Constable John Elder Nance OStJ Royal Engineers, Cheshire Police, Civil Defence, St John Ambulance
The Man John Elder Nance was born at 0100h on Saturday 8th May 1920 at 1315 Piedras Steet, El Paso, Texas, United States, son of Nicholas Elder (known as N.Elder Nance) a Prospector and Miner from Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Emma Jane nee Bird from King’s Lynn, Norfolk in the United Kingdom. His parents having married in London during the first quarter of 1917 and travelling to New York from Southampton aboard the SS Aquitania, Cunard Line on September 20th 1918.
In 1922 the family travelled to the UK with John, possibly to visit Emma’s family and returned to the US on 24th June 1922, bound for New York from Southampton once again aboard the SS Aquitania. Their address in the US was given as 921 Great Southern Buildings, Dallas, Texas. The US census of 1930, John now aged 10, shows the family living at house 116, Aspermont, Town, Stonewall, Texas.
John sailed for England with his mother Emma aboard the SS Laconia of the Cunard Line, bound for Liverpool and sailing from Boston, New York on 15th August 1932. John was aged 12 but shown on the passenger manifest as a student aged 19! Their address in the UK was given as 7 Wellington Street, St Ives, Cornwall.
John and Emma remained in the UK and he found employment as a Railway Porter with London North East Railway, living at 8 Guanock Terrace, King’s Lynn with his mother. On 15th December 1936 aged 16 years and 7 months old he enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Norfolk Regiment with service number 5772393 as a ‘Boy’ and was posted to the 5th Battalion. He was described as 5’.10” tall, weighing 145lbs, a girth of 37” a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was given as Church of England.
In 1922 the family travelled to the UK with John, possibly to visit Emma’s family and returned to the US on 24th June 1922, bound for New York from Southampton once again aboard the SS Aquitania. Their address in the US was given as 921 Great Southern Buildings, Dallas, Texas. The US census of 1930, John now aged 10, shows the family living at house 116, Aspermont, Town, Stonewall, Texas.
John sailed for England with his mother Emma aboard the SS Laconia of the Cunard Line, bound for Liverpool and sailing from Boston, New York on 15th August 1932. John was aged 12 but shown on the passenger manifest as a student aged 19! Their address in the UK was given as 7 Wellington Street, St Ives, Cornwall.
John and Emma remained in the UK and he found employment as a Railway Porter with London North East Railway, living at 8 Guanock Terrace, King’s Lynn with his mother. On 15th December 1936 aged 16 years and 7 months old he enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Norfolk Regiment with service number 5772393 as a ‘Boy’ and was posted to the 5th Battalion. He was described as 5’.10” tall, weighing 145lbs, a girth of 37” a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was given as Church of England.
On 8th May 1937 reaching 17 he was appointed as a Private and attended his annual training camps 24th – 31st Jul 1937, 16th – 30th July 1938 and again on 15th – 29th July 1939. He also joined the St John Ambulance Association in 1938 obtaining his first aid certificate with the LNER and assisting teaching first aid. He also joined the Moreton Civil Defence Unit. John was however embodied on 2nd September 1939, the day before Britain entered World War II and on 20th January 1940 was posted to the 8th Battalion Home Defence and graded as medical category B1.
John saw service at home for the duration of the war being posted to Command Supply Depot on 18th June 1940, and transferred to the Royal Engineers, No 2 Railway Training Centre, Derby on 29th May 1941 as a Sapper.
He was hospitalised in January 1942 for over a month and on discharge posted to HQ MC in Liverpool as a Checker Movement Control in August 1942 and appointed as Lance Corporal. He was admitted to Claybury Emergency Hospital on 23rd June 1944 and discharged on 9th July relinquishing his rank of LC having been in hospital for over 21 days. He was admitted again on 20th July 1945 and after release posted to Movement Control Northwest Ports. On 18th April 1946 he was posted to the Y list (Soldiers posted home (the UK) due to sickness or wounds, reported sick at home or prisoners of war returning home). On 14th June he was posted to the Z Class reserve before his release from the Army.
John saw service at home for the duration of the war being posted to Command Supply Depot on 18th June 1940, and transferred to the Royal Engineers, No 2 Railway Training Centre, Derby on 29th May 1941 as a Sapper.
He was hospitalised in January 1942 for over a month and on discharge posted to HQ MC in Liverpool as a Checker Movement Control in August 1942 and appointed as Lance Corporal. He was admitted to Claybury Emergency Hospital on 23rd June 1944 and discharged on 9th July relinquishing his rank of LC having been in hospital for over 21 days. He was admitted again on 20th July 1945 and after release posted to Movement Control Northwest Ports. On 18th April 1946 he was posted to the Y list (Soldiers posted home (the UK) due to sickness or wounds, reported sick at home or prisoners of war returning home). On 14th June he was posted to the Z Class reserve before his release from the Army.
