Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
2nd Lieut John Henry Musker
- Age: 31
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: Cheshire Regiment
- Died on Thursday 1st November 1917
- Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 61-63
John Henry “Jack” was born in the Summer of 1886 in Liverpool the son of Robert and his wife Margaret (née Ball) who were married on Christmas Day 1870 at St Mary's Church, Walton. Two of their children died in infancy, James Henry (d.1879) and William Joseph (d.1890).
On the 1891 Census the family, all born in Liverpool, are living at 39 Major Street, Kirkdale. His father, Robert, is aged 40, a miller, his mother, Margaret, is aged 40, They have six children in the household; Alice A. 19, a paper maker, Mary 16, Margaret 14, Robert Geo. 10, Florence 7, and John Hy. Aged 4.
On the 1901 Census the family have moved to 17 Fonthill Road, Kirkdale. His father, Robert, is aged 50, a flour miller, his mother, Margaret, is aged 50. They have 3 children in the household; Robert Geo. 20, a mill hand, John Hy. aged 14, a junior clerk, and Daniel aged 8.
On the 1911 Census the family have moved to 59 Freeland Street, Kirkdale. His father, Robert, is aged 61, a ships watchman, his mother, Margaret, is aged 61. They advised that they have been married for 40 years, and have had 9 children, 7 of whom have survived. There are two children declared in the household; John Henry aged 24, a goods receiver for a shipping co., and Daniel aged 18, a lift attendant for a photographer.
His father died, aged 61, on the 22nd December 1911 and was buried on the 26th December at Kirkdale Cemetery.
John Henry enlisted in Liverpool as Private 26184, most probably with the 17th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and then sent for officer training. As a Cadet Officer he was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the Cheshire Regiment on the 29th August 1917.
He married Emily Marguerite Tucker in early October 1917 at St. Athanasius' Church, Kirkdale. Emily was the 32 year old daughter of John Burrows and Elizabeth Tucker of Walton.
Soon after the wedding he shipped to France on the 17th October 1917. He was killed just a few weeks later on the 01st November 1917.
1st Battalion Cheshire Regt. War Diary
RIDGE WOOD 01st Nov 1917
Battn proceeded to trenches under the command of Lieut-Colonel M. W. Halford.
Left RIDGE WOOD at 3 30 p.m. and marched to BEDFORD HOUSE where tea was issued. 5 30 p.m. Battn moved off again for front line in relief of 12th Gloucester Regiment. The relief was completed with practically no casualties but unfortunately 2nd Lieut J. H. MUSKER and 2nd Lieut M. ALDERSEY and an N.C.O. of the party who went forward to reconnoitre our position were killed.
Jack's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.
The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.
The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.
He was remembered by his family on his death in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 01 November 1918:
MUSKER—In loving memory of my brother-in-law JACK, killed in action, November 1, 1917. (Until the day dawns.). Deeply regretted at “Holwen”, Knoclaid-road, Clubmoor.
MUSKER—In loving and affectionate remembrance of my dear husband, JACK, second-lieutenant , J. H. Musker, Cheshire Regiment (late “Pals”), killed in action, November 1, 1917.
A life laid down,
For love of God, and country, and King;
A rift in life, no other life can fill,
And jove seems left,
Uncomforted, to suffer, and be still. —Very sadly missed by Emily.
His death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 09 November 1917:
MUSKER—November 2, killed action, Second-lieutenant John Henry Musker, dearly-loved and loving husband of Emily M. Musker (nee Emily Tucker), of Holwen, Knoclaid-road, Clubmoor. (Sans changer. With Christ, which is far better.) Memorial service at St. Athanasius' Church, Kirkdale, Sunday next, at 6.30 p.m.
MUSKER—November 2, killed in action, John Henry Musker. (His duty nobly done.)— Deeply regretted by George, all at Holwen, Clubmoor, and at Fieldside-road, Rock Ferry.
He earned his two medals.
His Soldiers Effects, Army pay of £59 9s 9d and £16 War Gratuity went to wife Emily. The pension record does not quote any figure.
His elder brother Robert George enlisted as Pte 359404 with the 1/10(Scottish) KLR but was sadly killed in action on the 15th April 1918, aged 38 years. CWGC note he was the son of the late Robert and Margaret Musker; husband of Mary Musker, of 61, Penrose Street., St. Domingo Road., Everton, Liverpool.
His younger brother Daniel has a service record. He enlisted in 1915 as Pte 265129 with 7/KLR and served overseas for seven months in 1917 before being pensioned of with nephritis (kidney disease). He then served at home with the Royal Defence Corps as Private 94275.
After losing two of her sons, his mother Margaret, died aged 68, on the 01st March 1919. She was buried on the 08th March at Kirkdale Cemetery, her address at the time of her death was 34 Chepstow Street, Walton.
His wife Emily never remarried and on the 1921 Census was aged 35, a clerk, living at 16 Brook Road, Bootle.
On the 1939 Register, her date of birth 08th November 1884, she is living with the Kerr family at 4 Broomfield Road, Orrell Park. She died aged 81 in 1965.
Probate was granted on 07th January 1966:-
MUSKER Emily Marguerite of 15 Rosemary Lane, Formby Lancashire died 28 November 1965 at Northern Hospital Liverpool 3 Probate Liverpool 7 January to Gordon Samuel Kerr public relations consultant. Effects £3,100.
He is commemorated on the following memorials:-
St Mary With St Athanasius Parishioners, Kirkdale, Merseyside.
St Luke The Evangelist Church Book, Walton, Merseyside.
Grateful thanks are extended to Ancestry member Suzanne4225 for use of the photograph now shown on the site.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
34 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
38 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
21 years old
A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All