Serjeant John Thomas Pittam
| Date of Birth | c. 1883 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 31 |
| Date of Death | 15 September 1914 |
| Service Number | 7168 |
| Military Service | 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
John was born in Northampton during 1883. His mother was named Mary and his father David was employed as a Shoe Finisher. At the height of the industrial revolution, Northamptonshire had many factories specialising in the boot and shoe making business.
In 1891 the family were living at 1 New Town, Northampton. John was aged 8, and his siblings were Emma 15, Martha 10, Edward 4, and Charles aged 1. By 1901 the family had moved to 23 Spencer Road, Northampton, and had grown to include Annie 9, Hettie 7, and 1-year old Harry. John, now 18 was employed as a boot and shoemaker.
At some point John joined the regular army, most probably between 1902 and 1903 (according to his Service Number of 7168). The 1911 Census taken at Gravesend Barracks, shows that he had risen in the ranks to a Lance Sergeant.
On 16 August 1913, he married Jessie Louisa Calson at Christ Church Mitcham. Their marriage bans were called at South Tidworth, Hampshire where John was stationed at nearby barracks, which had access to nearby Salisbury Plain for army training. The Bans also indicate that Jessie was a member of the Parish Church in Mitcham, which explains why John is commemorated on the Mitcham War Memorial.
Early on during the First World War, John, now a Sergeant, together with the rest of his battalion, landed at Le Havre on 15th August 1914. In a short space of time, the battalion would have taken part in several battles such as the Battle of Mons on 23 August, Le Cateau on 26 August, Marne 5-12 September and finally the Battle of Aisnes where sadly John was killed on 15 September 1914.
His widow received his last pay of £13.9.4 plus the War Gratuity of £8.00. Jessie later remarried a Mr. White and died in 1938.
John is remembered on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France which commemorates the men of the British Expeditionary Force who fell in the above battles between August and October 1914 and have no known graves. The memorial's English inscription reads:
“To the glory of God and the lasting memory of 3888 British officers and men whose graves are not known who landed in France in the month of August 1914 and between then and October fought at Mons and Le Cateau and on the Marne and the Aisne.”