William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John was born to his parents Charles and Hannah (nee Mason) at Seaham in 1896.
The 1901 census shows his father working as a deputy overman in a coal mine underground. The couple had several children together including Margaret, John B. (deputy station minder below ground), Abraham, John, Sarah, Charles, Mary, Joseph and infant Rose. The family were living at 10, Cooke Street, New Seaham.
Unfortunately, both parents died before the 1911 census so it seems the children were split up amongst the family. Father Charles died February 24th 1909 whilst his wife Hannah died January 23rd 1903.
1911 census shows younger John and his sister Rose now living with the Bates family at 4 Henry Street Seaham. John’s older sister Margaret had married Thomas Bates who was the head of the household.
The family also worked together at the coal mine Thomas Bates as a hewer whilst his son Joseph Bates was a driver as was John Hoy.
John enlisted into the army at Sunderland.
He was posted to France on September 22nd 1914 and was killed in action less than six months later on March 11th 1915.
The Sunderland Echo 24/04/1915 reports:-
New Seaham Soldier killed
Official intimation has been received from the War Office of the death of Private John Hoy, of the 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, who was killed in action on March 11th. Private Hoy, who was only 19 years of age, was the son of the late Mr Charles N. Hoy of New Seaham and nephew of Mr Jas. Hoy, secretary of the Seaham Miners Lodge.
He was a member of the Regular Army, having enlisted from New Seaham, where he was a miner, six months before the outbreak of war. He went to France with the British Expeditionary Force a fortnight after the commencement of hostilities and letters were regularly received from him. The last one dated March 9th stated that he was going to the trenches the next day. The War Office announcement does not say where he was killed but according to a newspaper list it was at Neuve Chapelle. Previous to March 11th he had never had a scratch and had never been in hospital. Three brothers of Private Hoy are also in the Army, one a Regular, being in Jamaica, and two others having enlisted since the outbreak of war.
His brother, Abraham also fought and was killed in WW1 on November 9th 1918 just two days before the Armistice.
John was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914 Star for his services.
