John (Jack) Bernard GARDNER (1888–1918)
Some of this information is repeated under the previous entry for Jack’s brother Frank Gardner
John Bernard Gardner (known as Jack) was born in Headington in 1888, the son of Charles Gardner or Gardiner (born in Headington in 1859, registered first quarter) and Mary Ann Walker (born in Wheatley in 1850, registered third quarter). His parents were married in the Headington registration district in the second quarter of 1881, and had seven children:
- Walter Joseph Gardner (born in Headington in 1881, registered fourth quarter)
- William Henry Gardner (born in Headington on 23 July 1883 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 30 September 1883)
- Frederick Charles Gardner (born in Headington on 15 May 1886 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 25 July 1886)
- John Bernard Gardner (born in Headington on 5 July 1888 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 30 September 1888)
- Fanny Caroline Sarah Gardner (born in Headington on 14 February 1891 and privately baptised on 14 April 1891)
- Christopher Robert Gardner (born in Headington on 14 July 1892 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 16 October 1892)
- Frank Herbert Gardner (born in Headington on 9 September 1895 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 July 1896)
John’s father was a bricklayer’s labourer, and by the time of the 1891 census the family were living in New High Street (probably No. 63). His father was away on census night in 1891, and his wife was in their New High Street home with their first five children.
At the time of the 1901 census, all the family were at home in New High Street, and Jack was 12 years old. They were still in New High Street in 1911, when Jack (22) was working as a waggoner on a farm, and it looks as though they were then living at No. 62. The house was now in the new All Saints’ parish.
In the First World War Jack Gardner served as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 201902). He was killed in action in France on 22 March 1918 at the age of 30 and is buried in the Beaumetz Cross Roads Cemetery at Beaumetz-Les-Cambrai. He is listed on the Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.
His brother Frank hjad been killed seven months earlier on 22 August 1917.
Postscript
Jack’s parents
- Mrs Mary Gardner died at her New High Street home at the age of 75 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 20 October 1925.
- Charles Gardner died at the age of 78 in the London Road Hospital (The Laurels, formerly Headington Workhouse) on 22 September 1936. He was described as a builder’s foreman at the time of his death.
Jack’s siblings
- Frank Herbert Gardner (born in Headington in 1895) also died in the First World War: see separate entry.