John Henry Calvert was born on 5th June 1895, at 10 Hardman Street, Middlesbrough. He was the first child of William Henry Calvert, an iron-worker, and Sarah Calvert (nee Evans). John was baptised at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on 21st June 1895.
When the 1901 census was taken the family had moved nearby to 69 Arthur Street. William was still an iron worker and John was described as a scholar. However, by the 1911 census John was employed as a sweeper in the iron works and the family had moved to 38 Calthorpe Street.
The 1921 census lists four John Calverts who were born in Middlesbrough, but none of the birth dates match. There are no matches against the 1939 register either.
As the surviving members of the family had no memory or knowledge of John, it seems plausible that he died before 1921. However, the death and burial records do not contain any records corresponding to John Henry Calvert’s date of birth.
The First World War started on 28th July 1914, when John Henry Calvert was 19 years old. Ten days later, Lord Kitchener appealed for 100,000 men to join the army but within eight weeks over 750,000 enlisted. During the course of the war a further 2.5 million men were conscripted. There is a distinct possibility John Henry Calvert fought and died in this war.
The Forgotten Uncle 