John Instance Self was born on 10 May 1887 in Marylebone, Middlesex, a son of John Instance Self (1858-1930) and Eliza Sarah Self née Powell (1858-1908), whose children were all given the middle name of Instance. His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in the Marylebone Registration District, Middlesex.
In the 1891 census he was shown as aged 4 years and living in two rooms at 46 Chapel Street, Marylebone, London, with his parents and six of his siblings: Lily Elizabeth Instance Self (b.1880); Emma Ivin Instance Self (1881-1960); Louisa Instance Self (b.1884); Jessie Alice Instance Self (b.1885) and twins Lucy Catherine Instance Self (b.1890) and Charles Instance Self (b.1890). His father was described as a carpenter.
On 18 October 1893 he, together with three of his siblings: Emma Ivin Instance Self; Jessie Alice Instance Self and Albert Edward Instance Self (1893-1894), was baptised at Christ Church, Cosway Street, Marylebone, where the baptismal register show his date of birth, that his family were still living at 46 Chapel Street, Marylebone and that his father was a carpenter.
When the 1901 census was undertaken he was described as aged 13 years and a telegraph messenger, still residing in the two rooms at 46 Chapel Street, Marylebone, with his parents and six of his siblings: Lily Elizabeth Instance Self - who was a domestic servant; Lucy Catherine Instance Self; Charles Instance Self; Kate Instance Self (1896-1957); Frederick Instance Self (b.1898) and Nellie Instance Self (b.1900). His father was described as a builder's carpenter.
In May 1906 he was appointed as an Assistant Postman in West London and was promoted to Postman on 10 December 1906.
On the night of the 1911 census it shows him as a visitor at 19 Bridge Street, Bristol, the home of Walter and Elizabeth Stockwell, and that he was a single man whose occupation was still a Postman.
In late 1914 he joined the 8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 2869 and was in France from 18 March 1915 until 15 May 1915. He returned to France on 13 March 1916 until he was killed in action, aged 29 years, on 15 September 1916. As he has no known grave he is of the Thiepval Memorial, Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France.
On 21 November 1916 Royal Mail sent to his legal personal representative a gratuity of £102-13s-4d for his 9 years, 9 months service in the Post Office.
Probate records show his home address remained as 46 Chapel Street, Marylebone and that he left a will that was administered by an Ethel Emmyline Morgan Cutler, a spinster, on 12 February 1917. His effects amounted to £232-13s-4d. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'SELF, J.I.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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