Henry John Cooper Cormack or Deans

(known as John Deans)

Born 1897 Bailie Fyfe’s Close, North High Street, Edinburgh

The statement on John Deans birth certificate is identical to his brother James Deans.

“Robertha Cormack wife of James Allan Deans. Who she declares is not the father of the child and further that she has had no formal communication with him since they ceased to be together in August 1892”

1915 The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) enlistment.

Addressed to 35 India Place with his next of kin listed as Bertha Deans.

Date: 11th October 1917 | Location: Beaumont-Hamel | Battle: Unknown

Beaumont-Hamel is a village in northern France. During WWI it was close to the front line. Major engagements would be fought here along with Battles at Somme (about 40 mins drive). 1916 seen the most engagements at Beaumont-Hamel and by 1918 the town was completely destroyed. The 51st Highland division were still involved in engagements until March of 1918. Some battalions had suffered up to 91% casualties. The 51st Highland division reported approximately 2,200 casualties.

John Deans had three military postings during WWI under Regiment Rank Service No

Incident: War Office Daily List No.5387

Further detail: Entitled to wear a “Wound Stripe” as authorised under Army Order 204 of the 6th July 1916. The terms of this award being named on this list.

Unit: Highland Light Infantry

Next of Kin: Leith

The type of injury is not listed.

In 1920 John Deans is awarded a Military pension, class ‘disability’. The record shows various checkups and assessments. It mentions Gunshot wound (GSW) lower left arm. Military discharge date 23 May 1918.

The length of time between the incident and discharge can be assumed to be recovery time.

The same year John Deans was injured his brother James Deans is killed serving in the 1st Batallion Gordon Highlanders in Ypres, Belgium. His widow Margaret and daughter Josephine are living with John and James’s mother Bertha Deans at 5 Saunders Street. This is the street parallel to India place.

A Year previous John’s sister Jessie gave birth to Joeseph Millar Trainer at 5 Saunders Street.

A year later Joeseph dies in Edinburgh City Hospital, Colington. His father Peter Trainer ‘Van driver’ and serving private in the 17th Royal Scots register the death. His correspondence address 35 India Place.

35 India Place is also the correspondence address for John Deans and his occupation in the valuation role ‘Van driver” is the same as his brother-in-law Peter Trainer. For context, a van driver in 1915 would have likely been horse-powered and not a mechanical vehicle.

This shows that Bertha Deans was a present influence in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. There is no further connection found between James Allan Deans and Robertha or her three children.

1920 - Marriage to Charlotte Moran. John Deans living at 1 Albany Street, Leith. Charlotte Moran living at Pilrig Lodge, Bonnington Road, Leith. John notes his Father ‘James Allan Deans’ Deceased.

Charolotte Moran was living with her parents John and Ellen Moran nee Fallon at number 26 India Place. With John Deans living at number 35 this could be how they met.

This was the Moran Fallon household in 1901

1

John and Charlotte have 3 children

1922 - John Moran Deans

1926 - Charlotte Moran Deans

1929 - Robert Cormack Deans

1941 - Son John Moran Deans voluntary enlists for service in WWII even though he has a reserved trade.

Despite a disability, John Henry Deans is conscripted into the army during WWII. Declared not fit for duty and discharged from active service.

In 1945 his son John Moran Deans is given special dispensation to return home and visit his mother Charlotte Deans who is terminally ill.

Robertha Cormack Deans, wife of James Allen Deans. - Deceased

Cause of death “epithelium pharynx lymphoma”

Signed John Deans (son) Address Waddell Place, Edinburgh. For John Moran Deans, could this be the first time he is aware that James Allen Deans was not his biological grandfather?

Every relative from John Deans ownwards could have had the last Name Cooper or Cormack based on “Henry John Cooper Deans or Cormack” birth certificate.

As of 2022 no trace of a John Cooper in connection with Robertha Cormack.