Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Maughan was the youngest of 8 known children, 6 sons and 2 daughters, offspring of William Maughan and wife Mary Summerside. William had previously been married to the widow Jane Oliver who had two children of her own, Ann and Mary Oliver.
William was born at Simonburn, Northumberland in 1827 where he was baptised, October 7th, Mary born in 1835 at Gateshead, County Durham, they were married in 1866 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. They settled at Newburn, Northumberland, birthplace of William in 1867, had moved to Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham by the time George was born in 1870 and the following year occupied Run Head, at Ryton, as William Snr was employed as a coal miner. In search of work William moved his family several times over the next 10 years. Henry was born at Shiremoor in 1875, Catherine at Haltwhistle in 1878, both in Northumberland and John 1880 at Black Hall Mills, County Durham. In 1881 they lived at Cuthbert Street, Blaydon, having once again returned to County Durham, and 10 years later at 57, Robinson Street. Now a widower having lost his wife Mary in 1886, he had been joined by his sons, George (20) and Henry (16) at the colliery, Catherine (13) and John (10) were scholars, widow Mary Ann Proud (62) was employed as a servant.
George and John were living with their sister Catherine, her husband John W. Oxley, their son William and daughter Catherine, at 45, Cuthbert Street, John Oxley was a mill furnace-man, William (30) a coal miner and John (20) a sink maker.
In 1901 John Maughan was married during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1901 at Blaydon, in the district of Gateshead, County Durham, to Elizabeth Jane Usher, born January 13th 1881 in the district of Bishop Auckland, County Durham. His father William died in 1902 aged 74-years, registered in the district of Hexham, Northumberland. John and Elizabeth Ann settled at Shop Sprouts Blaydon and by 1911, Elizabeth Ann had given birth to 5 children of whom only 4 had survived, Mary 1901, Joseph Thomas September 24th 1903, John William January 27th 1908 and Nora April 30th 1910. Post 1911 George Henry was born, September 14th 1912, when war was declared with Germany in August 1914 his wife was pregnant.
All regiments raised battalions in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms. John Maughan was one of the first to enlist in November 1914, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, assigned as Private 517 to the newly formed 24th Battalion (1st Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers. They left Newcastle for Woolsington in March 1915, prior to this Elizabeth Ann had given birth, Francis Maughan was born, February 21st 1915.
At Woolsington the 24th together with the 25th. 26th and 27th Battalions formed the 103rd Brigade 34th Division in June 1915. Taken over by the War Office, August 27th 1915 the division moved to Salisbury Plain for final training and departed to France January 1916. The 34th Division concentrated at La Crosse neat St Omer and after a period of trench familiarisation was sent to the Somme participating during the opening Battle of Albert and were ordered to hold the village of La Boisselle which at the time was little more than rubble, however, the division captured Scots and Sausage Redoubts. They also saw action during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 13th-18th, Pozieres Ridge, July 23rd-September 3rd, and only the 103rd Brigade at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd.
At the conclusion of the Battles of the Somme the 34th Division moved to the Arras sector where it participated during the spring offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917, at the Battles of Arras. The British assault took place along the front between Vimy and Bullecourt, including the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe, April 9th-14th and April 23rd-24th and the Battle of Arleux, April 28th-29th 1917.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Sergeant 517 John Maughan Northumberland Fusiliers was reported as missing or wounded at the conclusion of the Battle of Arleux. After extensive investigations as to his whereabouts, May 30th 1917, he was declared as, “presumed to have died,” August 28th 1917.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of 34,818 names inscribed on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, which stands at the entrance to Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, commemorating servicemen from Britain, South Africa and New Zealand, who died in the sector during the Battles of Arras and have no known grave.
His widow received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension of 32 shillings 6 pence a week awarded December 29th 1917 received as of December 31st 1917, for herself and their children until they each reached the age of 16-years, sent to her at 7, Widdington Road, Blaydon, County Durham.
The war had already claimed the life of Elizabeth Ann’s brother Private Charles Edward Usher in 1915, her brother Thomas Usher and nephew Joseph Usher also enlisted. Her brother in law John Aitken also died in 1917, not war related.
Elizabeth Ann did not re-marry, in 1939 she was still living at the same address, listed as an unpaid domestic servant, son Francis had found employment as a putter underground at the colliery, also in the household was an Isaac Irvine, born April 6th 1896, listed as a disabled pensioner.
Elizabeth Ann Maughan nee Usher died aged 83 years in 1964, registered at Northumberland South.
Details of John and Elizabeth Ann’s children;
Mary Maughan did not marry she died at Lemington, Northumberland, in 2000 aged 99-years.
Joseph Thomas Maughan married in 1934 at Gateshead, County Durham, local lady Ellen Dodds, born May 11th 1911. Ellen died in 1961, registered Durham N.W, John Thomas Maughan in 1967 registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
John William Maughan died in the district of Gateshead, County Durham in 1923.
Nora Maughan married Lee Kelly, born October 1st 1908, district of Gateshead in 1935. In 1939 they were living at 21, Tower Gardens, Ryton, County Durham, where he was employed by the local golf club as a handyman. Lee Kelly died in 1976, details as regards Nora Kelly nee Maughan, unknown.
George Henry Maughan married in 1933, district of Gateshead, County Durham, to Ethel McNestry, born, April 18th 1910, daughter of William Robert McNestry and Isabella Gill of Whickham. Her father served with the Royal Engineers during WW1 and transferred to the tunnelling companies whilst at the front. in 1939 George and his wife were living at 15, Widdington Road, Blaydon, with son Francis Keith born May 4th 1939. There is also a name obliterated which may be a daughter Noreen M. Maughan born 1936 and possibly a further 2 children William in 1942 and Joan 1949. George Henry Maughan died in 1988, district of Gateshead, County Durham, his death was preceded by that of his wife Ethel Maughan nee McNestry, December 20th 1968, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Francis Maughan died in the district of Gateshead, County Durham, in 1991.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Maughan is remembered at Blaydon on B111.01 and B111.14 and at Ryton on R33.02
