John Dodgson Batty

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Photo source: Bob the Greenacre Cat, FindaGrave.com

John Dodgson Batty was born on the 23rd May 1922, in the Leeds Registration District, the son of Benjamin Robinson and Bertha Batty (née Dodgson), who had married in the September quarter of 1919. His father had been married before, to Louisa Earles. They had had two children,  Rowland, born 1906, and Neville, born 1908. Sadley, Rowland died at the age of 3 months.

However, Benjamin was left a widower as Louisa died in June 1913, leaving him with a young child to bring up. After WW1 was declared, Benjamin enlisted in the RAF on the 29th April 1918. He served for two years, and was discharged in April 1920. His discharge papers reveal that he was a draughtsman.

Shortly afterwards he met Bertha and the 1921 census shows us that Benjamin, Bertha and Neville were living with Bertha's father at 61, Stoney Rock Lane, Leeds. Benjamin was recorded as a visitor with the occupation of a stained glass artist.  Sadly, Bertha was to die in 1926, four years after John was born.

Benjamin married for a third time, to Harriet Duncan. They had two children, Lindley, born in 1923, and Patricia, born in 1931. In 1939 they were all living at 2 Broughton Terrace, Leeds. John was working as a Paint Brush Maker.

John Batty met and married Dorothy Yates in the March quarter of 1944. Sadly, I have no other information about John's early or teen years but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom.

He served with 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps. The British Army Casualty Lists records the fact that he was wounded on the 20th August 1944 but died of his wounds on the 31st August 1944. His death was registered in the Wolverhampton Registration district and he was buried Harehills Cemetery, Leeds on the 5th September 1944.

Details of his burial were published in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer of Saturday 02 September.

Dorothy Batty, John’s young widow, was to remarry in the June quarter of 1948 in Leeds to Ralph Arnold. She died in July 1999 in Penzance, Cornwall.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of John Batty. If you are aware of one, or you are related to John, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.