Photo: Geordie at War Project
In Gateshead (East) Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
In
Loving Memory of
John
beloved husband of
Emily Jane Buglass
who died Oct. 31st 1919
aged 88 years.
Also the above
Emily Jane Buglass
died April 6th 1934 aged 85 years.
Also Fred their son
died July 24th 1914
aged 34 years.
also Pte. John Buglass, 18th D.L.I.
their son
died in France August 17th 1918
aged 27 years
Buried in Military Cemetery
in Berlaimont
Also Ada their daughter
died November 20th 1943
aged 59 years.
And Alfred Milburn Buglass
died April 22nd 1980
aged 73 years.
Brenda Mahon has submitted the following:-
John Buglass was born in Gateshead in 1891. He lived with his parents John and Emily Jane and several siblings at Southey Street Gateshead. At the time of his death his mother lived at 6 Wordsworth Street Bensham.
Until John joined the army he worked as a general labourer for NER.
On Xmas Day 1915 John married Annie Parker at Easington Parish Church. They had one son, Leslie who was born 3 January 1917. Unfortunately 2 months after her son’s birth Annie died whilst her husband was away fighting. She was 23 years old.
John Buglass had previously joined up for service November 1915 in Newcastle. His army records show him to be a small man, only 5’ 5” in height and weighing just 9 stone. During his service he seemed prone to infections suffering from the eye infection keratitis, septic boils and myalgia which probably weakened him considerably.
He saw service in France but was eventually captured 27 March 1918. Reports indicated he worked on the German line at Grande Carriere? camp. On 23 December 1918 a returning POW advised John’s brother, Albert, that John had died 17 August 1918. Cause of death was weakness and general debility. His death was officially notified on a German list D26/56.
John Buglass senior had died in 1909 leaving young John’s mother Emily Jane a widow with only an old age pension for support. After John junior’s death Emily became the guardian of his orphan son, Leslie. She was awarded a pension to look after her grandson of 10/6d per week which she received the in July 1919.
On 4 February 1920 John Buglass' war service medals were sent to his mother with instructions to keep them in trust for Leslie until the child was able to appreciate their value.
John Buglass is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004 G39.025 and G39.091 and in York on North Eastern Railway Memorial
