In 1911 the family was living at 1 Tenter Lane off Gas Street with their parents, Ezra & Hannah (nee Sheffield) Wardle. Father was born in Stamford. He was an engine painter at Blackstones Engineering Works. Mother was born in Pickworth, Rutland. Six children were at home. 20 year old Ethel was a dressmaker. John William (18) was a driller at the Kitson Lighting Works. Henry (16) was an assistant at Ducketts Grocers. Frank (14) worked at Oates & Musson Drapers. Sisters, Anne (8) and Sarah (5), were still at School. All the siblings were born in Stamford. In 1911, the eldest sibling Ellen (21) had left home and was employed as a domestic servant in Leicester at the house of the High Sheriff of Leicester County Court – James Henry Hodgkin.

In 1901 the family had already been living in Tenter Lane.

John William enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in Luton. His regimental number was 2665

He served in France and died from wounds on 16th May 1915. This was probably during the allied offensive in Artois –

‘In May 1915 the Allies carried out an offensive north of Arras towards Lille. This was the Second Battle of Artois (9th May – 18th June 1915) with the aim to push the Germans off the dominating high ground of the Loretto and Vimy Ridges north of Arras. British attacks on the German line took place a little further north on the flat Flanders plain at Aubers Ridge and Festubert. By the end of the offensive there were approximately 100,000 French casualties, 26,000 British casualties and 90,000 German casualties.’

Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord

He was buried/commemorated in the Commonwealth War Cemetery Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord in France.

He is also remembered on the Stamford and St George’s War Memorials.
Private John William Wardle gained the British, Victory and 1914-15 Star medals.