Cann War Memorial

John Chown

Surname: Chown
Other names: John
Other people in this story:
Samuel Chown
Mary Ann (Annie) Chown née Rogers
Lucy Chown née Hayward
John William Chown
Percy George Chown
Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury
Devizes, Wiltshire
Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France

Story:
John Chown was born in 1888 in Shaftesbury. He was the son of Samuel Chown, a carpenter, and mary Ann (Annie) Chown (née Rogers). At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at Cann Common, Cann, Shaftesbury, though John was not recorded. He married Lucy Hayward in Shaftesbury in 1914. He enlisted in Devizes as a Private in the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 7612). He joined the 1st Battalion and served in France and Flanders.  He died on 31st October 1914 and his name appears on Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France (Panel 33 & 34). At the time his wife Lucy was living in Enmore Green and their son, John William, was born on 7th May 1915. Lucy did not remarry and at the time of the 1939 Register she was living with her son at Hill Crescent, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. John Chown was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star (clasp) medals. He is remembered on the War Memorials at Motcombe, Enmore Green and Cann, Shaftesbury. John's brother, Percy George Chown, also served but survived the conflict albeit he had been discharged early due to being medically unfit.  

Images:
  • Names on Cann War Memorial
  • Names on Enmore Green War Memorial
  • Enmore Green War Memorial 03
  • Enmore Green War Memorial 02
  • Motcombe War Memorial 4
  • Motcombe War Memorial 2
  • Motcombe War Memorial 02
  • Motcombe War Memorial 03
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives