Pte 21850 John Henry Kewley

• Age: 37
• From: Tranmere
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

John Henry was born in Tranmere in the third quarter of 1879, the son of Thomas Henry Kewley and his wife Martha (nee Brown) who married in 1878 at St Catherine's Church, Tranmere.

The 1881 Census shows John aged 1 living with his parents at 9 Chapel Street, Tranmere. His father is a joiner born in Tranmere in 1850, whilst his mother was born in Scotland in 1856 and is shown on the Census as Mary. 

By 1891 the family are living at Hope Terrace, Derby Road, Tranmere. Both paernts are present and John is now 11 years of age and a scholar. He has 6 siblings, all born in Tranmere; Janet b.1882, Samuel b.1883, twins Robert and David b.1886, William b.1887 and Margaret b.1890.

By 1901 the family are living at 32 Derby Road. John is now 21 and a Dock labourer. His parents are both still in the household as are his siblings; Samuel, Robert, David, William, Margaret and James b.1891. Also present is Janet and her husband James Seddon and their new born daughter Ada b.1901.    

He married Catherine Jones on Christmas Day 1903 at St Catherine's Church, Tranmere. John was 24 and his bride 25. 

By 1911 the family are living at 7 Warton Terrace, Bootle.

John is now 31 and a Dock labourer for the White Star Line, wife Catherine(married 7 years with 1 child) is aged 32, born Rock Ferry, and daughter Mary Eileen is 6 and  born in Bootle. (born 21st Dec 1904).

He enlisted in Liverpool and gave his age as 36 years, his occupation as clerk. He was ht 5' 5", wt. 131lbs, 36" chest and gave his next of kin Mary Eileen, of 7 Warton Terrace, Bootle. He was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21850 when he was killed in action on the 22^nd March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. 

Embarked for France on 7th Nov 1915

4.1.16 - admitted to 98FA with wounds 

11.3.16 - attached to 89 Inf. Brigade

5.4.16 - forfeits 7 days pay for tipping rubbish near tent

1.7.17 - granted class 1 proficiency pay

18.7.17 - forfeits 7 days pay for being drunk in billet

2-19.2.18 - granted leave to UK

He was killed in action on the 22^nd March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. 

The Battalion diary records the events of the day as follows:

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

John Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

Soldiers effects were sent to his widow Catherine who also received a pension for their daughter Mary Eileen. 

By 1920 Catherine was living at 30 Stoneville Rd, Stoneycroft. 

She appears on the 1939 register at 8 Steble Grove, Dingle, dob 20th Nov 1879, and died December 1960 aged 81.

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