John Willington Pepper R.A. (1882 - 1963)

Born 19 Jan 1882 in Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 3 Feb 1963 at age 81 in Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

John Pepper R.A. was born in England.

John Pepper R.A. was born in Wiltshire, England.

John Willington Pepper was born on 19 January 1882^[1]. He was the son of George Nicholson Pepper and Ellen Churchill.

He lived with his parents and siblings in Milford, Wiltshire, England.

1891 England Census
Milford Hill, The Avenue, Milford, Alderbury, Wiltshire, England^[2]:

He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the South-East of Scotland Artillery (Southern Division) on 4 May 1900 and was commissioned from this Militia unit into the Royal Artillery on 24 May 1902.

In the 1901 Scotland Census, J Willington Pepper (aged 19 and Royal Artillery Militia) was recorded as a Boarder in the household of Margaret Potter (49) at 47 Forrest Road, Edinburgh^[3].

His father George passed away on 31 October 1901.

John saw service in Sierra Leone from 9 August 1907 until 17 December 1908. Sadly his sister Norah (who was a Nurse) died suddenly on 4 December 1907 at about age 28.

By 1911, Lieutenant John Willington Pepper (aged 29, Royal Garrison Artillery) was recorded in the Military Barracks at South Shoebury, Shoeburyness, Essex, England. He was single^[4].

On 27 June 1911, he gained a Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 98 in a Bristol Biplane at Salisbury Plain. He was with the Royal Flying Corps at Montrose, Northern Borders. The following year he was flying the Short Biplane 401 and was on the first Central Flying School course, 17 August to 19 December 1912. John was made Flying Officer, joining the Royal Flying Corps, No. 2 Squadron (Military Wing) in January 1913. His health started to fail and he gave up flying altogether.

He returned to the Royal Artillery and in 1914 he was appointed Adjutant of the Territorial Force. He attained the rank of Captain in December 1914, and served overseas in Macedonia from 27 June 1916. On 4 August 1916 his younger brother Captain William Bramwell Pepper died of wounds at the Somme, Picardie, France.

John served briefly with the Royal Air Force, from 9 February 1919 until 1 March 1919. Military Service Number: 18422

He retired as a Major on 9 February 1923 and was on the Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant-Colonel by 1937. He was Specially employed during the 2nd World War.

John Pepper R.A. was awarded the British War Medal.

John Pepper R.A. was awarded the Victory Medal.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal (Capt. J. W. Pepper.); the Defence and War Medals (1939-45)^[5].

Lieutenant-Colonel John Willington Pepper was resident at Ashurst, Belmore Lane, Lymington, Hampshire when he passed away on 3 February 1963^[6]. His Will was proved on 5 March 1963 at Winchester to Winifred Pepper, widow. Effects: £734 1s. 9d.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XKL-HML : 1 October 2014), John Willington Pepper, 1882; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,"
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4V48-DZM : 10 December 2017), John W Pepper in household of George Nicholson Pepper, Milford, Wiltshire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
3. ↑ Parish: Edinburgh New Greyfriars; ED: 22; Page: 10; Line: 5; Roll: CSSCT1901_382. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1901 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Scotland. 1901 Scotland Census. Reels 1-446. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWN7-XPQ : 2 August 2017), John Willington Pepper, South Shoebury, Shoeburyness, Essex, England; from "1911 England and Wales census,"
5. ↑ https://www.spink.com/lot/23113000472
6. ↑ Death: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCN-T158 : 1 November 2021), John W Pepper, 1963.