Dawlish World War One Project

(William) John Dew enlisted at Exeter and joined the new 8th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. His military records give him the single Christian name of John. His Service number is very close to that of Albert Hooper (10723) and they were of similar age so may have enlisted together.

He is recorded as Killed in action at the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915. (see description of action in Documents)

William John Dew was one of five children of the marriage of John Dew (1860-1909) and Louisa Harriet Hodge (1859- ).

John Dew and Louisa married but a census entry for 1881 has not been found. He is also missing from the 1891 census and it may be that he went abroad and was divorced between 1891 and 1897 when Louisa remarried.
In the 1891 census Louisa Dew is head of household, married, age 30 and working as a charwoman. She lived at 10 Alphington Street, Exeter, with Annie Louisa (b, Q4 1879, St Thomas), Frances Alice (b Q2 1882, St Thomas), William John (b Cardiff), Sarah E (b Cardiff, 1886) and Alfred Thomas (b Exeter, Q1, 1890 – 31/5/1916).

William John Dew married Sarah Monk in Q3, 1907, in the Newton Abbot district.

The census of 1911 gives his occupation as a General Labourer (railway company) and they lived at 7 Chapel Street, Dawlish with three children, Annie Louisa (b.Dec 1907 ), Emily Kate (b.Mar 1909) and William John (b.Mar 1910-Dec 1971) all born in Dawlish. There were also twins born in Q2,1911 Alfred G and Rose M but they both died in Q2,1915.