Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Carey a stone quarry worker, born 1860 in Croft, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Carey (nee Cosby, married on the 26th December 1881 in All Saint’s Church, Narborough Leicestershire), born 1863 in Huncote, Leicestershire. John was born in the 1st quarter of 1882 in Huncote and was baptised on the 27th March 1882 in Narborough Parish Church, his siblings were, Andrew Cosby, an agricultural labourer, born 1879 in Blaby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 31st August 1879 in Narborough Parish Church, Sarah Elizabeth, born 1883 and baptised on the 14th October 1883 in Narborough Parish Church, Mary Ann, born 7th December 1884 and baptised on the 15th August 1886 in Narborough Parish Church, Edith Ann, born 1887 and baptised on the 25th May 1890 in Narborough Parish Church and Gertrude Ellen, born 1889 and baptised on the 25th May 1890 in Narborough Parish Church, the latter four siblings were all born in Huncote, in April 1891 the family home was at South View, Huncote. John’s father died, aged 33 in April 1893, and was buried in Narborough Parish Churchyard on the 22nd April 1893. In March 1901 John was employed as a stone quarry driller and was residing in the family home at Huncote Villa, Huncote, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Andrew, a stone quarry worker, Sarah, a Griswold stocking frame knitter, Ida Alice, born 1891 and baptised on the 27th September 1891 in Narborough Parish Church and George William, born 19th September 1893 and baptised on the 12th November 1893 in Narborough Parish Church, the latter two siblings were both born in Huncote. In April 1911 John was employed as a stone quarry driller and was residing in the family home at Huncote, together with his wife, Rose Ann Carey (nee Ward, married on the 14th September 1905 in Huncote, Leicestershire), born 15th September 1881 in Huncote, and their daughter Ivy Annie, born on the 11th November 1906 in Huncote. In 1939 John’s widow Rose was residing in the family home at 34, Forest Road, Huncote together with his daughter Ivy and her husband Ralph Preston Ginns, a carpenter, born 29th June 1907 in Huncote. The Huncote Baptist Church Memorial plaque is now located in the Huncote Methodist Church.
John enlisted into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allocated the service number WR/28660. He gave his age as 33 years 11 months. Marital status as married and his trade or calling as quarryman.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighed 123 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 36½ inches, the following distinctive marks were noted, old fracture, left leg, he gave his religion as Baptist
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Rose Ann Carey, Huncote, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 10/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 11/12/15.
Mobilized. 10/12/16.
Posted. 12/2/17.
Granted Proficiency Rate. 12/2/17.
Posted. Royal Engineers. 322nd Quarrying Company, 15/2/17.
Royal Engineers. 322nd Quarrying Company, approved, 1/3/17.
Embarked. To join the British Expeditionary Force in France. 17/3/17.
Raised to Skilled Rate. E.P. In the Field. 19/2/18.
Leave to UK. 6/6/18.
Admitted. Medical Hut. Vallee Heureuse Main Quarry.9.15am. Pronounced dead. Cause, badly fractured skull. 10/8/18.
Admitted. 30th General Hospital. Killed accidentally. 10/8/18.
Summary of Service:
Home Service. 12/2/17 – 16/3/17. 33 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 17/3/17 – 10/8/18. 1 year 147 days.
Total service. 1 year 180 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Court of Inquiry was held into John’s death, brief details are reproduced below.
PROCEEDINGS of a COURT of INQUIRY assembled at the Orderly Room of No.21 P/W Company on the 12th August 1918 by order of Lieutenant Colonel C. T. HEYWORTH-SAVAGE, Officer Commanding Troops and No. 73 Labour Group, Rinxent, (R. R. O. 2084 of 11/8/1918) for the purpose of enquiring into the reporting upon the circumstances under which No. WR/28660 Sapper CAREY J. No. 322 Quarry Company, R. E., sustained fatal injuries.
Conclusion.
I concur in the report of the Court as varied in my opinion. I am of opinion that No. WR/28660 Sapper CAREY J., of No. 322 Quarrying Company R.E. when engaged on Military Duty in the Main Quarry of the Vallee Heureuse Quarry on the 10th August 1918, met his death at about 9.00am by being swept off a ledge 12 foot wide in the quarry face, 40 foot above the quarry floor by a fall of soil from above.
The deceased was not to blame nor in my opinion on the evidence, do I consider anyone else was to blame.
Signed) C. HEYWORTH-SAVAGE, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Troops, Rinxent.
August, 14/1918.
John’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fifty six pages, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service.