Photo: Dorothy Hall

Tess McTiernan has provided the following:

PRIVATE JOHN GRANT
24/780, 24th (Tyneside Irish) Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers

John, youngest of three children, was born in 1881 to James and Ann Grant (née McGinn) of Princes Street, Consett. Having met and married Cecilia Burke in 1906, the couple settled in Dipton. John worked as a coal miner hewer in 1911 and lived at School View, Postle's Buildings, Front Street, Dipton.

At his time of enlistment, 24 October 1914, John, aged 33 years, had four children and the family were living at 3,Waterloo Buildings, Front Street, Dipton.

By the 4 November 1914, the Battalion was at full strength. The average age of these recruits was in the late thirties. Initially 223 men were quartered in the Town Hall in Newcastle, and the remainder in Dunn's Buildings, Low Friar Street. Later the Raby Street School became available, and those in the Town Hall were moved there. Drill parades were carried out in Eldon Square and drill practice carried out on the Town Moor. The one area in which the Tyneside Irish excelled was the digging of trenches.

On 9 January 1915 the 1st Battalion paraded in Eldon Square completely turned out in khaki and some men had full equipment. 62 out of every 110 men were Catholics.

The medical condition of many recruits was not up to standard, contrary to the propaganda put out by the raising committee. Particular health problems relating to working in the mines were evident.

Sadly, on 24 February 1915, John died at home. Cause of death was recorded as influenza and heart failure. He was 33 years old. He left a wife and four small children.

Remembered with Honour

John Grant is remembered in Dipton on D46.06 and in Leadgate on L65.01

The CWGC entry for Private Grant