Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John McGuire, a coal miner, was born 1883 in Axwell, Country Durham, he met and married Mary Jane Curry, March 12th 1904 in the district of Lanchester, they had four children, Sarah born August 31st 1904 in Lanchester, Peter born September 28th 1908 in Spennymoor, both of whom died in infancy and twins Michael and Patrick born in the workhouse, in the district of Lanchester, where their mother had been forced to enter after being deserted by John in about 1911. It was her brothers who took them out of the workhouse and into their home at 5, Wylam Street, Craghead, supporting them with their work at the pit.
At the outbreak of the Great War her brothers enlisted and Mary Jane was left without any means of support. Her husband had written to his sister in law and she gave Mary Jane the details of his enlistment. John McGuire had enlisted in Gateshead, September 2nd 1914, assigned as Private 14621 Border Regiment, 7th Battalion, 51st Brigade, 17 Northern Division, he had embarked with his Battalion at Folkestone bound for Boulogne, July 25th 1915. Mary Jane wrote to his regiment H.Q. in 1915 in an attempt to claim separation pay, as was her right and it was queried why she had not come forward sooner, it also emerged the John McGuire at his enlistment had stated he was single. After Mary Jane explained the circumstances a letter was sent to the Border Regiment in France asking John McGuire if if he was now willing to support his wife and children. His response was that after his separation he had written to his wife who did not reply but that he was willing to contribute 6 pence per person for their upkeep.
After its arrival France, July 25th 1915 the 7th Battalion Border Regiment fought on the Western Front. Private McGuire was sent back to England for treatment at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Whalley, near Preston, Lancashire, December 9th 1916 for a wound to his leg which was open down to the bone. This was not caused by any enemy action but sustained during a football match whilst the men were relaxing away from the front line. He was considered fit by March 30th 1917 and granted 8 days leave which he spent at 59, Cannon Street, Newcastle upon Tyne before re-joining his regiment in England. It was not until August 28th 1917 that he was sent with a draft back to France disembarking at Boulogne. He joined the 26th I.B.D at Etaples August 27th and transferred to the 6th Battalion Border Regiment in the field, September 6th 1917, in Flanders (Belgium) already engaged in the Battle of Passchendaele. Private 14621 John McGuire Border Regiment was killed in action October 5th 1917 as mentioned in all official military documents available. The C.W.G.C. have recorded it as October 3rd 1917.
Private John McGuire has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded, panel 85-86, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Passchendaele, near Ypres in Belgium, he was 34 years old.
After his death two women came forward to claim their dues, Mary Jane McGuire his wife and another woman who also claimed to be his wife. Unbeknown to anyone he had married Charlotte Duckworth in Stockport, July 1917, just prior to his return to the front after his injury. Both women produced a marriage certificate, however, Mary Jane McGuire had never requested a separation or obtained a divorce, the War Office therefore informed Charlotte Duckworth that her marriage was bigamous and she was not due to any entitlements.
A disc and a religious medallion was returned to Mary Jane, property of her husband, she was awarded a pension of 9 shillings and 2 pence a week for herself and the twins along with Private McGuire’s awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Mary Jane remarried in the district of Lanchester to James McTernan, September 1920.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John McGuire is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at Stanley St. Joseph's S135.03
