Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

Born on 17th September 1885 in Chester-le- Street to joiner and cabinet maker Henry Mole and his wife Elizabeth (nee Witherspoon) John William was baptised a month later on 11th October. At the time of his birth his oldest brother Joseph was aged 12, and also in the family were 10-year-old Grace, 5-year-old Frederick, and two-year-old Margaret. Younger than John William were Thomas, twins Annie and Lillie, and Ernest. By 1901 the family were living at 140 Front Street and William was working in his father’s business as a cabinet maker, their workshop was next door at number 138, and his older brother Joseph and his wife lived at number 136. William was well known as a cricket player in Chester-le-Street.

Elizabeth Mole died in 1907, and three years later in January 1910 William married Welsh girl Constance Cecilia McGinty in Chester-le-Street. In October 1911 William, Constance and their eight month old son John left Liverpool on board the SS Empress of Britain bound for Montreal, Canada and heading for a new life in Alberta, and they settled in Macleod where William continued to work as a carpenter. Three years later in November 1914 he went to Calgary and enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as Private 79256 in “C” Company 31st Battalion, Constance meanwhile returned to England with young John.

The Battalion embarked for England on 17th May 1915 on RMS Carpathia, with a complement of 36 officers and 1033 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Henry Bell of Calgary. After initial training in England, on 18th September 1915 they disembarked in Boulogne and became part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.

For six months from March 1916 Private Mole was attached to the 2nd Canadian Division Woodcutting Detachment, returning to join his unit at the end of June. September saw the 31st involved in the fighting at Courcelette and it was here that Private 79256 William Mole was killed in action in 15th September 1916.

Barry Greenbank adds:

Willy Mole was the best cricketer, keeping wicket for Durham 5 times in 1908-1910. He left Chester-Le-Street to play for Wallsend in late summer 1906 but was back in Chester-Le-Street for 1907.

John William Mole is remembered in Chester-le-Street on on C105.01, C105.12, C105.15 and C105.40

He is also remembered in Canada in their Book of Remembrance and on their Virtual War Memorial.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Private Mole