Steel, John (Jack)

Jack was the youngest of a large family of nine children. His parents George and Fanny had married in 1892. First born was Ethel (1892-1966) followed by Nellie (1894-), Richard (1895-1969), Frederick Ernest (1898-1977), Iris Beatrice (1906-1998), Maxwell (1908-2000), Louise (1910-2003), Molly (9`3-2001) and finally Jack on 25th September 1914.

The 1911 Census shows us that the family lived at 35 Cherry Street, where Jack’s parents were still living at the time of the 1939 Census. At that time Jack was living at 15 Cherry Street with his wife Doris. His brother, Maxwell and his wife Florence were living next door at number 17.

Jack’s mother Fanny died in January 1943, just seven months before Jack. Our Warwick Advertiser excerpt tells us that Jack and Doris had a little girl, Linda.

Jack’s daughter, Linda Nelson has written to us: “My parents married at St Nicholas Church Warwick in September 1939 and my father was then called up a few months later. I was born in January 1943 and my father was killed in the August. Unfortunately my father did not see me. My mother carried a torch for my father until her death”