大象传媒

John King was a farmer's son from a small holding called Old Bates Farm in Tottington north of Bury. He volunteered for war work in Coventry in 1915, which is where he met his sweetheart Beaty Springford who was from a small village near Swindon in Wiltshire.

John eventually joined the army in 1917, and was killed in April 1917. His family have kept his love letters which paint a vivid picture of John being parted from his beloved Beaty.

After John鈥檚 death in France, Beaty later married in 1920, had two children and after her first husband鈥檚 death, married his brother and had a further two children. She was last heard of in Plymouth.

John King鈥檚 family still live in Tottington and treasure a box of letters and keepsakes that remind them of their dear John.

Location: Tottington, Bury BL8 3LJ
Image: John C King, courtesy of his family