Private John atherton

[becky22]

Looking for information on private John atherton born 1889 St. Helens served in 2nd battalion south lancashire regiment Serb no 10302 died 12/12:1915

Any help greatly appreciated

[*Sandra*]

Looking for information on private John atherton born 1889 St. Helens served in 2nd battalion south lancashire regiment Serb no 10302 died 12/12:1915

Any help greatly appreciated

Is the date of death correct ?  There is a  Pvt John Atherton died 17 December 1915 - died of wounds - enlisted Warrington Lancs.

Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire) Regiment

FIND A GRAVE

Burial Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension  Bailleul Departement du Nord
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France Plot: I. D. 134.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56327624&ref=acom

Sandra

[MaxD]

To add to Sandra's post - the service number is the same.  The 17 Dec date is also in the Register of Soldiers' Effects, he died in No 8 Casualty Clearing Station.

MaxD

[becky22]

Thanks for the help much appreciated

[MaxD]

Always more if you want it. 

The cemetery is near to the town of Bailleul where No 8 Casualty Clearing Station was at the time he succumbed to his wounds.  His battalion had moved into the line after a period of rest on 13th December only about 5 miles away near Ploegsteert, in the area of Lancashire Support Farm which can be seen on this link http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15&lat=50.7334&lon=2.9078&layers=101464939&right=BingHyb
 in square 27 at the bottom.  The present day map is alongside.
There were just two men wounded in the period 13-17 Dec, both from enemy shell fire in the early hours of 16th.  We don't know how long he had been in the CCS but, given that the CCS was only a short distance from the positions, it is highly likely that he was one of those two men.
He had volunteered on the 4 August 1914, the day war was declared, and went with the 2nd Battalion to France, arriving there on 27 Dec 1914.  He had sustained a slight shell wound earlier on 19 August. He left the pay the army owed him, £7 18s 5d and his gratuity of £7 10s to his father James.

The above from his records and the war diary.

MaxD

[becky22]

That's fabulous thank you I really appreciate it 😊