BORN HULL 1892. SON OF JOSHUA CHARLES BETTS (1870-1931) & HARRIET ISABELLA BETTS, OF 12 NELSON SQUARE, GEORGE STREET, HULL. HE MARRIED IN HULL, ON 23/12/1911. HIS WIFE MARGARET NEYLON (1893-1950) & TWO CHILDREN, ELLEN AND JOHN, LIVED AT 9 SPRING TERRACE, WATERLOO STREET, HULL AND 4 CARLTON PLACE, FRANCIS STREET, HULL. HE WORKED AS A MACHINIST. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 3.5 INCHES TALL, 116 LBS WEIGHT, 34-35 INCH CHEST, GREY EYES, LIGHT BROWN HAIR, CHURCH OF ENGLAND RELIGION.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 02/09/1914. JOINED AS PRIVATE, 12311, 7TH EYR. DISCHARGED TWO MONTHS LATER WITH A MISSING RIGHT FORE FINGER. HE REJOINED AND SERVED WITH THE 8TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. ATTACHED TO THE MACHINE GUN SECTION. KILLED AT SERRE, ON 13/11/1916, WITH HIS BROTHER, GEORGE BETTS. HE IS BURIED AT SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No.1, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “OH FOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND AND THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL”.
JOHN BETT’S ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW MARGARET SCOTT, WHO MOVED TO 4 CARLTON PLACE, FRANCIS STREET, HULL AND THEN 53 NEW GEORGE STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESSES).
HIS BROTHER GEORGE BETTS WAS KILLED ON THE SAME DAY, IN THE SAME ATTACK. ANOTHER BROTHER JOSHUA BETTS WAS KILLED IN 1917.
IN THE HDM ON 13TH MAY 1918, HIS PARENTS WROTE OF THEIR THREE SONS LOST IN THE WAR, THE FOLLOWING VERSE: –
“PEACEFUL BE YOUR REST DEAR SONS, ‘TIS SWEET TO BREATHE YOUR NAME, IN LIFE WE LOVED VERY DEAR, IN DEATH WE DO THE SAME.” FROM MOTHER, FATHER, SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
