Barton-under-Needwood Inns and Taverns: World War I Sacrifices

During the course of World War I (and after the war had finished) numerous young men from the village gave their lives fighting for their country. They are commemorated on the War Memorial in the village outside St James' church.

WW1 Memorial inside St James Church Barton-under-Needwood

Several of the casualties came from Innkeepers' families in the village and I have tried to research their history in a little more detail below.

Gunner William George Berwick

Birth Place: Barton-under-Needwood, Staffs

Date of Birth: April 1896
Death Date: 9 Dec 1918
Death Place: Home
Enlistment Place: Burton-on-Trent
Rank: Gunner
Regiment: Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
Regimental Number: 111249
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Home
6 Dec 1915 - Enlisted Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery 111249
9 Dec 1918 - Died of wounds at the Military Hospital, Becketts Park, Leeds, Yorkshire

St James Grave Registration for Gnr. W G Berwick

William was the son of William and Elizabeth Berwick and was born and brought up at Barton Turns. His father was a railway signalman and they lived three doors down from the Railway Inn (1901 Census).

1901 Census - Berwick

His uncle, Charles Berwick was the landlord of the Railway Inn between 1916 and 1924. In 1911 William was living with his Aunt and Uncle Kate & Frederick Sargent in Burton-on-Trent and working as an apprentice to painting.

Private George Edgar Scattergood

Birthplace: Barton-under-Needwood
Date of Birth: 1894
Date of Death: 20/11/1920
Place of Death: Burton Infirmary
Age: 26
Regiment/Service: North Staffordshire Regiment
Service No: 22203
Transf. to (444684) 144th Coy. Labour Corps
Grave Reference: 1914. 99.
Cemetery: BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information: Son of Mrs. Helen Scattergood

St James Grave Registration for Prv G E Scattergood

George was the son of Ellen Scattergood (rather than the Helen Scattergood listed on the military records) and was brought up in Efflinch, next door to the Junction Inn by his grandparents Job Scattergood and Mary Ann Scattergood nee Sutton. Ellen was born in early 1867 and can be found on 1881 census working as a "general servant" at the Railway Tavern at Barton Turns for Charles Palethorpe the landlord; she was just 14 years old at the time.

His uncle George was to later run the Junction Inn for a period of time in the 1890's and the family have remained living in the hamlet of Efflinch since that time.

The 1901 census below records him as the son of Mary Scattergood, his grandmother, who was well into her 60's at that time. This seems likely to be an error on the part of the enumerator but in the absence of his mother Ellen this often occurred.

1901 Census

Medal Card for George Scattergood

The 1911 census saw a 16 year old George living with his aunt and uncle, Lizzie and George Harvey in Anslow, Burton-on-Trent and working as a painter.

1911 Census

Medical record confirming condition and death in 1920

Private Harry Ottey

Name: Harry Ottey

Birth Place: Barton-under-Needwood, Staffs

Residence: Barton-under-Needwood, Staffs

Death Date: 24 Apr 1918

Death Place: France and Flanders

Age: 36

Enlistment Place: Burton-on-trent, Staffs

Rank: Private

Regiment: Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment

Battalion:10th Battalion

Regimental Number: 268964

Type of Casualty: Died of wounds

Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Grave Reference: XII. D. 1.

Cemetery: ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY, MANANCOURT

Medal Roll

Harry was son of William and Ruth Ottey and grandson of Thomas and Mary Ottey who ran the Bell Inn at Barton Gate. The family originated from Dunstall and William was a shoemaker by trade. He was the husband of Gertrude Maud Ottey nee Lawrence of Wales Lane, Barton-under-Needwood; they married in Barton in June 1912.