CLS Chronicle
He was born and had enlisted in Chester le Street.
The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 16/08/1918 reports:-
Gunner J.L. Gettings (25) R.F.A. but recently transferred as a signaller to the Trench Mortar Battery, was killed instantaneously by a shall on 30th July. His parents who live at 8 Elm Street, Chester-le-Street, have received a letter of sympathy from the officers and men of the Brigade for the loss they have sustained. He had only just joined a new squadron and the first occasion that he was in the trenches was at the time of his death. He joined up three years ago and was wounded in July 1916. He contracted trench fever and was sent home being in Gosforth hospital for six months. He has been in France fifteen months and expected to have been home for a short rest in March but was placed second on the list to come to Blighty this month. The deceased was a printer by trade and was well known by a large number of Friends who have expressed to the sorrowing parents their deep sympathy.
The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 01/08/1919 carries an In Memoriam notice:-
Gettings- 8 Elm Street, Chester-le-Street. In loving memory of Laurie who was killed in France July 30th 1918, buried at Caestre, near Hazelbrouck. To live in hearts we leave is not to die
His parent Bartholomew (died 1948 aged 91 years) and Margaret (died 1961 aged 93) are buried in Ropery Lane Cemetery (A50) without a headstone.
John Lawrence Gettings is remembered at Chester-le-Street on C105.06, C105.12, C105.15, C105.31, C105.34 and C105.40
