Major, John Neville Chaworth-Musters DSO, OBE, JP, DL – Survived the War

100th (Warwick and South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Machine Gun Company

John Neville Chaworth-Musters

Synopsis of Life and Military Service

The second eldest son of John and Mary Chaworth-Musters, John (aka Jack) Neville Chaworth-Musters was born on 27 November 1890 in Annesley, Nottinghamshire. He was educated at Rugby school, and the Osborne Naval college. A naval career doesn’t appear to have followed as John was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army – the South Nottinghamshire Hussars of the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (a territorial regiment) on 1 April 1909, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 January 1911. 

He married Daphne Wilberforce-Bell in 1914. Around the time that the 1/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry was attached to the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade under the command of the 1st Mounted Division. In September 1914 the brigade transferred to the 2nd Mountain Division and sailed with them from Avonmouth for service in Egypt arriving in Alexandria on 24 April 1915. John’s Medal Index Card suggests he joined them in July. The regiment subsequently took part in landings at Suvla Bay (Gallipoli) until they were evacuated in December and returned to Egypt.

Following various reorganisations, the regiment served in Salonika as part of 7th Mounted Brigade from February 1916 and later that year John was promoted to temporary Captain. In July 1917 the brigade returned to Egypt and were subsequently placed under orders of the Desert Mounted Corps and served in Palestine. John was promoted to Major in October.

In 1918, John’s regiment were ordered to France. By this time they had been merged with the Warwickshire Yeomanry to form B Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps. They boarded the troop ship SS Leasowe Castle on 26 May, but soon after midnight on 27 May 1918 the ship was struck by a torpedo from German submarine SM UB-51  104 nautical miles north west of Alexandria. The ship sank with the loss of 101 lives. The survivors were returned to Egypt and a memorial service was held on 3 June. On the same day John was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the Kings Birthday Honours list. 

SS Leasowe Castle which was sunk on the way to France.

On 17 June the regiment boarded the troop ship Caledonia and sailed for Taranto, Italy where they arrived on 21 June. There was then a train journey to Etaples arriving on 29 June. While there they went through intensive training during which time, on 7 July, John was admitted to hospital. On 8 August the Battalion was re-designated the 100th (Warwick and South Notts Yeomanry) Battalion Machine Gun Company.

John was demobilised in March 1919.

The Interwar Years

In 1921, John’s father died and he inherited the family estates, his eldest brother Patricius George Chaworth-Musters being killed in 1915.

Following a review of the Territorial Force in 1921, the South Notts  became a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. John was retained as a Temporary Major, this was subsequently confirmed in 1922. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the 107th (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry) Brigade on 12 February 1928 and was made a Brevet Colonel of the Brigade on 12 February 1932.

John was made a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Nottingham on 18 November 1931, and in 1936 was selected as Sheriff of Nottingham by the King.

Annesley Hall the ancestral home of the Chaworth-Musters – © photo: Andrew Nicholson, 2003

Second World War

With war looming, John was confirmed as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Artillery. However, tragedy struck when his eldest son John Henry Chaworth-Musters was killed in action while serving with the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards in Tunisia on 12 April 1943.

Post Second World War

John was retired from the Territorial Army on 1 September 1948 and was awarded the OBE in the 1951 New Years Honours list for his work as Chair of the North Midland Region Price Regulation Committee.  In 1956 he was made the Honorary Colonel of 307 Field Regiment and in June the following year the Queen appointed John as a Vice Lieutenant to the County of Nottinghamshire.

John died on 12 March 1970 at Annersley Park, Nottinghamshire. Probate records identify his effects as £69,990.

