An "Old Contemptible" In The Dukes.

1914 Trio.
6558 Pte. J. Corker, 2nd Duke Of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.

John Corker was born in 1883, the oldest son of John Corker, a coal porter, and his wife Elizabeth. According to the 1891 Census, the couple were living at 71 Campbell Road, Islington, and had four children: John (7), Elizabeth (6), Sarah (4) and Robert (9 mths). In June 1900, at the age of 17, John enlisted in the Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. The idea of full-time soldiering must have appealed to him because just over five months later, on 28th November , he enlisted in the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as 18 years and 2 months old, just over 5' 4" tall, weighing 116lbs and with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.

However, Private Corker's military career did not progress smoothly; on 9th December, just a few days after joining the Depot at Halifax, he deserted and, if the dates in his Service Record can be trusted, didn't appear again until December 1902. Posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment, which was returning to India at this time, John Corker was tried by Court Martial and found guilty of "deserting his Majesty's service and losing by neglect equipment and clothing." He was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment with hard labour and all his previous service was forfeited.
John stayed in India with the 2nd Battalion and, in December 1904, he was again in trouble with military authority, this time being guilty of "disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer" and "an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline", for which he was sentenced to 35 days imprisonment.

In September 1905, orders were received that the 2nd Battalion was to proceed home to England, leaving 500 men behind to be posted to the 1st Battalion, which was sailing out to replace them. The Regimental History mentions the fact that "the 1st and 2nd Battalions passed each other in the Indian Ocean, the one going out to, the other returning from, India." John Corker was one of the men left behind and transferred to the 1st Battalion on its arrival at the hill station of Lebong. Life here followed the dull routine of garrison duty with little excitement beyond what was found on the football pitch. Over the next few years however, the 1st Duke of Wellington's Regiment built up a reputation for prowess on the sports field, winning the "Calcutta" Cup, the premier Rugby-football trophy in India, every year from 1906 till 1913.

In June 1906, John Corker chose to extend his service to complete nine years with the Colours. In January 1907, he was appointed Drummer although he reverted to Private at his own request in 1911. In the same year, the Battalion was in Delhi, taking part in the Coronation Durbar held in the King Emperor's honour in December. A total of 6 officers and 112 other ranks received the Delhi Durbar Medal, but John Corker was not one of them. In February 1912, having completed the agreed term, he returned to England and was transferred to the Class 'B' Army Reserve. His previous misdemeanours behind him, his character on discharge was described as "exemplary" and it was noted that there had been no case of drunkenness in all his period of service. In addition, he was in possession of two Good Conduct Badges and a 2nd Class Musketry Certificate. His intended place of residence was given as 43 Pembroke Road, New Southgate, London, and his preferred employment was with the Great Western Railway Police.

In August 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, John Corker was recalled from the Reserve and sent to join the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in France, arriving there on 27th August. The Battalion had taken part in the Battle of Mons and was now retreating in the face of the German advance. John must have joined up with the Battalion at some point and taken part in the fighting on the Aisne, but in January 1915 he was back in England for health reasons. Returning to France in May 1915, he would serve with the Battalion as a Drummer for the rest of the war. The 2nd Dukes were engaged in the Somme Battles in the summer of 1916, at Fampoux in April / May 1917, at Passchendaele in late 1917 and the Final Advance in 1918. John Corker, having survived numerous engagements, finally returned to England in January 1919, was transferred to the Class 'Z' Reserve on 13th February, and was discharged on 31st March 1920.