Pte 27346 John Mawdsley

The only clue to this soldier’s identity (as his marriage was a civil one with no record available of a father’s name) is the fact that, according to the 1911 census, he had a sister Annie 11 years younger. Process of elimination leads us to this man.

 

John Mawdsley was born in Liverpool on 27th January 1882, the son of John Mawdsley and his wife Ann (née Moss), who were married on the 15th October 1871 at St Anne’s Church, Stanley. John senior was a widowed carter of full age, father George a labourer, whilst Ann was aged 20, father John a carter. His father was from Kirkby and his mother from Ormskirk and they had ten children. Baptism and census records can only be found for nine; John had older siblings Emily, George (who died at age 9), and Margaret, and younger siblings William, Mary, Charlotte, Annie, and Frank.

 

In 1881 before John’s birth the family lived in Deysbrook Lane, West Derby. John (like all his siblings) was baptised in St. Mary the Virgin, West Derby, on 05th March 1882.

The 1891 census finds them in Stopgate Lane, Fazakerley with six children. His father John is aged 45, listed as a carter (horse) born Kirkby, mother Ann is aged 40, born Ormskirk, children born West Derby; Emily 18, Margaret 11 a scholar, John 9 a scholar, William 6 a scholar, Mary Jessie 4 a scholar, and Charlotte 1.

By 1893 they have moved to Huxley Street, Clubmoor (off Townsend Avenue), and 1896 finds them around the corner in Farrar Street.  

They are back in Huxley Street in 1901 with seven children at home. His father, 55, is a carter on a farm, his mother is 50, Margaret is 21, John is 19, employed as a domestic gardener, William 16 a gardeners apprentice, Mary Jessie 14 , Charlotte 11, and Annie 8, and Frank 5. Also in the household is his widowed grandmother, Emily Moss, 69. 

When he was 25 John married Amy Allanson, in the December quarter of 1907 in a civil ceremony, and their son John Reuben was born on 21st December that year.

 

In 1911 they are living at 21 Redcar Street, Anfield.  John is 29, employed as a Corporation gardener, Amy is 31, son John Reuben is 3.  Also in the household is his sister Annie, 18, a dressmaker.  His parents are living at 32-34 Kirkdale Road, Everton, with William, Mary, Charlotte, and Frank. 

 

John enlisted as Private 27346 in the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, (Pte 27301 Parkinson enlisted in April 1915). As he did not receive the 1915 Star he must have arrived in France after the 01st January 1916. 

He died of wounds on the 18th July 1916, aged 34, and is buried at St Sever Cemetery in France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on 27th July 1916 under the heading,

“Death Follows Wounds”:  

“Private Mawdsley, who died from wounds received in action on July 18, joined the Army in May 1915 and went to France in January 1916.  He resided at 74 Glengariff Road, Clubmoor, Liverpool.”

(His married sister Emily lived in Glengariff Road.)

Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 29 July 1916 

Died From Wounds. 

MAWDSLEY – July 18, from wounds received in action, Private John Mawdsley, the beloved husband of Amy Mawdsley, 74 Glengariff Street, Clubmoor. 

Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 05 August 1916 

Private Mawdsley of 74 Glengariff Street, Clubmoor, died on July 18th of wounds. He leaves a widow and one child. 

He received his two medals. 

In the Liverpool Echo on the first anniversary of his death:

“In loving memory of Private J. Mawdsley (2nd Pals), who died from wounds received in action July 18, 1916.  Ever remembered by Bob, Sally, Sep, Kit, and Will (in France). - 89 Windsor Road.”

 

His widow Amy received John’s Army effects, Army Pay of £2 12s 3d and including a War Gratuity of £4. The pension card, giving Amy’s address as 32 Kirkdale Road, Everton, shows that she was awarded a pension of 17/6d a week for herself and child. She later moved to 111 St. Domingo Vale, Liverpool.

 

His parents and youngest brother Frank are still living at 32-34 Kirkdale Road in 1921.  It is not known when his parents died, or what became of his widow and son.

 

 

 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 16 May 1934: 

MAWDSLEY- May 14, at 9, Grenfell-road, Clubmoor, ANN widow of John Mawdsley. Service at 

St. Andrew's Church, to-morrow (Thursday), at 2.30 p.m.; interment at West Derby Cemetery.   

Widow Amy’s date of birth was the 12th July 1878 on the pension card, based on that date she died aged 89 in 1967.

Sadly, John has not been identified on any memorial.

 

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