Morpeth Herald 20/08/2015 carries an obituary:
"HIRST SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION
The parents of Corporal J.R. Bawn, of 114 Chestnut Street, Hirst, who were officially notified of his death in action with the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in France, have received the following letter from the platoon officer, Lieut. Murray G. Patten:-
“You will probably have learnt already, through the War Office, of the sad death of your son, Corporal Bawn, who was killed in action on the afternoon of Monday, 26th July. I had hoped to be able to write [to] you earlier, but pressure of work has made it impossible to do as I wished.
My platoon went into the trenches for the first time on Sunday, 25th July, and on the following afternoon we were very heavily bombarded for nearly three hours. Six of my men, including your son, were killed and several others wounded. The advanced trench in which Corporal Bawn was stationed suffered very severely, and though he was the only one of my platoon killed there during this bombardment, most of the others were wounded or severely shaken.
During an earlier and milder bombardment shortly after mid-day, when one of my men was killed in his section of the trench, Corporal Bawn behaved with conspicuous coolness, and when death came later to him too, he met it unflinchingly – at his post. He lies buried close to the spot where he fell, his grave marked with a little cross bearing his name.
I regret his loss exceedingly, and my regret is shared by all the men of my platoon. Though I have only been in command of the platoon for a short time I had formed a high opinion of Corporal Bawn, having found him a smart, efficient, and uncomplaining soldier. My men join me in offering you their deepest sympathy in this your time of sorrow. If you would wish any further particulars, please let me know and I shall be only too ready to do anything that may be in my power.”
Margaret Allison reports that in the 1911 Census the family's address was 8 Clyde Street Ashington.
