JOHN HENRY KERNICK
(Also known as Jack)
1885 – 1972
John Henry was born at Southcombe, Widecombe in the Moor in May 1885 to George Kernick and Louisa French, he had one elder brother Albert George and one younger brother Fred, two elder sisters Florence and Lilian and four younger sisters Elizabeth, Rosina, Cicely and Edith.
The family moved from Southcombe to Heathercombe in the early 1890’s where John was employed as a plantation worker.
In 1912, John married Bessie Leaman and during their marriage they had ten children Jack, Maurice, Esther, Rosa, David, Fred, Christabelle, Reg, Barbara, and Walter.
Although the exact date of his enlistment is not known records show John joined 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry in 1916. He was posted to the Western Front as part of reinforcements for his Regiment.
In the early part of 1918 the German Army launched a major offensive on the Somme Battlefields (Operation Michael). John Henry was taken prisoner during these battles and sent to POW camps in Giessen and Munster in Germany until the end of the war.
After the Armistice was signed in November 1918 most of the POW’s were released and it is probable John Kernick was home with his family by Christmas 1918.
John Henry Kernick died at Kingskerswell in 1972 aged 86.
Previous: Albert George Kernick Next: George Ireland King