John Robert Wilcox

John Robert Wilcox, who was born in Mannington near Wimborne in Dorset in 1876, the son of Charles Henry Wilcox, a woodman from Mannington in Dorset and his wife, Fanny.    It is interesting to note that other descendents of Charles Henry Wilcox also ended up living in Thornbury.  Click here to read about Charles Henry's wife, who became Florence Hall

John became a soldier, enlisting on December 18th 1893 at the age of seventeen and a half in the 2nd Dorset Regiment (54th Foot).  He met his future Sarah MacIlhenny whilst he serving in Ireland.  She was born in Londonderry about 1876. They married on 17th December 1895 in Waterside, Londonderry.  Sarah moved with John to wherever he was based.  In 1901 they were living in Shorncliffe Camp, Kent, where their two sons were born: John Arthur born on 14 October 1899 and Frederick Robert born in December quarter 1901.   During this period, John spent some time in South Africa helping to fight the Boers. 

On his discharge in 1902, John moved to Cromhall where he became a gardener to the Revd. Curthoys, the Rector of Cromhall with whom he had been serving in the army.  He worked there for six years.  John and Sarah had a daughter, Edith Madeline, born on 18 September 1904. 

In 1908, John was offered employment as head gardener with his former Captain, R. A. Bennett who was then living at The Park, Thornbury.  John and Sarah moved in to live at The Lodge located on the right at the top of the drive.   Another daughter, Grace Katherine was born on 23 December 1908 shortly after the move. 

At the outbreak of the First World War, John was called up from the Army Reserve and joined the 4th City of Bristol Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment.  In March 1915 John went to France and served from that time until the end of the war without receiving a scratch.  This despite the heavy engagements on the Somme and at the third battle of Ypres in which his battalion was involved.  He was also to fight in Italy in 1917 and was involved with the Battle of Asiago Plateau.  He reached the rank of Company Sergeant Major and for his conduct on the field he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

On demobilisation he returned to Thornbury Park in 1919, to his former position as head gardener and this he retained for 43 years until the death of Captain Bennett and the taking over of the Park by the Sheiling Curative Schools.

John died in 1963 aged 88 years.

Click here to read more about his son Frederick Robert Wilcox

This page was last updated: 26/07/2008