Photo : Ryan Curran with Thanks
Photo : Gales Studios
John McCluskey was born in Eltringham, in 1879, the youngest boy of seven children to Michael McCluskey, born Derry, Ireland in 1845, and his wife Mary Ann McCluskey, [nee McCabe], born 1851, South Shields, they were married in 1870.
The other children were Bernard, born 1871, Margaret, born 1877, Alice, born 1882, Annie, born 1884, Susanne, born 1887 and Catherine born 1873. They were all born at Dipton except Alice who was born at Witton Gilbert.
The family moved to Hill Top Colliery in 1871 and were residing in the Ledgers Houses.
John McCluskey was married to a Mary Elizabeth Keeler on the 10th November 1908 at Our Lady & St Joseph R.C. Church, Brooms, Leadgate.
John McCluskey and his wife had six children, and were residing at 21A South View, Tantobie, Co Durham in 1911.
The six children were Mary Ann born 3rd May 1909, Robert, born 31st October 1910, died 14th July 1965, Elizabeth, born 13th February 1912, William, born 12th July 1913, John, born 21st June 1916 and Ethel born 2nd January 1918.
Elizabeth in 1939 was residing at 49 Keir Hardy Terrace, Easington. Durham, and was married to a Gallagher.
John volunteered on the 13th January 1914 in to the 1/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Service nu 2906, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, described as a Labourer. Did not go overseas at first. He was then transferred to the 8th Battalion Border Regiment from the 29th June 1916, where he then served in France from the 14th July 1916 to the 11th November 1916 and then the 2nd May 1917 until the 13th September 1917. From then he was transferred in to the Royal Flying Corps. Service number 406471.
He was placed in the 48th Balloon Section.
When the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) merged into the Royal Air Force in April 1918, John was promoted to the rank of Private 1st Class, Kite Balloon Section (Balloon Party), Royal Air Force. His trade is listed as Labourer with a rank of Air Mechanic 3rd Class and he was paid 1 shilling 8 pence per day. His section served in France using manned balloons to carry out observation and reconnaissance from the air and was tasked with locating artillery pieces, shell spotting and gathering any relevant information for upcoming offensives.
John was killed on the 9th August 1918. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal which were received by his widow on the 19th June 1922. She was residing at 9, Liberty Terrace, Tantobie, Co. Durham in 1922.
Acknowledgments: Tess McTiernan
John McCluskey is remembered at Dipton on D46.06 and in Leadgate on L65.01
