SPRATTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

John Harold was born in Spratton on 27 November1892, the son of John and Louisa Pheasant.  They lived at the Manor House in Spratton where John was a gardener for Thomas Gist and Louisa was his housekeeper (she died in 1911). In November 1910 aged 18 John joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in Aldershot as a Reservist.  In his Attestation papers he gave his occupation as baker and confectioner but later papers give him as an apprentice engineer.

He was sent to France on 16 August 1914 with the RAMC Ambulance Service and served in the Rouen area until 9 December 1914. He then developed “severe osteoarthritis” due to the strain of loading and unloading casualties.  He had severe pain in his back and his leg so that he was unable to bear his weight on his left leg.  He was invalided home and spent considerable time in various English hospitals before being declared physically unfit on 25 May 1915.  He was awarded a pension and a Silver War Badge.  This was to wear at home to show he had been wounded in the war. He also received the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.