William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John was born in 1897 the son of John and Catherine (nee Weatherall) of 8 Albert Street, Seaham Harbour. The couple who married in 1894 went on to have 7 children but sadly 1 died. Except for father John (who was born at Sunderland) all the other family members were born at Seaham Harbour.
The 1901 census shows the head of the family was John senior who was a glass bottle maker by trade. His children at that time included Eleanor, John and Catherine. They lived at 6 Caroline Street.
By 1911 the family of eight had moved to a 3 roomed accommodation at 31 Albert Street. Although it appears that young Catherine had died there were additional children namely Evelyn. Elizabeth, Sidney and Rebecca. At the age of 15 Eleanor was working as a domestic servant.
John enlisted at age 18 on the 9th December 1915 at Seaham Harbour. He stated his trade was an apprentice bottle maker like his father.
He had a medical examination showing he was 5 ‘2” tall and his weight was 108 lbs. Although he was considered underweight it was noted by the examiner that he should fatten out and develop. He was considered fit for general service. He was posted to the Training Reserve.
He was promoted to the rank of corporal but in embarkation on December 12th 1917 he reverted to the rank of private. He was now serving with 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
John’s death was officially accepted as being March 28th 1918. He died of shot wounds to the abdomen which had been reported on an official German List. Apparently he had died in a field hospital whilst in German hands.
His total service amounted to 2 years 110 days of which 107 were served in France.
At the end of March 1918 Hangard was at the junction of the French and Commonwealth forces defending Amiens. During April the village and Hangard Wood were the scene of incessant fighting which probably was at the time the original graves were lost.
Showing on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website is a note to report that there is a Memorial Plot, Row B at the Special Kipling Memorial which explains :-
To the memory of these four soldiers and two airmen of the British Empire who fell in 1915 and 1918 and were buried at the time in Fontaine-les-Cappy Churchyard Extension but whose graves are now lost.
Their Glory shall not be Blotted Out
John Douglas Batey is remembered in Seaham on S117.08, possibly on S117.06 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 64
