John James's Story.
John James Robinson was born in 1896 to Hannah Gillgrass. She married James Robinson in 1899, and then had 3 more children, Mary, Samuel and Arthur. At James Funeral in 1925 another son, Stanley is recorded as being present. His details may become available when the 1921 census comes out.In 1911, Hannah has taken the name Robinson, but John is recorded as Gillgrass and listed as being a step son. His occupation was that of a labourer at a coal yard.
John joined up on 5th August 1914 in Liverpool, with the South Lancashire Regt, 7th Bttn. He is recorded as being 5ft 10 inches, brown hair and blue eyes. He lied about his age, stating he was born in 1895, so he was 19 years old. He listed his occupation as a carter.
He trained in the UK for just under a year, before being sent to France on 17th July 1915. He was killed 4 months later.
The war diary for the regiment state that they were in awful conditions, and having to pump water continuosly out of the trenches. The writer of the diary is very critical of the conditions the men are having to endure.
On the 15th and 16th, the communciation trenches are recorded as being hit by enemy shells.
The date of Johns death, 17th, no recording has been made of any casualties, but a report in a local newspaper stated that he was killed by a sniper whilst carrying materials back to the front to repair the trenches.
He was buried in a marked grave in Festubert.
The only item returned to his family was a metal ring.
His father received his 3 campaign medals and memorial plaque.