3160: John Duesbery, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters
John Duesbery served with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He died on 15th September 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His name on the memorial, on the CWGC records and on his death penny is misspelled as Dewsbury.
John wrote a letter to his mother in his notebook from the battlefield where he lay dying (see photo). He wrote, ‘I have been here for 24 hours and never seen a living soul’. The notebook made it back to his mother but John’s body was not found.
Other letters home describe the build up to the battle where John would be killed. “On 2nd Aug 1916," he writes, "I expect we shall be having a rough time of it in a few days time from now but I cannot give anymore particulars." Then on 31st August he writes to say he is out of the trenches after 6 days and is, "just behind the firing line for a little rest." He also wrote, " we are going to make a big charge about 10th September."
