Wheeler John Thomas Durran Royal Horse Artillery
1914 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal
The Man John Thomas Durran (Johnnie) was born during the first quarter of 1890 at 18 Bedford Street, Royal Leamington Spa, son of John, a Wardrobe Dealer, who had been married to Mary Swinbourne since 1865, she sadly passing away in 1888 and John re-marrying in July 1889, aged 51 to Harriet Cotterill aged 33.
John and Harriet had three children, Johnnie, William David (1893–1965) and James Levi (31st July 1894 - 1970). The 1901 census shows the family had moved to 103 Queen Street, Leamington and John senior died later in the year, aged 63, leaving Harriet to bring up their three boys.
The 1911 Census shows the family still living at Queen Street, but Johnnie is not listed, possibly being away at the time.
In 1914, with the Frist World War seemingly imminent, Johnnie and James (Jim) enlisted together into the 1/1 Warwickshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery Territorial Force, as Wheelers, responsible for repairs, not just to the wheels of the guns, limbers and carriages but all wood and metal work on the carriages, ammunition boxes etc. They were given sequential service numbers, Johnnie 322 and Jim 323.
Following the outbreak of WWI on 4th August 1914, they were mobilised in 5th and both posted to the Western Front in France with the British Expeditionary Force, entering theatre on 31st October 1914 as part of the reformation of ‘L’ Battery that had virtually been annihilated at Nery on 1st September.
Johnnie’s service number was later changed to 614023 and he served with 1st/1st Warwickshire Battery (T.F.), Royal Horse Artillery, 15 Bde. 29th Division (B.E.F.) as a Gunner.
Having served since the beginning of the war, Johnnie was tragically killed in action on 30th August 1917 aged 27. He was interred in Duhallow (Advanced Dressing Station) Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium in plot VII.B.14.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star (incorrectly named T.T Duran), 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal, additionally he was remembered on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial (incorrectly named as Bmbr W J T Durran – Wheeler being used as his first name) and on the Royal Horse Artillery War Memorial in St Mary’s Church, Warwick.
It is possible Johnnie had a girlfriend, May, as for some years following his death, In Memoriam notices appeared in the local Courier newspaper from his family and ‘May’.
John and Harriet had three children, Johnnie, William David (1893–1965) and James Levi (31st July 1894 - 1970). The 1901 census shows the family had moved to 103 Queen Street, Leamington and John senior died later in the year, aged 63, leaving Harriet to bring up their three boys.
The 1911 Census shows the family still living at Queen Street, but Johnnie is not listed, possibly being away at the time.
In 1914, with the Frist World War seemingly imminent, Johnnie and James (Jim) enlisted together into the 1/1 Warwickshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery Territorial Force, as Wheelers, responsible for repairs, not just to the wheels of the guns, limbers and carriages but all wood and metal work on the carriages, ammunition boxes etc. They were given sequential service numbers, Johnnie 322 and Jim 323.
Following the outbreak of WWI on 4th August 1914, they were mobilised in 5th and both posted to the Western Front in France with the British Expeditionary Force, entering theatre on 31st October 1914 as part of the reformation of ‘L’ Battery that had virtually been annihilated at Nery on 1st September.
Johnnie’s service number was later changed to 614023 and he served with 1st/1st Warwickshire Battery (T.F.), Royal Horse Artillery, 15 Bde. 29th Division (B.E.F.) as a Gunner.
Having served since the beginning of the war, Johnnie was tragically killed in action on 30th August 1917 aged 27. He was interred in Duhallow (Advanced Dressing Station) Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium in plot VII.B.14.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star (incorrectly named T.T Duran), 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal, additionally he was remembered on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial (incorrectly named as Bmbr W J T Durran – Wheeler being used as his first name) and on the Royal Horse Artillery War Memorial in St Mary’s Church, Warwick.
It is possible Johnnie had a girlfriend, May, as for some years following his death, In Memoriam notices appeared in the local Courier newspaper from his family and ‘May’.
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Johnnie Durran's World War I Medal Index Card and Pension Record.
The Story The medals awarded to John Thomas (Johnny) and James Levi (Jim) Durran were acquired from Noonan’s Auction on 19th June 2024. They were of immediate interest as both men were from Leamington Spa, a sub-theme of this collection and one, John, having been killed in action in World War I and appearing on the War Memorial in town.
Substantial research came with the medals and Ancestry, Wills, Forces War Records and the Newspaper Archives provided further information enabling decent biographies to be pieced together, with some interesting detail emerging.
