Berwickshire News 09/10/1917

Photo : Brian Chandler

Photo : Brian Chandler

Photo : Brian Chandler

Medal Index Card

In North Sunderland Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:

In remembrance of
Corporal John Fife M.M.
Twizell Mill
killed in action in the Great
War, Oct. 27th 1917, aged 21 years
and interred in Solferino Cemetery
France

This memorial is erected
by his many friends as a tribute
of honour to his supreme sacrifice.

On side He was awarded the
Military Medal
for conspicuous bravery
‘on the field’
at the Battle of the Somme.

John was born at Chatton, the son of William and Mary, Twizell Hall, Belford, Northumberland. He enlisted at Belford and served with the 1st/7th Battalion, although he was formerly (7/1595 Corporal), Northumberland Fusiliers. A newspaper article refers to his family’s delight at him spending a short leave with them at home, especially as he ‘went out to France on the 21st April 1915, with the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers took part in the battle of St. Julien and with the exception of a previous leave, has been in France ever since that memorable occasion’.

On the occasion of winning the Military Medal 'his company being in difficulties, Jack volunteered to carry a dispatch for help and succeeded in doing so safely, despite the fact of having to pass through a barrage of fire'.

Berwickshire News 09/10/1917. Another article refers to the sad news of the death of Corporal John Fife’s death with a comment that 'on the day following the one on which he passed away, he was due to leave the trenches to return to England, for a commission'.

Berwick Advertiser 16/10/1917.

Acknowledgements: Ron Carson

Belford Museum has researched his story. See below.

John Fife is remembered at Alnwick on A11.01, A11.03, A11.56 and A11.59, at Shilbottle on S18.09, at Lucker on L38.01 and L38.03, at Belford on B16.01 and at Warenford on W137.01

The CWGC entry for Corporal Fife