ARMY AND NAVY

The 1841 Census shows John Berry, aged 6 years living in a workhouse in Bridport with his mother and 2 brothers. Ten years later he is working as a weaver, still in Bridport. He must have joined the army shortly afterwards as the Army List shows him serving in the Crimean campaign in 1854-55, where he was present at the battles of Alma, Balaklava and Inkerman, and at the siege of Sebastopol (Medal with 4 clasps, and Turkish Medal). His first commission was on 31st July 1878 and in 1880 he was stationed at Priddy's Hard. By 1881 Berry is recorded as Quartermaster, Ordance Store Dept. at Weedon in Northants. By 1891 he had retired from the army as a Captain and was living in Woolwich with his wife Louisa and children William and Mary Ann. The 1901 Census has him living in Southsea in what was then Beach Farm Road (now Francis Avenue) with his wife and another son Cecil.