John George Gargett
Death Plaque: J.G. Gargett
Thiepval Memorial
DLI Memorial Book
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John George Gargett was born 1890 in Lynesack, County Durham, near Bishop Auckland, one of 9 surviving children, (6 deceased), 5 boys and 4 girls born to James Gargett (1866 - 1934) of Lynesack and Phillis Redfearn (1869), native of Mickleton, Yorkshire who died, 1941, in Lynesack. James and Phillis were married August 13th 1887 at Lynesack Parish Church and in 1891 were living at Quarry Lane, later moving to Copley Lane. His father, James, was employed as a coal hewer, an occupation he conducted all his life, John George at the age of 20 was working as a bricklayer.
John George enlisted in 1915 as 30569 Private 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 18th Brigade attached to the 6th Division, XIV Corps, Fourth Army and underwent training in England.
An Anglo - French meeting which took place in December 1915 had proposed a simultaneous Allied attack in 1916 although the British War Cabinet had its reservations, aware of the immaturity of much of the British Expeditionary Force, and that supplies of equipment, guns and ammunition was inadequate. It was only prepared to commit to offensive operations in spring 1916 in the main theatre of war. The War Cabinet decided in April 1916 the offensive could go ahead and the B. E. F. was prepared for the Somme. John George was sent to France as part of the B. E. F. May 29th 1916. 19 Divisions, including Companies withdrawn from Gallipoli, joined the B. E. F. on the French Front Line. At the end of July 1916 the 6th Division was withdrawn having suffered 11,000 casualties and in September was attached to the XIV Corps where it joined in the Battles of the Somme. The XIV Corps which included the 6th Division and incorporated the 2nd Battalion D. L. I. was involved in September 15th - 22nd 1916 in the Battle of Flers-Concelette. This was a large scale renewal of the offensive after weeks of fighting in Potziers, High Wood, Delville Wood, Guillemont and Ginchy. It saw, for the first time, the use of tanks in battle, which came as a complete surprise to the Germans and although small in number, had an important positive effect. High Wood and Delville Wood were finally cleared and the advance to Flers towards Combles commenced. The battle lasted a week with the objective of cutting a hole in the German line by using massed artillery and infantry attacks which would be exploited by the cavalry. By the end of the 22nd this objective had not been achieved however the villages of Concelette, Martinpulch and Flers were taken and the front line advanced 2,500 yards.
It was during this battle that Private 30569 John George Gargett was reported as wounded, presumed dead as he had been missing since September 16th 1916. He has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Pier 14A & 15C, Thiepval, France, which bears the names of 72,194 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces, 90% of whom died in 1916 during the Battles of the Somme.
John George was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and his family also received a letter of thanks for his sacrifice from the King along with a bronze plaque. John George Gargett was 26 years old and unmarried.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
My thanks to Ron for his permission to publish John George’s portrait photo and Death Plaque.
John George Gargett is remembered at Lynesack on L70.02, at Butterknowle on B125.01 and B125.03 and at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 also in Durham in D47.013c page 247
