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ID:121 John Thomas Bevan 1895-1974
Lisa’s 2nd Great Uncle

Birth	15th April 1895	Brownhills, Staffordshire
Death	Oct-Dec 1974	Registered at Walsall
Mother	Sarah Snape (b.1863) /ID:677
Father	John Bevan (b.1870) /ID:120

Siblings	Polly Bevan (b.1889) /ID:125
	Amy Bevan (b.1891) /ID:111
	Emily Bevan (b.1892)/ID:114
	John Thomas Bevan (b.1896) /ID:121
	Charles Thomas Cooper (b.1901) /ID:158
Spouse	Lilian Astbury (b.1894)/ID:1329

Children	Lilian Bevan (b.1915)/ID:1325
	John Thomas Bevan (b.1917)/ID:1326
	Beatrice Lilian Bevan (b.1922)/ID:1327
	Florence D Bevan (b.1928)/ID:1328

1895

15th April 1895 - Birth of John Thomas Bevan who was christened at Ogley Hay on 3rd May 1895. 

1895  - John Bevan, his father passed away in 1895, age just 25. 

June 1899 - Sarah, his mother remarries. Her husband, Stephen Cooper, a Coal Miner Hewer,  becomes stepfather to the girls  and John Thomas.

1901

1901 Census for 'Ogley Square, Ogley Hay, Brownhills, Staffs'

Name	Relationship	Status	Age	Est YOB	Gender	Birth County	Occupation
Stephen Cooper	Head	Married	41	1860	Male	Green Lane, Walsall	Coal Miner Hewer
Sarah Cooper	Wife	Married	38	1863	Female	Brownhills, Staffs
Polly Bevan	Step-daughter		12	1889	Female	Brownhills, Staffs
Amy Bevan	Step-daughter		11	1890	Female	Brownhills, Staffs
Emily Bevan	Step-daughter		10	1891	Female	Brownhills, Staffs
John Thomas Bevan	Step-son		6	1895	Male	Brownhills, Staffs
Jacob Harris	Boarder		66	1830	Male	Thornton, Leics	None - Recuperating

1911

1911 Census for '8, Ogley Square, Ogley Hay, Brownhills, Staffs'

Name	Relationship	Status	Age	Est YOB	Gender	Birth County	Occupation
Stephen Cooper	Head	Married	52	1859	Male	Pelsall, Staffs	Coal Miner Hewer
Sarah Cooper	Wife	Married	47	1864	Female	Brownhills, Staffs
John Bevan	Step-son		15	1896	Male	Brownhills, Staffs	Coal Miner Roper
Charles Thomas Cooper	Son		9	1902	Male	Brownhills, Staffs	Scholar
Florence May Bevan	Granddaughter		1	1910	Female

We know John was in the Grenadier Guards from Jan 1915 to 8th March 1916 and served in France during the first world war. 
He was discharged on medical grounds on 8th March 1916, possibly through injury in the campaign. His service number was 17096.

Whilst serving , his daughter Lilian was born and on his return John married her mother.

1916

24th April 1916 - Marriage of John T Bevan and Lillian Astbury .

1917

22 August 1917- Birth of son John Thomas Bevan. His birth was registered at Cannock.

John once again enlisted for Short Service on 28th June 1917, in the Territorial Army. His enlistment was approved on 1st July 1917.

We can see from the document below that Johns service number was now 286235.

At the time of enlistment he was a chemical distiller, had previously served for over a year in the Grenadier Guards and was not willing to have any more vaccinations!

The second document from the service record tells us John was 22, was 5 foot 8 1/4 inches tall, and had a 37 inch chest.
He lists his wife, Lilian, as next of kin. It appears he first put the marriage date as 28th March 1912, but then ( probably realising he was unmarried on his previous military record) the correct marriage date is entered next to it! Both children, Lilian and John Thomas are also listed on the document so this must have been completed after August 1917.

The next documents tell us that John was posted on 7th July 1917 to No 4 R.G.A , Inner Defences, North Queensferry and he was discharged on 27th December 1917.The Royal Garrison Artillery was formed in 1899 as a distinct arm of the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery serving alongside the other two arms of the Regiment, the Royal Field Artillery and the Royal Horse Artillery. 

The next document tells us that John was discharged on medical grounds, due to epilepsy caused by his previous active service.

He was deemed unfit for active service and was not to be compulsory appointed again.

In 1920, John joined the RAF. The birthplace has been mis translated but is meant to say Ogley Hay, Brownhills!
We are hoping to find out more detailed information about Johns time as an Airmen in the future.

1922

26th March 1922- Birth of daughter Beatrice Lilian Bevan. Her birth was registered at Cannock.

1928

18th May 1928 - Birth of daughter, Florence D Bevan. Her birth was registered in Lichfield.

1939

1939 Registry for '102 High Street, Brownhills, Staffs'

Name	Status	DOB	Gender	Occupation
John T Bevan	Married	15/04/1895	Male	ARP Worker
Lilian Bevan	Married	21/07/1894	Female	UDD
Beatrice L Bevan		26/03/1922	Female	Coat Hanger Maker/Factory Hand
Undisclosed Record
Florence D Bevan		18/03/1928	Female	School
Undisclosed Record

1974

John died around October 1974. His death was registered at Walsall.