Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Wells, a framework knitter, born 1855 in Whetstone, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Jane Wells (nee Copson, married on the 21st May 1877 in Whetstone parish church), a hosiery trade seamer, born 1854 in Whetstone. Jervis was born in the 21st July 1878 in Whetstone, his siblings were, Arthur Amos, born 1877 and Maria, born 1881, both his siblings were born in Whetstone, in April 1881 the family home was in Whetstone. In November 1887 Jervis’s mother died aged 34 and was buried on the 22nd November in Whetstone. In April 1891 Jervis was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Paradise Row, Blaby, together with his father, a greengrocer, his stepmother Mary Jane Wells (formerly Hunt, married in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1854 in Leicestershire and his siblings Arthur, a shoe maker, Maria, a schoolgirl, Reuben, a schoolboy, born 1883, John, a schoolboy, born 1885 and his half blood sibling Hannah Norman., born 1890, the latter three siblings were all born in Blaby, also residing in the family home were his step siblings, Alfred Hunt, an errand boy, born 1879 in Whetstone and Mary Elizabeth Hunt, a schoolgirl, born 1880 in Blaby. His brother Joseph Daniel Loach, born 1886 in Blaby, was at the time residing with his paternal grandparents Daniel Wells, a framework knitter, born 1827 and his wife Rachel Wells, a Griswold knitter, born 1833, both grandparents were born in Whetstone. In March 1901 Jervis was employed as a shoe maker and was residing in James Street, Blaby, Leicestershire, together with his wife Louisa Wells (nee Bray, married on the 26th December 1899 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1881 in Blaby, and their son Walter Redvers, born 6th May 1900 in Blaby. In April 1911 Jervis was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at Wellington Cottages, Auburn Road, Blaby together with his wife, a hosiery trade knitter and children, Walter, a schoolboy and Elsie, a schoolgirl, born 21st December 1905 in Blaby. Jervis and Louisa also had three further children, John Lawrence, born 20th March 1912, Gladys Mary, born 20th June 1916 and Harold Jervis, born 11th November 1917, the latter three children were all born in Blaby. The officially recorded spelling of his name at birth was Jervis, but he was also referred to as Gervis as evident on the All Saints war memorial, and Jarvis as recorded in the school logbooks when attending school in Whetstone. Jervis’s widow died aged 43 in October 1924 in the Leicester Royal Infirmary and was buried in Leicester on the 8th October.
Jervis attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 11th December 1915 in Glen Parva, Leicestershire. He gave his home address as Auburn Road, Blaby his age at 37 years and 9 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was married. He gave his next of kin as his wife Louisa Wells of Wellington Cottages, Auburn Road, Blaby, Leicestershire. He gave his religion as Church of England. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 1¼ inches in height, weighed 114 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. After attestation on the 11/12/15 in Glen Parva, Leicestershire he was transferred as Private, service number 32964 to the Army Reserve on the 12/12/15. Mobilized on the 2/11/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 2/11/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 7/11/16. Posted to Patrington Camp on the 7/11/16. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 28/2/17. Posted to the 12th Infantry Brigade Depot in France on the 1/3/17. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 1/3/17. Transferred to the 10th Battalion Cheshire Regiment and allocated the service number 50646 on the 19/3/17. Killed in action on the 11/8/17. Total service 1 year 244 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. The following information was provided by Jervis’s widow Louisa on the 23rd October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by F. H. Joscelyne, Clerk in Holy Orders of Blaby Rectory, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Widow of soldier Louisa Wells of Wellington Cottages, Auburn Road, Blaby. Children of soldier, Elsie Wells, born 21/12/06, John Wells, born 20/3/12 and Harold Wells, born 11/11/17, all of Wellington Cottages, Blaby. Father of soldier, John Wells of Canada. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood brothers of soldier, Reuben Wells, age 37 on Donnington Street, Leicester. John Wells, age 35 of Countesthorpe Road, Wigston. Loach Wells, age 33 of Atherstone. Half blood brothers of soldier, Horace Wells, age 28 of Paradise Row, Blaby and Daniel Wells, age 26 of Canada. Full blood sister of soldier, Mrs. Maria Page, age 39 of Main Street, Whetstone. Half blood sister of soldier, Mrs. Hannah Stanton, age 30 of Clifford Street, Wigston. Jervis’s widow and four children were awarded a weekly pension of twenty eight shillings and nine pence to commence on the 28th February 1918.
The War Diary records: 11 Aug-17 – WESTHOEK RIDGE. The trench was heavily bombarded at dawn. The Battalion received orders that it was to be relieved but these were cancelled. Owing to notification of this order being cancelled not reaching the Quartermaster till later the Battalion did not receive rations for the day but its carrying party brought up some water and some German tinned rations were “sourced” and eaten. The trench was shelled at intervals throughout the day and night.