Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- John Edward Fry -

An interesting letter comes to hand from Lce.-Cpl. John Fry, of the Hampshire Regiment, who is stationed at Malta. He introduces himself by saying he formerly worked for Mr. Channon, Spring Hill, and lived with Mr. Sheath ^[1] in St. Catherine's Street before joining the Army in 1937. He went abroad in that year and travelled to India, Palestine and Egypt before reaching his present island station. The writer recalls that on Oct. 16, 1942, all the Isle of Wight Service men in the vicinity arranged a meeting at a Social Club, at which he was the only Ventnorian present, but he met two men he knew - Sapper Burke, R.E., of Wroxall, and Leading Tel. Haynes, of Niton.
Lce.-Cpl. Fry states that Sgt. Norton, who was the "Terry" Sergeant at Ventnor is now a lieutenant. He goes on to say with what interest he has read of the doings of Ventnorians in the Services - Elvers, Shove, Harding and the Nigh brothers ^[2] - and says how sorry he was to read of the death of an old school chum of his, Stoker R. Mills.^[3] Here is a sentence from the letter : "Can you tell me if the following are still at home : Edgar Russell, Ernest Sprack, John Collins, Albert Taylor, Jack White, John Nash and Malcolm Dyer - a few lads who were schoolmates of mine?" The writer concludes by wishing the Mercury and all its readers a happy and prosperous New Year. We thank our correspondent. Perhaps someone can reply to the question we have quoted.