Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John James French was born 1892 at Bill Quay, near Gateshead, County Durham, the only son of James French native of Carlisle, Cumberland, born 1868 and Emma Lattimer born 1869 at Cockermouth, Cumberland. They were married in the district of Carlisle in 1891 and also had a daughter Elizabeth born 1897 at Bill Quay. Having moved to 26, Coxon Street, Heworth, James French worked as a labourer at the paint factory, aged 18 John James was employed as a labourer for a brick maker, his sister was a tailoress making shirts.
Enlisted October 12th 1915 at Gateshead for the duration of war, he joined the Durham Light Infantry at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne the following day assigned as Private 27863, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. The 3rd was a depot training unit and moved once mobilised to South Shields as part of the Tyne Garrison. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion April 7th 1916 he was drafted to France with the British Expeditionary Force landing at St. Nazaire September 10th, joining the regiment in the field May 1st 1916. He was wounded three weeks later but not taken to the Field Ambulance, however June 17th he was sent there and taken by the 18th Field Ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Station reaching No.3 Station Hospital the following day suffering from Pyrexia (fever). He was shipped back to England aboard HM Hospital Ship St. Denis, fully recovered by August 23rd 1916 he returned to active service in France. Unfortunately, September 19th 1916 during the regiments participation at the Battles of the Somme he received a gunshot wound and was evacuated to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. Returned to England for urgent treatment where he remained until returning as part of the B.E.F four months later, January 16th 1917. He reported to the 13th Battalion in the field on the Ypres salient after its withdrawal from the Somme. He was again out of action between May 12th-26th with an injury to his right hand. Sent via the dressing station by Field Ambulance to the 2 AR Station he returned to duty after the attacks at Messines Ridge. July 7th 1917 the 13th Battalion was in the trenches at Klein Zillebeke in Belgium, followed by the Battles of the Menin Road, September 20th-26th 1917.
Private 27863 John James French Durham Light Infantry was reported missing or wounded after the first day of the Battles of the Menin Road and it was not until November 5th 1917 that he was declared as, “dead” and the date of September 20th 1917 adopted as the official date of his demise. Private French has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded panel 128-131 and 162-162a Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms the boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium, commemorating those who died on the salient from July 17th 1917. He was 27 years old and single.
His mother Emma nominated sole beneficiary in his will received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Emma French nee Lattimer died in the district of Gateshead aged 64 years in 1933, James French in 1955 aged 87 in the district of Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John James French is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, H92.04 and H92.07
