blackwell is the nephew of Joseph Blackwell also deceased following the War.
Brother of George William Blackwell (deceased WW1 16th July 1916).
1896: Born 14th Jan 1896 registered Chapel-en-le-Frith Vol 7b Page 850 J/F/M.
1900: John started at North Road School on 2nd April
1901 Census: Living at 1 Dale view aged 4yrs.
1911 Census: Living at 55 Fairfield Road aged 14yrs occupation Upholsterer. Mother Mary is a Widow with 4 boys.
1915: Enlisted in 16th Battalion Notts & Derby Chatsworth Rifles aged 19yrs. The Service Papers show that he enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 31st May 1915, at Buxton, where he was living at 15 Fairfield Road, aged 19 years 4 months.
John left Southampton for France on 6th March 1916, landing at Le Havre the same day. John was promoted to Corporal on 6th May 1917 after just 2 months John was killed in action. In all he served 2 years 65 days.
Memorial: Buffs Road Cemetery Sp. Mem. 6
John had an older brother George Pte 21992 Northamptonshire Regiment who died 16th July 1916, and 2 younger brothers Alfred who served with the Somerset Light Infantry Pte 79279 & Reginald
John Blackwell: The 16th (Chatsworth Rifles) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was raised at Derby on the 16th of April 1915, by the Duke of Devonshire and the Derbyshire Territorial Force Association. They moved to Buxton on the 4th of May and then on to Redmires near Sheffield on 8th of June. On the 2nd of September they moved to Hursley near Winchester to join 117th Brigade, 39th Division. They moved to Aldershot on the 30th of September and then to Witley for final training. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood and The Second Battle of Passchendaele. – See more at: http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/sherwoodforesters16.php#sthash.30SYAsBc.dpuf