Sketch of John Neville Chaworth-Musters – © Nottingham Journal 21 January 1942

Family

The following family members have been identified:

  • Wife – Daphne Wilberforce-Bell, born 6 April 1895 died 1973
  • Daughter – Audrey Catherine Chaworth-Musters, born 1915 died 1982.
  • Daughter – Patricia Chaworth-Musters, born 16 November 1919 died 1998.
  • Son – John Henry Chaworth-Musters, born 1921 died 12 April 1943.
  • Son – Robert Patricius Chaworth-Musters, born 1923 died 1992.
  • Father – John Patrcius Chaworth-Musters, born 1860 died 1921.
  • Mother – Mary Ann Sharpe or Chaworth-Musters, died 1930.
  • Sister – Margarita Chaworth-Musters, born 1884, died 1954.
  • Sister – Elsie Chaworth-Musters, born 1885, died 1954.
  • Sister – Ruth Frances Chaworth-Musters, born 1887, died 1967.
  • Brother – Patricius George Chaworth-Musters, born 14 June 1888, died 11 January 1915.
  • Sister – Catherine Lina Chaworth-Musters, born 1889, died 1963.
  • Brother – Anthony (Tony) Chaworth-Musters, born 1892, died 1987.
  • Brother – Philip Mundy Chaworth-Musters, born 9 April 1895, died 18 July 1917.
  • Brother – Robert Chaworth-Musters, born 24 July 1896 died 10 October 1918.
  • Brother – Douglas Chaworth-Musters, MC,  born 1898, died 1957.
  • Brother – James Lawrence Chaworth-Musters, born 1901, died 1948.

John also had two cousins (through his uncle Lancelot George Eden Michael Chaworth-Musters) who fought in the war: 

  • Richard Hammond Chaworth-Musters, MC, born 28 March 1895, died 31 December 1941 – 1st Norfolk Regiment.
  • Roger Michael Chaworth-Musters, born 23 March 1898, died 7 May 1917 – Royal Flying Corps.

His sister, Catherine, married Captain Hugh Lee Pattinson in 1914 but he sadly was killed in action in 1915.

Addresses

Records show that John lived in :-

  • 1891: The Hall, Derby Road, Annesley, Nottinghamshire.
  • 1939 records show that John’s wife and daughter Patricia were living at The Hall, Derby Road, Annesley, Nottinghamshire.

Medals

John Neville Chaworth-Musters was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, 1914-15 Star, Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War. He was also mentioned in Sir E E H Allenby’s despatches for services in Egypt. He was also awarded the Territorial Decoration on 16 August 1929.

Memorials

John Neville Chaworth-Munsters is honoured and remembered on the following memorials:-

  • All Saints Church, Annesley, Nottinghamshire.

Links to Additional Information

References

  • University of Nottingham: Biography of John Chaworth-Musters (1838-1887).
  • London Gazette 18 May 1909 Issue 28252 page 3764.
  • London Gazette 27 January 1911 Issue 28460 page 699.
  • London Gazette 14 June 1921 Supplementary 32358 Page 4803.
  • London Gazette 24 March 1922 Supplement 32650 Page 2499.
  • London Gazette 30 March 1928 Issue 33371 Page 2343.
  • London Gazette 20 November 1931 Issue 33773 Page 7506.
  • London Gazette 12 February 1932 Issue 33798 Page 955.
  • London Gazette 31 May 1940 Supplement 34863 Page 3343.
  • London Gazette 29 December 1950 Supplement 39104 Page 14.
  • London Gazette 29 July 1952 Supplement 39607 Page 4058.
  • London Gazette 8 June 1956 Supplement 40802 Page 3434.
  • London Gazette 22 February 1957 Issue 41009 Page 1209.
  • Long Long Trail.
  • 1891 England, Wales and Scotland Census.
  • Nottingham Journal 4 March 1936.
  • England and Wales Government Probate Death Index.
  • London Gazette 22 November 1916 Supplement 29832 Page 11381.
  • London Gazette 31 May 1918 Supplement 30717 Page 6489.
  • London Gazette 14 June 1918 Supplement 30746 Page 7049.

Groups

Contributors:-

  • Trevor Torkington