Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Henry Horatio, known as John Henry, was born December 18th 1894 and baptised January 1st 1895 at Brancepeth. One of 5 children of whom only 3 survived, he was the eldest of 2 sons and a daughter born to Richard Myers of Barnard Castle, born 1865 and Esther Stockdale born 1869 in Yorkshire. They were married in the district of Lanchester in 1894 and had moved to Railway Terrace, Esh by 1901 where Richard was employed as a fireman at Brancepeth Brickworks. Their son Edward was born in 1902 and daughter Elizabeth in 1903. Having moved to Church View, Lanchester by 1911, Richard now worked as a road-man for Lanchester Rural District Council, John Henry (16) was employed as a screener above ground at the colliery, his siblings were scholars.
On the outbreak of war, John Henry enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 28th 1914 assigned as Private 22316 to the Durham Light Infantry. He joined them at their depot that same day and was transferred to the 17th Battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Army, December 6th 1914 and moved to Deerbolt camp, Barnard Castle, to strengthen the North East coastal defences, where they also began their training for overseas service. Private Myers departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force for France, August 17th 1915. Upon his arrival at the Infantry Base Depot he was sent to join the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a pioneer battalion deployed as labourers, due to the number of pitmen in its ranks, but fought as infantry as and when the need arose. Attached to the 20th Division the battalion worked behind the lines making and repairing roads and were later moved to the front line to drain trenches and strengthen barbed wire defences.
During 1916 they were deployed on the Somme working at night repairing old trenches and digging new trenches but were fighting as infantrymen by September 1916 to capture Guillemont before spending another winter in the mud filled trenches.
John Henry was killed in action December 19th 1916, the day after his 22nd birthday and was buried on the battlefield by his comrades, his grave marked with a cross bearing his military details. After the Armistice, a letter was sent to his father at Church View, Lanchester, by the Infantry Records Office, dated March 19th 1920, stating, “Sir, I beg to inform you that it has been necessary to exhume the remains of the late No. 22316 Private J Myers, 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, for proper burial at A.I.F. Burial Ground, Grass Lane, 3 miles South South West of Bapaume. The new grave has been duly marked with a cross bearing all the late soldier’s particulars. The removal was undertaken with every measure of care and reverence, and the re-internment conducted by an Army Chaplain. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, for Colonel, No 1 Infantry Records.”
The work of exhumation was undertaken by the 723rd Labour Company who brought the remains into A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers. His father commissioned, at a cost of 15 shillings 2 pence, an additional inscription to be added to his headstone. It reads, “Death Divides But Memory Clings Ever Remembered By All At Home.”
As per the contents of his will dated August 19th 1915, all monies due to him were given to his mother Esther. His personal belongings consisting of letter, photos, wallet, cards, wrist watch, strap, protector, comb in case, were received by her, May 23rd 1917. She responded by letter to the Records Office that same day expressing her gratitude. It reads including any grammatical errors as follows, “Sir. Excuse me writing this form as I thought it ought to be then I found I had done wrong thanking you for the things which I received this morning It is nice to have some small article belonging to our Dear One” and signed Esther Myers. She also received a pension.
Awards: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Acknowledgements : Ian Murray
John Myers is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 L62.02 and L62.04 and at Malton on M49.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 335
