Chester Chronicle 30/06/1916
William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John was born at Binchester Co. Durham in 1878.
He married Frances Ann Lowery at Chester le Street Register office on 20 March 1906. At that time John is recorded as being a stoker in the Royal Navy.
By the time of the 1911 census the couple had 3 children together- Sarah, Bellar and Lily, another 3 children followed. John had left the navy by now and was working as a coal miner/hewer.
He enlisted at Newcastle with the Northumberland Fusiliers and was later promoted to corporal.
John was killed in action on 5th June 1916.
The following letter was sent by his commanding officer after his death
“KILLED IN ACTION
Information has been received at the Lumley Sixth Pit of the death of Corpl. Welsh, Tyneside Scottish. He was a married man with six children. Mrs Welsh has received the following letter from Capt. J.M. Charlton :-
Dear Mrs Welsh, I expect you will have heard by now of the death of your husband, Corpl. Welsh. I write a few lines to express my admiration for your husband.
The day previous to his death he held out with his section against the enemy by rapid firing, under very heavy shell fire, he helped greatly in maintaining the position.
I congratulated the way he held on, and he replied that his motto was “Never Die”. I only wish I had more like him in this company, and I want you to try and feel that in laying down his life as he has done, he has won the admiration and love of his comrades and officers. My brother officers and myself wish to express to you our deepest sympathy to yourself and your children in your great sorrow.”
His widow, Frances, married Joseph A Hall in 1919 but within a year she had died of puerperal septicaemia and exhaustion (heart failure). She was 33 years old. Her husband, Joseph, was present at her death.
John Welsh is remembered at Great Lumley on G50.01 and G50.02
