In Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 202500 Private John Finn serving with the 10th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 22/08/1917.

He was the son of the late Patrick Finn, of Barnard Castle, Co. Durham and the husband of Ada Coke (formerly Finn), of 8, Delaval Street, Seaton Sluice, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland.

Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-

John Finn, the son of Irishman Patrick and Catherine aka Kate, nee Monaghan, was born at Barnard Castle in 1890.

1891 shows the family living at Greenacre Yard Barnard Castle. His father was a general labourer. It was noted that John had 5 brothers and 7 sisters. The family in 1891 was made up of siblings Mary, Winifred, Annie and John.

By 1901 the family had grown to include Patrick, Margaret and James. They were now living at Thorngate in the town.

In 1911 Winnie was now head of household. Perhaps their parents died? The others in the family are sister Annie (now Henderson) who had married but been recently widowed after giving birth to 5 month old Winifred. She was working with some of her siblings as a mill hand (flax), Margaret a machine spinner (flax) John was a dyer at the flax mill, Patrick a chauffeur and James at the age of 14 was a jobbing gardener.

John married Ada and the couple had two children, Bertha Lilian Winifred born 23rd January 1914 and John born 4th July 1915.

John/Jack enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry with service number 6/4356 later 202501. He was killed in action 22nd August 1917 and his grave is located in Belgium. The inscription on his headstone reads as follows :-“He fought the fight the victory won and Entered into eternal peace”.

Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

John’s younger brother, Patrick, also fought in WW1 and was killed in action 27/05/1918.

John Finn is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25, also at Durham in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 221.