| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
John Edward was born in 1879 in Thearne, the son of John Thornton and Mary Pearson. His father was a gardener, also a Primitive Methodist local preacher. In 1891 the family were living in East Gate Court, Hessle. By 1901 both his parents had died and John Edward was living in Well Lane, Beverley and working as a joiner. He was in Beverley in 1903 when he was admitted to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners trade union.
John joined the Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Regiment 5th Battalion. He was killed in action in France, Flanders on 13 Sep 1916 and was buried at Thiepval Cemetery, France. On 6 Feb 1920 he was posthumously awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal. His sister Mary Ellen Peck received his war gratuity of two payments: £5 8s 0d on 5 Jan 1917 and £3 l0s 0d in 1919.
John Edward is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |