Name
John Masson
30 July 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Trooper
1425
Hertfordshire Yeomanry
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GREEN HILL CEMETERY
II.F.2
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Tewin Village Memorial,
St Peter’s Church Muster Roll, Tewin,
Dagmar House School Memorial, Hatfield,
Hertfordshire Yeomanry Memorial, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Pre War
John Masson was born on 30 July 1894 at Hessilhead, Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, the eldest son of John and Jane Masson.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Rye End Farm, Kimpton, where his father was a farmer. By 1911 they had moved to Attimore Hall (farm) Hatfield and John was a 16 year old schoolboy.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford and served in Egypt from 5 November 1914 with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry. He was killed in action by a shrapnel shell whilst on duty at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.
The following is an extract from a report in The Hertfordshire Mercury, 16 October 1915 entitled THE LATER TROOPER MASSON. "The death is reported, whilst in action in the Dardenelles, of the eldest son of Mr and Mrs John Masson of Attimore Hall Farm, new Tewin, formerly of Rye End Farm, Kimpton. He was killed by a shrapnel shell whilst on duty on 15 September at 10.30. am. A letter from his commanding officer said that he was a "good horsemaster and a beautiful horseman" and that he was "buried after dark the same evening". The circumstances of his death were quoted in a letter from a friend to his sister: "We had just finished breakfast when Jack was detailed off to go to the base to get stores. He had only gone about 600 yards when a shell burst over the party and two bullets hit Jack, one in the left arm and the other through the breast. The bullet entered his back, passed through him and lodged in his breast pocket. He breathed for only a minute. At sunset a small burial party buried him in consecrated ground at an enclosure at Suvla Bay. He was laid to rest at 9.15. Captain Reverend Jephson read the burial service. He is an old Hertfordshire man from Ayot."
Additional Information
Probate was granted to his father John Masson on 24 November 1916 in London with effects of £44 10s. War gratuity of £4 granted to father John.
He is also recorded on the family grave in Tewin St Peter's Churchyard and the inscription reads:
In memory of new
TROOPER J. MASSON. 1ST HERTS YEOMANRY FELL IN ACTION AT SULVA BAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 1915. AGED 20 YEARS.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Gareth Hughes, Brenda Palmer
