Name
John Mead
22 Nov 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/10/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
51626
Lincolnshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
XVI E 11
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
John Mead was born in Markyate on 22 Nov 1885 (baptised in 1885 Leverstock Green) to John Mead, and Julia.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Helen (born 1885 died 1886).Beatrice (born 1883 died 1884), Willie (born 1891) and John (6 years born 1885) were living at High Street, Humbershoe, Markyate.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, John (listed at age 16), Ellen (born 1887), Beatrice (born1889), William, Frederick (born 1893) and Lily (born 1897) were living at North Cottages, Markyate.
John married Emily Margaret Pitkin in 1903 and on the 1911 Census John (farm labourer), Emily and their children Edward (born 1904), Olive (born 9 Dec1904), Rosy (born 1 Nov 1906) and John (born 19 Sep 1909) were living at North Cottages, Markyate. There would be two other children : Beatrice (born 19 May 1912) and Hubert (born 25 Dec 1914). John’s parents were living at 3 North Cottages, Markyate.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for John who had volunteered in Nov 1915 as Private 23165 in the Bedfordshire Regiment, He went to France in Jun 1916. Some records state he served with 4th (Extra Reserve), 7th (Service) & 8th (Service) taking part in Actions at the Somme and Arras. He was wounded three times and return following each occasion.
John transferred to the 1st Battalion (A Company) Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 51626 at some date and was probably serving with them at Ypres in the Spring of 1918 when the Germans attacked as part of their Spring Offensive.
John was captured at the Battle of Kemmel 25-26 Apr 1918 and was a Prisoner of War at Fredrichfeld, He died of illness while there on 13 Oct 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £16 10s and arrears of £15 13s 9d was paid to his widow also received a pension of 37s 11d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
