St John's Top 5: WWI letters

St John's like other instutitions and 'communities' suffered greatly during World War I. The documents below come from the tutorial papers of Edward E Sikes (Tutor 1900-1925). They give us a glimpse of what was happening throughout the University and the country in general.

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Letter notifying Sikes of the death of his student. (29 Oct 1918)

Sikes' student, Edward, was shot down on 22 or 23 Aug 1918.

John Hugh Burrell, served from 1914-1918.

John H. Burrell served with the 17th Division, as a Staff Sergeant-Major (Musketry) 1914-1915; 2nd Lieutnant, 8th Durham Light Infantry 1915; Lieutenant 1917; Acting Captain & Adjutant 1917-1918; served with the British Expeditionary Force in France 1916-1918; mentioned in Despatches 1918, POW 1918. (died 13 June 1965)

Memorial card for 2nd Lieut. Charles A Wooler, July 1916

2nd Lieut. Charles Armytage Wooler, 10th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, was wounded in France on 1 July 1916.  He died in hospital at Woolwich on 29 July 1916, aged 21 years.

Dr James A Sturthers, served from 1914-1916

Dr James A Struthers served as a Lieutenant with the Durham Light Infantry (wounded) 1914-1916, then was employed by the Ministry of Labour for WWI.

Letter from Edward Morse about his son who was severely wounded, 9 Sep 1916

Letter from Edward Morse whose son suffered a severe concussion in action. He is writing to ask Sikes' help in emptying his sons rooms in College and returning to the family the boy's carpet.