JOHN EDWARD HAMBLIN

IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL | Posted on 12th March 2016 |

Born: 14th October 1885, St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Died: on the night of the 24th March 1918; age 32; KiA from a hit in the head by a rifle bullet. “The enemy was only a few yards away…..He died fighting.”

E.A.D.T. – Saturday, 13^th April 1918 – LIEUTENANT JOHN E. HAMBLIN, OF IPSWICH – Lieutenant John Edward Hamblin, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hamblin, of 19, Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich, and by descent a Freeman of the Borough, was killed in action on the Western Front on the night of the 24^th March last. Death was instantaneous from a hit in the head by a rifle bullet. He served in the Suffolks, and in communicating with his relatives, the Major commanding writes: “He was a splendid officer, and beloved by his brother officers and the men of the Battalion. I have known him intimately ever since he joined the Battalion, and feel his loss very keenly, as he was always willing to undertake any duty, performed it well, and was ever of a most cheery disposition.” Lieutenant John Hamblin, who was 32 years of age, was educated first at the Ipswich Middle School for Boys and for three years subsequently at Christ Hospital, London. He left his position with Messrs. Waters and Son, Ipswich, to join the Public Schools Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, in April 1915, and after about a year in the ranks became 2^nd Lieutenant, and returned to the Front in August 1916. He had recently gained his full lieutenancy. From the letter already quoted, we learn: “The enemy was only a few yards away…..He died fighting.”

Residence: 19, Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: Messrs. Waters and Son, Ipswich.

Enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in April 1915.

Date of Entry Therein: 14th November 1915 – France.

After a year in the ranks, John became a 2^nd Lieutenant and returned to the Front in August 1916. On the 4th August 1916, John was Commissioned as a Lieutenant of the Suffolk Regiment, 13th Battalion.

John was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant (on probation) – 4th August 1916 – 13th Suffolk Regiment.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 12th Battalion.

Formerly Private, 6846, of the Royal Fusiliers, 18th Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War + 1915 Star.

Memorial Reference:

Bay 4.

Arras Memorial,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Fourth son of Matilda Blanche Hamblin & the late Robert Hamblin; husband of Amy Eveline Hamblin (nee McIntosh).

CENSUS

1891 Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich.

John was 5 years old and living with his parents, siblings & father’s cousin.

Robert Hamblin, 38, a Boot & Shoe Maker, born St. Nicholas, Ipswich.

Matilda Blanche Hamblin (nee Porter), 36, born Stoke, Ipswich.

Robert Arthur Hamblin, 9, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Charles Arthur Hamblin, 8, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Katherine Mary Hamblin, 7, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Thomas Richard Hamblin, 6, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Elizabeth Theresa Hamblin, 3, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Anne Wilson, 17, a Mother’s Help, born Felixstowe, Suffolk.

1901 Christ’s Hospital School, Newgate Street, London.

John was 15 years old and a student at the school.

1911 Station Road, New Milton, Hampshire.

John was 25 years old, a Manager – Stationery & Tobacconist – Shopkeeper. He was a widower and head of the household.

Robert, 2.

Amy, 7 months.

1 housekeeper.

1 stationery & tobacconist shop assistant.

1 general domestic servant.

John was educated at the Ipswich Middle School for Boys. In July 1897, 11 year old, John was successful in winning an open scholarship at Christ’s Hospital Boys’ School, London. He entered the school in 1897 and left in 1901.

On the 30th December 1907, Ipswich, John married Amy Eveline McIntosh, a typist, born 1883, Kirkby, Laythorpe, Lincolnshire – daughter of John McIntosh, an architect and surveyor – own account, and Mary McIntosh (nee Lewis), of 116, Richmond Road, Ipswich.

Amy and John had two children:

Robert John Hamblin, July 1908, Pokesdown, Hampshire, baptised on the 6^th December 1908, at St. James’ Church, Pokesdown – family home at Christchurch Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth.

Amy Eveline Hamblin, born August 1910, New Milton, Hampshire, baptised 6^th November 1910, at St. Mary Magdelene Church, Milton – family home at Station Road, New Milton.

Amy Eveline Hamblin died on the 4^th September 1910, at her home, Bank Terrace, Station Road, New Milton, Hampshire. The funeral service was held at New Milton on the 8^th September.

After the death of Amy and John, their son, Robert John Hamblin, was loved and cared for by his paternal grandparents, Robert and Matilda Hamblin, at their home, 19 Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich. Their daughter, Amy Eveline Hamblin, was loved and cared for by her widowed maternal grandmother, Mary McIntosh, at her home, 116, Richmond Road, Ipswich.

Probate to Robert Hamblin – father, a Gentleman.

Soldiers’ Effects to Robert Hamblin Esq. – father.

John’s medals were sent to his son, young Robert John Hamblin, via his paternal grandfather and guardian, Robert Hamblin, of 19, Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich.

John is also remembered on the war memorial at the Unitarian Meeting House, Friars Street, Ipswich, and at Northgate High School. Formerly Ipswich Grammar School for Boys. John is remembered on the headstone of his parents, paternal aunt Mary Ann Hamblin, and paternal uncle Alfred John Hamblin at Ipswich Old Cemetery.

John’s paternal grandfather – ROBERT HAMBLIN

The Hamblin family had been associated with Ipswich since the 1620s. They had been able to trace back their lineal predecessors on the Freeman’s Roll without a break to that date, a record of which any family might be justly proud. In July 1874, this entitled John’s grandfather, Robert Hamblin, to become a Freeman of the Borough of Ipswich by inheritance. On leaving school, Robert Hamblin was apprenticed to a master bootmaker to learn his father’s trade. His master was an Army bootmaker attached to a regiment which he followed to its various stations. The young apprentice accompanied the regiment to Edinburgh and was well treated by his master. However, at the age of 15, he left his master and started to walk back from Edinburgh to Ipswich, with 5s. 6d. in his pocket. At Newcastle, a friendly sea captain brought him safely into the Orwell. Robert first worked in London, Surrey and Yorkshire. In 1848, Robert Hamblin started a business of his own in Silent Street, Ipswich, moving from there into St. Nicholas Street, then into Queen Street, finally establishing his well-known business in Westgate Street, which he carried on for 40 years. He retired in 1896. Robert was named an executor of Mr. Hill, a wireworker of Westgate Street, Ipswich, who left a large sum of money for the restoration of some of the almshouses in Lady Lane, originally erected in 1515 by Edmund Daundy. Robert vigorously pursued a legal informality in the bequest at the courts until eventually the money became available to carry out the testator’s intentions. Robert retired in 1896. Robert was an ardent Liberal; he was a man of keen intellect, with an intelligent appreciation of events. From his earliest Ipswich days, he was associated with the Unitarian Church and was a member of the Church Committee for upwards of 40 years, and was a trustee of the properties of the Church. He died in 1906, at his residence at Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, aged 85.

John’s father, ROBERT HAMBLIN, was also a shoe and boot maker. He worked with his father for 30 years. He also held the position of a trustee of the properties of the Church and was a pillar of Unitarianism in East Anglia, and was a Liberal of the old school.

John’s brother, Robert Arthur Hamblin, was the author of “The Lay of the Land,” a capital novel published in 1918, by Messrs. George Allen and Unwin, price 5s.