Following the war, he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and in list Number 11 of 1949 the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’. John Married Lilian Hughes in Crosby, during the third quarter of 1944 aged 24 and they had one son, David Alexander Nance born in 1949. John also resumed his duties with the St John Ambulance Association and Civil Defence Corps and awarded his naturalisation certificate AZ/33721 on 23rd October 1947.
In 1948 John joined the Wallasey Police, being awarded his Royal Life Saving Society medallion and Bronze Cross in 1951 and 1954 respectively and became a member of the Police First Aid team, working in tandem with the St John and the Civil Defence. In 1960 he was involved in a dramatic rescue of two girls who were trapped waist deep in mud at a Merseyside beach and later involved in a high-speed car chase in which his patrol car was struck by the bandit vehicle.
In 1964 he qualified as a lay instructor for St John, responsible for all first aid training at Wallasey. He devoted all of his spare time off duty to first aid training and was much in demand to industrial organisations, voluntary bodies and youth groups, as well as the Civil Defence.
Wallasey Police was amalgamated with the Cheshire Police in 1967 and John continued training first aid teams in the Cheshire Police, Wallasey Division. He left the Civil Defence in 1967 now aged 47 and received an engraved ashtray from the Moreton CD Wardens and the Civil Defence Long Service Medal.
In 1948 John joined the Wallasey Police, being awarded his Royal Life Saving Society medallion and Bronze Cross in 1951 and 1954 respectively and became a member of the Police First Aid team, working in tandem with the St John and the Civil Defence. In 1960 he was involved in a dramatic rescue of two girls who were trapped waist deep in mud at a Merseyside beach and later involved in a high-speed car chase in which his patrol car was struck by the bandit vehicle.
In 1964 he qualified as a lay instructor for St John, responsible for all first aid training at Wallasey. He devoted all of his spare time off duty to first aid training and was much in demand to industrial organisations, voluntary bodies and youth groups, as well as the Civil Defence.
Wallasey Police was amalgamated with the Cheshire Police in 1967 and John continued training first aid teams in the Cheshire Police, Wallasey Division. He left the Civil Defence in 1967 now aged 47 and received an engraved ashtray from the Moreton CD Wardens and the Civil Defence Long Service Medal.
In 1970 he was awarded his Police exemplary Service Medal and in 1975 was was elected Treasurer of the Wallasey St John Ambulance Association and awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John sometime later, although no record can be found of this award at their HQ. He was appointed as a Serving Brother of the Order of St John in 1975 this appearing in the London Gazette of 12th November 1975. His citation read:
‘Constable Nance is 54 years of age and is due to retire from police service on 8th May 1975, when he reaches the statutory age limit. His interest in first aid stems from 1938 when he obtained his first St. John First Aid Certificate and apart from a break for war service he has served the Association continuously since that date. He joined the police at Wallasey in 1948 and has been a member of the police first aid team for 25 years also acting since 1967 as team trainer. He qualified as a lay instructor in 1964 and since that date has been responsible for the general first aid training of all police at Wallasey. He has devoted most of his spare time to Association activities outside the force and is much in demand as an instructor to industrial organisations, voluntary bodies and youth groups. He is currently running a class in “The Essentials of First Aid” at a local school. He was elected Treasurer of the Wallasey St. John Ambulance Association in January 1975 and will, no doubt, continue to serve the Association for many years to come with the same zeal and dedication which has marked his work to date. Constable Nance has made an outstanding contribution in furthering the aims of the Association and I have the greatest pleasure in recommending him for recognition.’
‘Constable Nance is 54 years of age and is due to retire from police service on 8th May 1975, when he reaches the statutory age limit. His interest in first aid stems from 1938 when he obtained his first St. John First Aid Certificate and apart from a break for war service he has served the Association continuously since that date. He joined the police at Wallasey in 1948 and has been a member of the police first aid team for 25 years also acting since 1967 as team trainer. He qualified as a lay instructor in 1964 and since that date has been responsible for the general first aid training of all police at Wallasey. He has devoted most of his spare time to Association activities outside the force and is much in demand as an instructor to industrial organisations, voluntary bodies and youth groups. He is currently running a class in “The Essentials of First Aid” at a local school. He was elected Treasurer of the Wallasey St. John Ambulance Association in January 1975 and will, no doubt, continue to serve the Association for many years to come with the same zeal and dedication which has marked his work to date. Constable Nance has made an outstanding contribution in furthering the aims of the Association and I have the greatest pleasure in recommending him for recognition.’
