De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 1 page 155
Photo: Brian Chandler
John Renner Golphin was born on the 26th August 1988 at Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the only son of George Golphin, a Foreman Shunter on the N.E.R., of 14 Holme Avenue, Walkerville, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and his wife Mary Murdie, daughter of the late Anthony Renner, a Farmer.
John was educated at the Council Schools in Heaton and Skerry's College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1903 after leaving college he joined the North Eastern Railway as a Clerk in the Forth Goods Station at Newcastle.
He was a Bugler in the Band of the Royal Engineer Volunteers at Newcastle between 1906 to 1909.
John was a member of the N.E.R. cricket team as well as the Football team. John also played football for the Hexham County Association Football Club, 1912-13. He was also a prominent member of the N.E.R. Institute Billiard Team.
He enlisted on the 6th September 1914, and was sent to France on the 19th April 1915 with his regiment.
He died on the 28th April 1915 from wounds received in action in the heavy fighting at St Julien. He is buried in the Hazebrouck Cemetery. He was unmarried.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
In Morpeth (St.Mary and St. James's) Churchyard is a monument which reads:
in glorious and loving memory
of
John Renner
Private 6th Northumberland Fusiliers
only son of George & Mary Golphin
who died from wounds received in action
at St. Julien on the 29th April 1915
aged 26 years.
Interred at Hazebrouck Cemetery, France.
John Renner Golphin is remembered on the N.E.R. York Railway War Memorial, and at Byker on B95.07, B95.10 and Newcastle NUT079