Son of Nehemiah Churchill and Hannah Plumb. John Churchill (Lance Corporal, Regimental Number 8109) was not a native of Cottingham. He had been born in Netherton, near Dudley in Staffordshire on 6th June 1885 and had only joined the East Riding Constabulary in February 1914. He was stationed in Cottingham and lodged with Mr Teasdale of 137, Finkle Street just down the road from the police station. Mr Teasdale was a tailor and the father of Albert Teasdale, the first Cottingham casualty in the war, who was killed on September 9th 1914.
John Churchill joined the 1st East Yorkshire, in 1905. He had been a reservist in the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment for 9 years. He was recalled to his regiment on August 5th 1914, on mobilisation, and served in France as a Lance Corporal. He was killed in action on October 18th. In the notice of his death in the Beverley Guardian on November 28th, it said:
“During his short service in the East Riding Constabulary he proved himself to be a thoroughly trustworthy man, and from the interest he displayed in his police duties he promised to be an efficient constable. At the time he was recalled to the colours he was stationed at Cottingham, where he was much respected.”
