Pte 51906 John Royle Huyton

• Age: 23
• From: Scarisbrick, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 27th March 1917
• Commemorated at: Mont Huon Cem Le Treport
  Panel Ref: III.C.10

John Royle Huyton was born in Scarisbrick the son of Jonathan Huyton and his wife Ellen (nee Royle).  His parents married at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Ormskirk on 11th August 1891. John had two sisters Elizabeth, Martha Ellen and three brothers Henry, William and Frederick.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Blackacre Lane. John R. is aged 7 and lives with his parents and four siblings. His father is a 35 year old born in Scarisbrick, Lancashire, whose occupation is described as a distributor of sewerage, whilst his mother is 36 years of age and was born in Wigan. All of their children were born in Scarisbrick and are recored as; Elizabeth aged 8, Harry aged 4, William aged 2 and new born Frederick.

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at the same address and John Royle is, now 17 is employed as a bread van driver. He lives with both parents and five siblings. His parents advise that they have been married for 19 years and have had 6 children, all of whom have survived. His father is now shown as 45 years of age and works in sewage disposal, whilst his mother is also shown as being 45. Their children are recorded as; Elizabeth aged 18 shown to have house duties as her occupation, Henry aged 14, William aged 12, Frederick aged 10, and Martha Ellen aged 7 are school children.  

John enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion as Private 51906.

He was badly wounded in November 1916 and treated in hospital before succumbing to his wounds on 27th March 1917, aged 23. 

John now rests at Mont Huon Cemetery in France at Plot III.C.10.

During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre and by July 1916, the town contained three general hospitals (the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian), No.3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital. The 7th Canadian, 47th and 16th USA General Hospitals arrived later, but all of the hospitals had closed by March 1919. As the original military cemetery at Le Treport filled, it became necessary to use the new site at Mont Huon. There are now 2,128 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and seven from the Second World War. The cemetery also contains more than 200 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

A newspaper article at the time of his death tells quite a story:

Corporal John R Huyton, eldest son of Mr Jonathan Huyton of Black Acre Lane, Narrow Moss, Scarisbrick who as reported in a recent issue was severely wounded in action in France on 04^th March, has died from his wounds. Through the medium of the War Office, Mrs Huyton and his Uncle were able to see the hero in Hospital in France before he passed away, and they were present at the funeral, which was with full military honours.

Corporal Huyton who was 23 years of age, went out to France about nine months ago, and was wounded in both legs and the right hand in November of last year. Before enlisting in the King’s Liverpool Regiment he was employed as a vanman with Coultons Ltd, Ormskirk. 

Whilst the newspaper reports that John was a Corporal the CWGC and SDGW show him as Private as does his headstone.
 
John is commemorated on the Scarisbrick Roll of Honour and also on the family headstone at Ormskirk Cemetery.

We currently have no further information on John Royle Huyton. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.