Category: Military
Rank: Major
Regiment or Ship: 152nd Sge. By., R.G.A.
Service Number(s): 52420
Date of Birth: 03.04.1877
Place of Birth: Warwick
Date of Death: 1941
Place of Death: Romford, Essex
Address: Kingsdene, 73 Dorset Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: William Ivens (1852-1919) and Sarah Ann Ivens, nee Willis, born 1854)
Siblings: John has a long list of brothers and sisters, together with more half-brothers and half-sisters. As it is not entirely clear how accurate these records are they have not been listed here.
John married Henrietta Elizabeth Smith (1877-1950) on 20th April 1898 in Leamington Spa. They had at least five children – John William (1903-1903); John Charles (1904-1988); John Henry (1905-); Eva Henrietta (1908-);and Horace (1909-1972).
As well as the address in Bexhill on Sea, John lived in Fareham, Hampshire, and Witham, Essex.
First World War Experience
John enlisted in April 1916 and served in France. The following article appeared in a local newspaper dated 27th March 1915:
“We hear that Major J. H. Ivens, of ‘Kingsdene’, 73 Dorset Road, left Bexhill on the 21st instant to take up his appointment at the War Office as Assistant Deputy Press Censor. It may not be generally known that at King George’s Coronation Major Ivens rode in the procession. He was then a Major in the ~United Provinces (India) Light Horse.
John was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, as well as receiving the Military Cross.