Johnny, who was killed in action was a Wheeler, later Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery is incorrectly named as Bombardier W J T Durran. It is clear, perhaps from the newspaper memorial entries, that Wheeler has been assumed to be his first name ‘Wheeler John Thomas Durran’. The memorial was unveiled in 1922 and unlikely to be changed 102 years later. He also appears on the Royal Horse Artillery War Memorial in St Mary’s Church, Warwick, that was unveiled on 17th July 1927. Interestingly just a few names below Herbert Charles Collingbourne, whose story also features in this collection, although his medals are not held.
Jim was also interesting as there was a report in the local press detailing the course case and his divorce and grant of Decree Nisi to his first wife in the 1930s, citing his adultery as the reason. The lady involved actually giving evidence in court! It may have been, as this was some years after Jim and his first wife had separated, a convenient get-out for them both to be able to move on and remarry.
Of real interest though was the fact that after his death, Jim’s second wife, Eve, was allegedly murdered by their own daughter, Ann! Ann subsequently being sectioned and committed to the Central Hospital Hatton, originally named the Warwick County Lunatic Asylum and from 1930-1948 the Warwickshire County Mental Hospital. A classic Victorian asylum built on a grand scale in the gothic style, it at one point housed 1,600 patients. The press reports make interesting reading and Ann was found not guilty, remaining at Hatton for some years.
Lastly John and Jim’s third brother William David passed away on 3rd February 1965 also at the Central Hospital, Hatton.
The medals as acquired from Noonans were actually reunites as part of the previous owners collection. The 1914-18 British war Medals to Johnnie and Jim acquired in April 2012, with the 1914 Star and Victory Medal to Johnnie being acquired in July 2012, both from E-Bay and from different dealers. Jim’ 1914 Star and Victory Medal remain missing.
A hitherto sad story of the carnage of World War I has developed into an intriguing and even wider family tragedy.
Substantial research came with the medals and Ancestry, Wills, Forces War Records and the Newspaper Archives provided further information enabling decent biographies to be pieced together, with some interesting detail emerging.
Johnny, who was killed in action was a Wheeler, later Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery is incorrectly named as Bombardier W J T Durran. It is clear, perhaps from the newspaper memorial entries, that Wheeler has been assumed to be his first name ‘Wheeler John Thomas Durran’. The memorial was unveiled in 1922 and unlikely to be changed 102 years later. He also appears on the Royal Horse Artillery War Memorial in St Mary’s Church, Warwick, that was unveiled on 17th July 1927. Interestingly just a few names below Herbert Charles Collingbourne, whose story also features in this collection, although his medals are not held.
Jim was also interesting as there was a report in the local press detailing the course case and his divorce and grant of Decree Nisi to his first wife in the 1930s, citing his adultery as the reason. The lady involved actually giving evidence in court! It may have been, as this was some years after Jim and his first wife had separated, a convenient get-out for them both to be able to move on and remarry.
Of real interest though was the fact that after his death, Jim’s second wife, Eve, was allegedly murdered by their own daughter, Ann! Ann subsequently being sectioned and committed to the Central Hospital Hatton, originally named the Warwick County Lunatic Asylum and from 1930-1948 the Warwickshire County Mental Hospital. A classic Victorian asylum built on a grand scale in the gothic style, it at one point housed 1,600 patients. The press reports make interesting reading and Ann was found not guilty, remaining at Hatton for some years.
Lastly John and Jim’s third brother William David passed away on 3rd February 1965 also at the Central Hospital, Hatton.
The medals as acquired from Noonans were actually reunites as part of the previous owners collection. The 1914-18 British war Medals to Johnnie and Jim acquired in April 2012, with the 1914 Star and Victory Medal to Johnnie being acquired in July 2012, both from E-Bay and from different dealers. Jim’ 1914 Star and Victory Medal remain missing.
A hitherto sad story of the carnage of World War I has developed into an intriguing and even wider family tragedy.
Royal Leamington Spa Courier and Warwckshire Standard. 27th August 1920. Possibly the reason Wheeler was taken as his first name on the War Memorial.
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Bedford Street, Leamington Spa. 18 now demolished approximate location
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Queen Street, Leamington Spa former properties demolished
Queen Street circa 1910
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Leamington War Memorial Note: W J T Durran.
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St Mary's Church, Warwick. Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery Memorial. July 2024.
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Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station Commonwealth War Cemetery. 'Never Forgotten by Mother and Brothers'
Medal Details:
- 1914 Star: Missing. 322 WHLR T.T.DURRAN. R.H.A.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 322 GNR.J.T. DURRAN. R.A.
- Victory Medal: 322 GNR J.T.DURRAN. R.A.
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This page last updated 29 Nov 24
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