JOHN SAMUEL SWEET
The head of the Sweet family was William (b. 1857) who was notable for the number of times he moved his wife and children around the country between 1891 and 1911. He and his wife Ellen had seven children and every one was born in a different location, mostly in the London area. They also had three addresses in Portsmouth during that period.
In 1891 William was a Police Constable in Islington, living with Ellen and their first three children, William, Albert and John Samuel. Ten years later he was a labourer in the Dockyard in Portsmouth, the family were living at 51 Southampton Row, Portsea and three more children, Ellen, Walter and Ivy had been born. John Samuel Sweet left the family household whilst still in his teens and enlisted in the army. The family meanwhile moved first to 11 Orange Street and then to 60 Union Street.
As a member of the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, John was posted to the Dardenelles but was killed at the landing on the 8th May 1915. His brother Albert Sweet died in fighting at Ypres a year later.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list Private John Samuel Sweet (8368), 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, died 08/05/1915. Remembered on the Helles Memorial (Panel 125-134 or 223-226 228-229 & 328).
John Sweet is also remembered on the St. George's Church WW1 memorial and the Cenotaph.
He is listed in the 'National Roll of the Great War' Section X, p. 225.
Tim Backhouse
December 2013