Lance Corporal 32721 John George Webster

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 12 KLR
• Died on Saturday 7th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F 1D, 8B and 8D

John George Webster was born in Liverpool on 22nd August 1891 the son of George Webster and his wife Rose (nee Smith) who were married in 1890. He was baptised at St Mary's Church, West Derby on 08th November 1891. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 15 Prescot Raod, West Derby.

His father is a 36 year old coachman, whilst his mother is 37 years of age, and has no occupation listed. They have two children, John is 9 years of age and Harry is aged 6. 

Thee 1911 Census shows the family living at 16 Gladstone Rd, Garston.

The father, George is 46 years of age and employed as a dock labourer, born in Knotty Ash in 1865, his mother Rose is 47 years of age, born Tonbridge, Kent in 1864. They have been married for  20 years and have had  five children  with four still living. His siblings are recorded as: John George is aged 19, single, a pawnbrokers assistantHenry 16 a grocers assistant, Jessie 8 and Herbert 5.

John was killed in action on the 7th October, 1916 aged 25 years. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Liverpool Echo 28th Oct 1916

"Lance Corporal J. G. Webster (25), K.L.R., eldest son of Mr and Mrs George Webster of 11 Gladstone Road, Garston, was killed in action on the 7th inst. He was a pawnbrokers assistant"

Soldiers Effects to mother Rose, Pension to father George.

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