Name
John Vagg
13/12/1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/05/1915
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12749
Royal Fusiliers *1
3rd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 6 and 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Borehamwood memorials
Pre War
John Vagg was born in St Pancras, London/Middlesex, on 13 December 1882, son of Edward Vagg, a Carman and Martha Vagg (nee Niblett).
He was Baptised on 29th November 1883, at Holy Trinity Church, Haverstock Hill, Lon/Middx. At the time the family were living at 1, Hartland Road, St Pancras, Lon/Middx.
His father Edwin died in St Pancras, Lon/Middx, in 1889, aged 46. After his father’s death the family moved to Bath, Somerset, his mother's hometown.
1891 Census records John aged 8, at school, living with his widowed mother and brother William (14) at, 4, Hedgedown Cottages, South View, Twerton, Bath, Somerset.
John enlisted on 20 November 1899, aged 18 years & 11 Months, for 12 years, 7 years in the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve. Joining the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow, on 21st November 1899, with the service number 7662. In January 1901 John sailed for Gibraltar with his Regiment, serving there until March 1901, when he and his Regiment sailed for India.
During his time in India, he took part in the “Sikkim-Tibet Expedition” in 1904. (Also known as the Younghusband Expedition 11 December 1903 to September 1904). Returning home in 1905.
In September 1907, he extended is Army Service to 12 years with the Colours. He was discharged on 19 November 1911, on completion of his 12 years’ service and posted to the Reserve.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war John re-joined his Regiment, the Royal Fusiliers with the service number 12749.
Arriving in France on 7 May 1915. He was killed in Action 17 days later on 24 May 1915, at the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April 1915 to 25 May 1915). Aged 34, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother Martha received a dependents pension of 8/- a week from 4 October 1918 until 10 May 1920. Her address was given as 34, Whiteway Road, Twerton Hill, Bath, Somerset. His effects were split between his mother Martha and brother William, £4-16s- 9d, each from his Pay Owing and £1-10s-00d, each from his War Gratuity. His service record for 1899 to 1911, is available at the National Archives, Kew, London. His brother William Edwin Vagg also served and survived the War.
*1 (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
