The Parish of St Joseph and
The Parish of St Charles Borromeo
Sheffield

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St Joseph's Commonwealth War Graves Information

(Information compiled by Clare Wichbold, 17 February 2024)

SERJEANT JOHN CONNOLE

Service Number: 4480 Regiment & Unit: York and Lancaster Regiment 11th Bn. Date of Death: Died 23rd February 1916 Age: 43 Plot: 27 (in North-West part)

John Joseph Connole was born in Ireland at Crinkle in County Offaly in 1873/74; the records are unclear. He married Julia McRedmond in early 1901 and the couple moved to England and appear on the 1901 Census in Sheffield. John was working as an Army Pensions Clerk in the steel industry. Having previously served in South Africa during the Boer War, John had been shot and discharged due to his injuries on 31 December 1900. The couple were lodging in St Johns Road with the Broderick family. Patrick Broderick is recorded as Colour Sarjeant for the York and Lancaster Regiment. St Johns Road is in area which has changed beyond all recognition with the development of Hyde Park Flats. John and Julia had four sons, Robert, John Jr, Thomas and Michael. John rejoined the Army Reserve York and Lancaster Regiment as a private on 2 September 1914, and spent some time working at Pontefract Barracks. The family were living at 75 Neward Street in Attercliffe at the time. John was promoted to Sarjeant on 28 September and was posted with the 10th Battalion. He then transferred to the 11th Battalion on 9 February 1916. John contracted pneumonia and died on 23 February 1916 at Rugeley Barracks. He was buried at St Joseph's Church shortly afterwards, with the gravestone recording that he was on active service. Julia later moved back to Ireland and died at Birr, County Offaly, in 1954

BOMBARDIER JOHN WILLIAM FOREMAN

Service Number: 6283893 Regiment & Unit: Royal Artillery 308 Battery, 89 (11th Bn.The Buffs [Royal East Kent Regt.]) Lt. A.A. Regt. Date of Death: Died 25th July 1943 Age: 32 Plot: Row 12 Grave 186

Sadly there is little information about John. He was born in Handsworth in 1911 to Joseph and Annie Foreman; Joseph was a colliery labourer who suffered from ill health for many years. Then apart from John's final address and the circumstances of his death, details are scant. His home in 1943 was given as 57 Fearnehough Street, which was off Staniforth Road. John died when the army vehicle in which he was travelling along a road at Greenbrae, Dornock, in Scotland, swerved off the road and crashed down onto the railway line. He died straight away. John was brought back to St Joseph's Church for burial. One of the other soldiers in the vehicle also died as a result of the accident, Lance Bombardier Meddings. He is buried at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.

AIRCRAFTMAN 2ND CLASS JAMES HAGENEY

Service Number: 2269153 Regiment & Unit: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Date of Death: Died 3rd October 1946 Age: 30 Plot: Row 13 Grave 198

Born on 9 March 1916 in Rotherham, James was the son of James and Catherine Hageney. He went to St Bedes Primary School where he is found winning the 100 yards dash as a child. James Snr died in 1932, and there is little else about the family until 1939 when the widow Catherine, James, and his two sisters are living in Ferrars Road at Tinsley. James was working as a shell turner. He married Elizabeth Morris in 1944, but they did not have any children. James was a member of the RAF Reserve, working as an Aircraftman. On 3 October 1946 he was cycling to work at Blackbushe Airfield when he was struck by a car and died instantly. The inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death, and James was buried at St Joseph's Church on 8 October, with Flying Officer Poland representing the Commanding Officer of RAF Blackbushe. James left £850 to Elizabeth, who was living at Dundas Road in Tinsley. She remarried in 1949 to James Malone, hence her not appearing on the gravestone with James and two of his sisters.