In the Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 11874 Private John George Gelson serving with the 10th  (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry who died 25/09/1915.

John George Gelson (enlisted under the alias of Gibson) was the only son of  John Gelson, who was born in 1884 in Gateshead, Durham.

He was educated at Sunderland Road Board School in Gateshead. Afterwards he was employed as a Miner.

John married at St James’s Church at Gateshead on the 10th October 1908, Isabella, (35 Southey Street, Sunderland Road, Gateshead), daughter of Matthew Cummings.

John and Isabella had a daughter Grace who was born on the 17th October 1909. However the baby died.

John Gelson was a ‘reluctant soldier’, he had enlisted on the 11th August 1914, at Newcastle upon Tyne, and claimed he was unmarried! He enlisted under a false surname of Gibson. He was described at 5 feet 6 inches tall, fresh complexion, dark brown eyes, with dark brown hair.

He was enlisted into the 10th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, and the Battalion then moved to Woking, on the 16th November 1914, he had to forfeit 7 days pay due to being absent from his post, he also broke out of camp, with another 7 days pay forfeited.

The Battalion then moved to Whitley, on the 15th December, he overstayed his pass, and was found drunk in Godalming at about 9.20pm and was brought back to the barracks by the Military Police. Fined 7/6s and forfeited another 10 days pay as well as being confined to Barracks for 5 days.

On the 16th February 1915, he refused to answer his name to the defaulters Roll call, again confined to Barracks for 2 days. On the following day, he repeated the offence and was punished with 7 days Field Punishment no 2.

The 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry were then moved to Aldershot in February 1915. On the 19th March, John  then again refused to answer the defaulters roll call due to being absent, he was found to be Drunk at 9.30pm. He also used insubordinate language to a Corporal Brooks. He was fined 10s, and another 10 days of Field Punishment no 2!

April 6th, at Aldershot, he was absent from CO’s parade, and allowing himself to be rebellious. Result another 7 days of Field Punishment no 2!. 17th April, he was caught breaking out of Barracks at about 11.45am, and was apprehended by Military Police at Waterloo Station at 8.10pm. He was confined to Barracks and forfeited 3 days pay.

John was seen again by then Lieutenant-Colonel Morant for the 5th time.

Meanwhile, his wife Isabella had written to the Army Record office (28th October 1914) asking where her separation allowance was, there was a query about her marital status, so she provided details about the date of the wedding and the birth date of their child. The army had been told in reply by John Gibson, that he was separated from his wife, and he also stated on his enlistment form that he was not married. Isabella also supplied a photograph of John, and a copy of the birth certificate of their now deceased baby daughter Grace.

On the 20th April 1915, he was again absent, and was apprehended at Manchester by the Civil Police. He was given a 28 day Field Punishment no 2, and 28 days forfeiture of pay.

Isabella eventually received her allowance of 15s [shillings] a week as the Army accepted her evidence, and the allowance commenced from the 10th August 1916.

John Gelson was sent to France on the 21st May 1915. Departed from Folkestone and arrived at Boulogne.

He was killed in action on the 25th September 1915. The Battalion were being moved up in open trucks by train towards  Ypres when they were heavily shelled during the preliminary bombardment. This was during the attack on Bellewaarde ridge, the 10th did not take part. Yet they lost 40 killed and wounded.

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour; The Western Front Association; The British Newspaper Archive; The National Archives; The Long Long Trail; The Durham Forces in the Field;

His headstone reads J. Gibson

John Gelson is remembered at Gateshead on G39.025 and also at Durham in the DLI Book of Remembrance, page 262  (as J Gibson).