Yarm 1914

John William was born in 1886, the first child of Christopher a bricklayer by trade and Thomasine Doughty and lived in Egglescliffe. Two years later brother David was born. On 23 May 1890 they were joined by Christopher who sadly died on 21 June 1891. In 1901 the family, living in Eaglescliffe, consisted of Christopher aged 38, Thomasin aged 34, John William an apprentice bricklayer aged 15, David Coatsworth aged 13, Rachel aged 8, Sarah Elizabeth aged 6 and Robert Thomas aged 5. On 1 June 1907, aged 20, John William married Elizabeth Easby aged 23 in Hutton Rudby Parish Church and became a domestic chauffeur living in Elton. The family moved about because their first daughter Florence Mary was born on 14 July 1911 in Hutton Rudby and their son was born on 22 June 1915 in Greatham. John William signed up when living in Ashfield Cottage, Greatham on 10 December 1915 aged 29 in West Hartlepool. He was sent to Mesopotamia and became an Ambulance driver in the 23 Motor Ambulance Convoy (MOC) for just over 2 years. On 8 April 1918 his medical indicated he was in good health apart from requiring dental treatment. He demobed on 22 February 1919 and returned to England to his family now living in Gable Cottage, Saltburn. Although he survived he was admitted to 3rd General hospital in Basra with small pox before being 2 weeks convalescence before being transferred on 10 December 1918 on the hospital ship Egypt to an isolation ward in the famous Royal Vistoria Hospital at Netley on 9 January 1919 and subsequently awarded a pension due to a 20% war related disability. John William returned to being a chauffeur and died on 6 February 1954 outliving Elizabeth who died on 24 August 1947.

Christopher and Thomasine lost their two other sons in WW1:
David was killed in action on 25 April 1915 and is commemorated on Panel 33 of Ypres (MENIN GATE) Memorial.
Robert Thomas was killed in action on 20 Sep 1917 and is commemorated in Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

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Yarm 1914 Research ________________

The Yarm 1914 Commemoration Group is carrying out research on the soldiers listed. We are finding where they lived in Yarm and will represent the findings in a wall of poppies presentation. More details will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and this web site. If you have any information please contact us. Left click on the picture below.