Name
John Augustine Postle
24 April 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/05/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
105646 [103646]
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
19th Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY
VII. E. 1
France
Headstone Inscription
'OF BUNTINGFORD, HERTS'
UK & Other Memorials
Buntingford Town War Memorial, Not on the Ashwell memorials, Not on the Boxmoor memorials
Pre War
John Augustine Postle was born in Ashwell, Herts on 24 April 1893, the son of Charles and Caroline Postle and baptised at Aspenden, nr Buntingford on 24 August 1902.
On the 1901 Census he and his mother were listed as boarders, living at the home of Harry and Florence Addicot at 16 Argyle Road, Bristol, Gloucestershire. (His mother was born in Portishead, nr Bristol, Somerset and may have been visiting relatives).
He was educated at Buntingford School, Herts and became a Butcher. On the 1911 Census he was living at the home of Joshua and Fanny Burton in High Street, Barkway, near Royston, Herts. Joshua Burton was a Butcher and Dealer and John was one of two of his assistants living at the same address.
His parents later lived at High Street, North End, Buntingford.
Wartime Service
John volunteered for active service soon after the outbreak of war and enlisted in Watford in 1914 to serve with the Royal Army Service Corps (Reg. No.S4/ 039227) and arrived in France on 14 November 1915.
He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in 1917 and was killed in action at Chaumuzy-sur-Marne, France, on 30 May 1918. He was initially buried outside the village and after the war was re-interred in Marfaux British Cemetery.
His Commanding Officer wrote: "I have known Private Postle for a long time, and I regret very much to have to give such awful news to you - his mother. He was a very good fellow and a thoroughly honest fellow, and I can assure you his comrades miss him very much."
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £16 and pay owing of £23 19s 3d. She also received a pension of 21 shillings a week.
His gravestone was inscribed 'OF BUNTINGFORD, HERTS' and ordered by his father Mr C Postle, North End High Street, Buntingford.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson, Brenda Palmer, Derry Warners
Adrian Pitts, Carol Emery
