John William Mayes
Many Welwyn families sent men to fight in World War I and many of course suffered as a result, but few, if any, could have suffered as much as the Mayes family. Of five sons Arthur and Cecilia saw all of them fight, but by 1920 the names of three of their sons would appear on the War Memorial.
John William was the third son of the family, born in Welwyn on the 23rd May 1893 and baptised in St. Mary’s Church on the 24th June 1893 at the same time as his brothers Walter and Arthur.
The family lived in Prospect Place, with five sons and two daughters being born between 1887 and 1901. Arthur Abel Mayes, originally from Aldersgate in London was a Life Assurance Agent married to Cecilia, also born in London.
John William was an Journeyman Basketmaker for Mary Bullard, and also involved with the Welwyn Scouts - in 1913 he was Assistant Scoutmaster. In 1913 at a County Rally held in Kimpton, 22 Welwyn Scouts attended with John William and were commended, perhaps unsurprisingly, for the baskets they made.
John William Mayes fought with the 10th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps and was wounded in September 1916.
At the beginning of April 1917 the 10th and 12th Battalions saw action
at Metz en Couture. The two Battalions lost over 300 men
including John William Mayes.
Serving in the same action was Cecil Rodolph Blake, who died the day before.
A memorial service for John, along with Cecil Rodolph Blake, Harry Ward and Percy Mardell was held in the church on the 2nd May. At the service the Union Flag was carried up the aisle by Corporal Henry Quinton Bullard, who just months before had lost his own son on the Somme.
John William Mayes is also commemorated on the Welwyn Scouts Memorial
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Photograph courtesy of Mr. Ian Mayes
