In Felton Cemetery is a family headstone for Auldjo which reads:-
Helen Jolly, eldest daughter of Irvine and Jane Auldjo, died 17th June 1918 aged 21 yrs and of their eldest son John William, who fell in action near Passchendaele 14th November 1917 aged 27 years.The above Jane Auldjo died 5th April 1923 aged 56 years. The above Irvine Auldjo died 24th February 1935 aged 73 years.
His story is told in: Hall, E. Felton War Memorial: the men behind the names, Privately Printed, [No Date], page 20.
Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Born in Newington, Edinburgh on 14th January 1891, John William Auldjo was the first child of gardener Irvine Auldjo and his wife Jane Brown (nee Jolly), who at the time were living in Peel Terrace. Having previously been at school in Musselburgh, aged six John went to school in Monzie, Crieff. Perthshire after his father started work as Head Gardener at Monzie Castle, and the family moved to live in the Gardener’s House. The 1901 Scottish census lists Irvine and Jane, along with their children John William, Robert Irvine, William Jolly, Helen Irvine and Jane Irvine at that address; the family would later be complete with the addition of Mary Jolly, born the following year.
In 1908 John joined the Bank of Scotland in Crieff as an apprentice bank teller, and worked there until April 1910. With his father taking up a new job as Head Gardener at Swarland Hall, near Felton in Northumberland, John decided to go and work at the Bank’s branch in Montreal, Canada, starting work there in May 1910.
After a year in Canada, John transferred to the Bank of Canada, and went to work at their branch in Havana, Cuba, travelling back to Northumberland in the summer of 1912 to see his family. John remained in Cuba until 1915, when travelling to Montreal via New York, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 6th July, passing his medical with flying colours apart from his teeth which “needed looking at”, and became Private 457791 in the 60th Battalion. Following some initial training at the army camp at Valcartier, Quebec, the Battalion boarded the SS Scandinavian, arriving in Portsmouth on 15th November 1915 and then travelled on to billets at Bramshott Camp, Hampshire.
As part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division the 60th Battalion travelled to France on 20th February 1916 under the command of Lt.Colonel Gascoigne, arriving in billets at Goderwaersvelde, near the Belgian border three days later. By the end of March the Battalion were in front line trenches at Sanctuary Wood, and they then alternated between reserve and front line duties. On working party duties in trenches near Ypres on 2nd May Private Auldjo was hit by a shell splinter in his right heel. With the shrapnel removed at 9th Canadian Field Ambulance the wound became infected and he was invalided to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. In hospital for a month and after five weeks convalescence at Bushey Park and Epsom, John was discharged early in August, rejoining the 60th Battalion at Hill 60, near Ypres. During fighting near Courcelette in October 1916 John was wounded in his right shoulder, was treated in hospital in Etaples, and discharged back to duty two weeks later.
Appointed Lance Corporal early in December, four months later he became Corporal Auldjo whilst the battalion were in reserve trenches at Vimy Ridge. The Battalion was disbanded at the end of April 1917 and Corporal Auldjo was one of the men transferred to the 87th Battalion, with whom he saw action at Passchendaele.
Made up to Sergeant on 8th November, John William Auldjo was reported as missing in action, presumed to have died on 17th November 1917 near Boethoek. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate.
John William Auldjo is remembered at Alnwick in A11.56, at Felton on F14.01, F14.02 and F14.09 and at Newton-on-the Moor on N21.01
In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance.
Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
Felton Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Auldjo