John retired from Cheshire Police on 8th May 1975 aged 55 and continued working for the St John and in 1985 was promoted to an Officer of the Order of St John, this appearing in the London Gazette of 31st January 1985. His citation for that award read:
‘1st Certificate from LNE Railway February 1938. Voucher from LNE, February 1939. Medallion – Wallasey Borough Policy 1948. Labels in successive years until discontinued. Member of Wallasey Police First-aid Team from 1948, then assisted with training Cheshire Constabulary Teams from 1967-1974. Took Lay Instructors’ exam in 1964 – no opportunity priory to then and conducted all Police refresher courses for both Wallasey Borough Police and later Wallasey Division of Cheshire Constabulary from 1964 to 1974. Extensive voluntary instruction to youth organisations and the like with first-aid, swimming and life-saving. Became Honorary Treasurer of the Wallasey St. John Ambulance Centre in 1975, being admitted as a Serving Brother of the Order in that year and Invested as such in 1976. Continued to renew both first-aid and lay instructors certificates and continued to give voluntary instruction as and when required, although his employment subsequent to retiring from the Police prevented his first-aid activities from being as extensive as he should. Since leaving the competition team, he has often assisted in competitions as Steward, Judge or Timekeeper. Retired as Honorary Treasurer of the Wallasey Centre in 1983, in favour of a younger, more active person.’
John and Lilian lived at 5 Burden Road, Moreton Mersey and he died aged 70 on 12th November 1990. An early death for one so active in many organisations. Lilian lived another 18 years passing away on 17th September 2018 in Moreton, Cheshire.
‘1st Certificate from LNE Railway February 1938. Voucher from LNE, February 1939. Medallion – Wallasey Borough Policy 1948. Labels in successive years until discontinued. Member of Wallasey Police First-aid Team from 1948, then assisted with training Cheshire Constabulary Teams from 1967-1974. Took Lay Instructors’ exam in 1964 – no opportunity priory to then and conducted all Police refresher courses for both Wallasey Borough Police and later Wallasey Division of Cheshire Constabulary from 1964 to 1974. Extensive voluntary instruction to youth organisations and the like with first-aid, swimming and life-saving. Became Honorary Treasurer of the Wallasey St. John Ambulance Centre in 1975, being admitted as a Serving Brother of the Order in that year and Invested as such in 1976. Continued to renew both first-aid and lay instructors certificates and continued to give voluntary instruction as and when required, although his employment subsequent to retiring from the Police prevented his first-aid activities from being as extensive as he should. Since leaving the competition team, he has often assisted in competitions as Steward, Judge or Timekeeper. Retired as Honorary Treasurer of the Wallasey Centre in 1983, in favour of a younger, more active person.’
John and Lilian lived at 5 Burden Road, Moreton Mersey and he died aged 70 on 12th November 1990. An early death for one so active in many organisations. Lilian lived another 18 years passing away on 17th September 2018 in Moreton, Cheshire.
The Story The medal group awarded to John Elder Nance were acquired from E-Bay on 20th March 2023 and of interest because of the quadruple long service combination.
With the medals came some copy photographs and a copy of Nance’s service papers, which made the subsequent Ancestry.UK research much easier. Interestingly it was revealed in his service papers that he was born in in El Paso, Texas. Ancestry confirmed this and the US database allowed some quite detailed and interesting information to be gleaned.
The St John Museum in London also provided some excellent additional detail enabling a detailed biography to be compiled. Although the museum said they could find no record of his St John Service Medal being awarded as he had taught First Aid with the Association rather than Ambulance. However, they admitted some errors had occurred and medal awards occasionally not recorded. As John had been Treasurer of the Association for some years this would have qualified him for the Service Medal. It has been retained with the group as it is, on the balance of probabilities a correct award for his many years of service.
The engraved ashtray showing his service from 1939-1967 would also indicate service with the Civil Defence sufficiently long enough to qualify for that medal.
An interesting group and an interesting man who committed his life’s work to first Aid.
With the medals came some copy photographs and a copy of Nance’s service papers, which made the subsequent Ancestry.UK research much easier. Interestingly it was revealed in his service papers that he was born in in El Paso, Texas. Ancestry confirmed this and the US database allowed some quite detailed and interesting information to be gleaned.
The St John Museum in London also provided some excellent additional detail enabling a detailed biography to be compiled. Although the museum said they could find no record of his St John Service Medal being awarded as he had taught First Aid with the Association rather than Ambulance. However, they admitted some errors had occurred and medal awards occasionally not recorded. As John had been Treasurer of the Association for some years this would have qualified him for the Service Medal. It has been retained with the group as it is, on the balance of probabilities a correct award for his many years of service.
The engraved ashtray showing his service from 1939-1967 would also indicate service with the Civil Defence sufficiently long enough to qualify for that medal.
An interesting group and an interesting man who committed his life’s work to first Aid.
St John Ambulance Association badges and medallions. Reverse engraved A118404 JOHN E NANCE
John Nance Chesire Police
Medal Details:
- Serving Officer of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: CONST JOHN.E.NANCE.
- Efficiency Medal: 57723 SPR.J.NANCE. R.E.
- Civil Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
Page last updated 17 Apr 23
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