Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1880 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/667,
the youngest son of William & Mary Pennington (nee Southward).

CWGC record his age as 37, he was actually only aged: 35 at the time of his
death.

1881 Census - 62 Stott Street, Hulme, Manchester.   Son - aged: 1 - born:
Manchester.   Head of household - William Pennington - Married - aged: 36 -
occ: Callender Finisher - born: Manchester.   Also - Mary Pennington - Wife
- aged: 35 - born: Manchester.   Plus 3 elder brothers.

1891 Census - 44 East Robert Street, Saklford.   Son - aged: 11 - Scholar -
born: Manchester.   Head of household - William Pennington - Married -
aged: 46 - occ: Callender Finisher - born: Manchester.   Also - Mary
Pennington - Wife - aged: 46 - born: Manchester.   Plus 3 elder brothers.

1901 Census - Enlisted into the Army on the 26th March 1897.   His parents
and 2 elder brothers were still residing at 44 East Robert Street,
Salford.

Married Lily Sherratt during the December quarter 1904 in the SalfordR.D. -
ref: 8d/166.  Lily was born in 1885 and in 1901, resided at 9 East Robert
Street, Salford.

1911 Census - Tournay Barracks, Hartley Wintney, Farnborough, Hampshire.  
John is recorded amongst the Various Officers and Other Ranks -  Private -
aged: 31 -  2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards - born: Salford.   His wife who
was listed separately along with the other servicemen's families - Lily
Pennington - Married - aged: 26 - born: Salford.  Plus their son - John
Pennington Jnr. aged: 3 and their daughter - Marjorie Pennington , aged: 1.
  John & Lily had been married for 6 years and had produced 3 children, one
of whom had died.  No sign of John.

In a War Office letter dated 13th July 1922 that accompanied his medals
sent to his widow, they refer to him as a Captain.  

Kia on the first day of the Battle of Loos, he was eventually buried on the
night of the 7th/8th October, north east of Hulluch.   At the end of
hostilities, the Army Graves Service were unable to trace his place of
burial, in consequence he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, situated in
the Dud Corner Cemetery - so named because of all the dud shells that were
piled up there.

The 25/09/1915 was the first time that the British used Chlorine gas.

His father, William died 14/09/1911, aged 67 years and his mother, Mary
died 11/01/1913, aged 74 years.  They are both buried in Salford (Weaste)
Cemetery and John Pennington is also commemorated on that family
gravestone.

An article in the Manchester Evening News dated the 6th October 1915 states
that he was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 20th Feb 1915.  The
article also states that his widow, Lily, resided at 111 St. Simon St,
Salford and was educated at St. Simon's School, Salford (the family moved
to Salford in 1881).

According to the same article, he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards as a
Private on the 26th March 1897 and served throughout the South African War
of 1899-1902 by which time he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant
Major.   At the outbreak of War in August 1914, he was given a Lieutenant's
commission.   He was posted to Flanders in November 1914 and saw action at
Neuve Chappelle, Festubert (where he was mentioned in dispatches -
30/11/1915) and at Givenchy.