Medal Index Card
John William Berryman was born on the 30th June 1894 at 101 Northcote Street, Westoe, South Shields and was the only son of three children to John William, [born South Shields 1869, eldest son of 6 children to John and Elizabeth Berryman], and Annie Paget [nee Allen], Berryman [born 1868 Sunderland], of 178 Stevenson Street, South Shields. John William senior in 1911 was employed by South Shields Corporation as a Roadsman, prior to being an House agent working for himself. They were married in 1893. The other two children were Annie Berryman born 1897, and Marian Berryman born 1900 at South Shields.
John William Senior was born at 5 Bedford Street, South Shields, by 1881 he was residing at 25 Wilson Street. In 1901 they were residing at 19 Ada Street, Westoe, South Shields and John senior was an Insurance Agent then.
John [junior], was educated at St John's school at Shildon and Shildon Council Secondary School. He was a Wholesale Provision Merchant prior to this he was a upholsterer. John William attested on the 7th December 1915 under the Derby scheme, Group 4 at Durham. He was in the 1/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, service nu 4037, a private, later 203372, embodied on the 14th February 1916, he became an acting Lance Corporal 4th March 1916 in the 3/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, then an acting Corporal 15th April 1916 now back in the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Then as a Lance Sergeant service number 8160, from the 19th May 1916. Transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 5th September 1916. He was embodied at Scotton Camp, Catterick on the 8th January 1917. He was 5 feet 9 and a half inches tall, 136lbs, religion RC. John was sent for a temporary commission to the Officer Cadet Battalion no 16 at Kimmel Park, Rhyl on the 5th May 1917. He was commissioned on the 29th August 1917 in to the 15th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion was disbanded and it was removed from the Army List in December 1916. All the officers and men were dispersed to other Battalions and regiments.
2nd Lieutenant Berryman 4337, was attached to the 2/4th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was involved with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai during the capture of Bourlon Wood in November 1917.
John William Berryman died of wounds on the 27th November 1917 aged 23 years.
Source: Shields Daily News 09/12/1917.
"News of Local Men Killed and Wounded in Action. Second-Lieutenant J. W. BERRYMAN. Information has been received that Second-Lieut. J.W. Berryman, K.O.Y.L.I., was killed in action on Nov. 27th. he was the only son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Berryman, of Stevenson Street, Westoe, South Shields."
John William Berryman left no will so the Standing Committee of Adjustments for deceased officers had to provide a report on his effects.
John William Berryman is remembered in South Shields on S86.049 and at Tynemouth in T36.14 page 5.
