West Riding Regiment
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
John George Pyle was born in Bedlington, Northumberland about 1885. His parents were John and Isabella Pyle. John’s father, a colliery labourer of the same name, was born at Ellingham in Northumberland and his mother born at Horsley, Elsdon, Northumberland.
At the age of 16 in 1901, John was working at the Cooperative Society and living in his parents’ house at Ridge Terrace, Bedlington with siblings Mary Alice 14, Lancelot Edward and Isabella Jane 11.
John was still living at Ridge Terrace, Bedlington in 1911 with his parents and siblings who were all unmarried. He was working at the Cooperative Society as a wagonman (cartman).
John married Mary Eleanor Rebecca Penner on 4th June 1913 when living at Jasmine Cottage, Scotland Gate, Choppington. John, a Methodist, attended the Whitley Memorial School in Bedlington.
Originally, John enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers (29207) when living at Ridge Terrace, Bedlington. Military records show John went to France on 13th September 1916, disembarking at Boulogne from Folkestone He was originally posted to the 8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and then to the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) 2nd Battalion. John was 5’ 8” tall, weighed 11½ st. and attested on 10th December 1915.
John Pyle is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.09, B15.20 and in B15.26 on page 35.
