Photo: Maureen Havers
Photo: Maureen Havers
Photo: Maureen Havers
Maureen Havers at Giavera
Tess McTiernan has provided the following:
John James Eccles was born in 1890 the son of John and Ann Eccles of Wood Rows, Dipton. In 1911 John, aged 20, was a coal miner hewer living with his parents at Lily Cottages, Dipton. During the summer of 1913 he married Isabella McCabe of Foster Building, Hill Top, Dipton at Our Blessed Lady & St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Brooms, Leadgate. The couple produced three children during their short marriage. At his time of enlistment, John was living at Fosters Yard, Dipton.
The 10th (Service) Battalion, N.F. was formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New Army, and joined 68th Brigade, 23rd Division at Bullswater, near Frensham. They proceeded to France in late August 1915 engaging in various actions on the Western Front. John spent time in hospital in Leicester in July 1916 before returning to duty. In November 1917 the Division was deployed to Italy concentrating between Mantua and Marcaria before taking over the front line at the Montello. In 1918 they were in action during the fighting on the Asiago Plateau.
John fell in a raid about midway between Asiago and Pennar on 15th July 1918, aged 28. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Remembered with Honour Giavera Memorial, Italy Panel 1
Maureen Havers visited Giavera in 2015 and left the following message:-
Greatly missed by wife Isabella and
daughters Mary Isabel and Alice born 07/06/1918
never had a chance to know you or you them
A sorrowful wound through out their lives
I wish I could have found you before they all died
Maureen Havers daughter of Isabel and your grand-daughter
Born 1940 and visited here 2015
John Eccles is remembered at Dipton on D46.06 and in Leadgate on L65.01
