John Dumbrell (1897-1917)

In the 1911 census John, aged 13, is living in Nettlestead with his parents and attending school along with his younger brother, Sidney . He was the son of Alfred Dumbrell ,aged 42, and a stockman and gardener, and his wife Emily. John was born in Chailley, Sussex as was his his father, but Sidney had been born in Dorset so the family had moved around. 

His younger brother Sidney won a W.O.B.S. (Wateringbury Old Boys Society) prize in 1912 but John passes unnoticed through the school until the W.O.B.S. 1919 AGM records him among the war dead but shows him in the Royal West Kents. 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his death as being on 5th October, aged 20, and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial for the missing. Tyne Cot or Tyne Cottage was a barn near the level crossing on the road from Passchendaele to Broodseinde.  Nearly 35,000 men are commemorated in total and John is on panel 148 to 150.  He served (Service Number 228102) in the 1st Bn. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). He had earlier served under service number 

His parents by the time of his death had moved from Nettlestead to Pixot Hill, Brenchley, Kent.