Lance Corporal Jim RIPPIN

Warwickshire Regiment 38284

Jim Rippin was born on 15th April 1899, to parents George Henry Rippin (from Southwick) and Jane Eliza Brian of Woodnewton. The Brian ancestors had lived in the village since 1813 in their family home which was situated on the north side of the Church and is now called Stone Cottage.

When Jim left school he joined the Barfield business in Woodnewton as an apprentice Wheelwright and Carpenter. By 1911 his parents and siblings had moved to Apethorpe Lodge as his father had become a farm foreman which could have been for the Brassey family at Apethorpe Hall. However, when Jim attested on the 14th April 1917, he gave his address as Woodnewton.  Maybe, the family had returned to live in Woodnewton as they were in the village again when the 1921 census was taken.  Jim enlisted at Peterborough on 23rd May 1917, and signed up to serve with the 10th Battalion of the Warwickshire Regiment as a Private attached to number 38284. His papers show that he was 5’ 4” tall.

He was sent to France and embarked at Folkestone on 12th April for Boulougne and then posted to Etaples the following day. He was sent back to England in August as he contracted Measles. He had a nine day stay in Dover Military hospital and left on the 20th August. On his return to France we see from his military papers that he was working as a Card Dispatcher.

The following year on 7th November, he was Injured in action in the field by a shell. He received an entry and exit wound around the elbow joint. Four days later Jim received treatment at the University War hospital in Southampton and spent 66 days there. He was then transferred to Northampton war hospital on 16th January 1919, which was closer to home but only stayed for six days. His wound had healed well but left him with a slight drag when he fully extended the forearm.

Not only do we know from the 1921 census that Jim returned to the village at the end of the war, but he is also recorded on the Electoral Roll until the end of the 1920’s.  The census also shows that he was working for J E Quincey of Apethorpe, the Blacksmith.

 By 1930 he had married Jessie Wright from Woodnewton and they set up home at 60 Limes Avenue, Melton Mowbray, where they stayed for several years according to the Electoral Rolls. However, as shown in the 1939 Register they had moved to 57 Limes Avenue with their son, Peter who was born in 1931.  On this Register, Jim was listed as a wheelwright and coachbuilder, and could have possibly moved to Melton Mowbray in search of work in this specialised trade. Jim died in 1982 and is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Woodnewton, with his parents and wife.

2022