Thiepval Memorial
D.L.I. Memorial Book
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Alfred (Alf) Wardle was born 1881 in Evenwood, Bishop Auckland, one of three known children, 2 boys and 1 girl, born to Edward Wardle (1845) of Evenwood and his wife Mary Elizabeth Wilson (1848) a native of Durham. Edward and Mary Elizabeth married in Bishop Auckland, December 10th 1865. Both Edward and his sons worked as coal hewers, unfortunately Edward died July 27th 1902. John Alfred married Martha Anderson in July 1914 and the following year his wife gave birth to a daughter Mary Elizabeth born in Chilton.
The full military record for Private 3914 John Alfred Wardle no longer exists, destroyed during the blitz of WW2, however, from his medal card it is clear he arrived at the front after December 1915 as he was not entitled to the 1915 Star. Assigned to the 1st/6th Battalion, 50th Northumbrian Division the battalion in 1916 was engaged in taking the objective of a 10 mile front between the villages of Flers and Courcelette in mid September and was involved in the attack that took the Quadrangle strong point near Ginchy.. In an increasingly wet autumn the next phase was at the Battle of Transloy Ridge 1-18th October 1916. It was on the first day of this battle October 1st 1916 that Private 3914 John Alfred Wardle, Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, aged 35 years.
John Alfred Wardle has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France, pier and face 14A & 15C, one of 72,195 names of servicemen from Britain and South Africa who perished during the Battles of the Somme 1915-1918.
His widow Martha received all monies owed to him along with a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth married William E Elliot, June 1938, in the district of Bishop Auckland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Barry Brown continues the family story with information about John Alfred Wardle's daughter:
Mary Elizabeth Elliott was my grandmother who moved to Northumberland and worked at Alwinton on a farm for Mr and Mrs Dagg at the age of 16 after she answered an advert for a house maid. She was a strong willed lady who then got a job as a maid at Carlcroft farm. She then went to work at Flodderton for Willie Walton before she then went to Clennel Hall as a maid.
Willie Elliott used to pushbike from West Woodburn to Clennel Hall to court Mary Wardle.
Mary and Willie went back to Chilton area and got married in Aycliffe.
Willie's family lived at Ayre Half at West Woodburn, but had no room for them to stay there so they moved to Stiddle Sill to live.
My mother Maureen Elliott was born at Stiddle Hill and Willie and Mary went on to have eight other children. They also lost a baby too. The children were Maureen, Margaret, Gordon, Doreen, Catherine, Hazel, Robbie, Patricia, Avril.
I am continuing to do the research and have a very strong reference in my father who can recite these stories and more.
John Alfred Wardle is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04, C107.08, C107.09 and C107.12 and in Durham on D47.013 page 269
