JOHN BILLINGTON 

John Billington was born in Birkenhead, in 1873, the son of John and Susan Billington. Both of his parents had been born in Liverpool, in 1851. His father was a Boiler Maker. John Billington (Jnr) had at least 3 brothers and 2 sisters: Richard Billington (born in 1882); Elizabeth Billington (born in1883); Susan Billington (born in 1885); Thomas Billington (born in 1888); and Robert Billington (born in 1889). By 1911, John Billington (Jnr) was employed as a General Shipyard Labourer, living with his sister, Mrs Susan Caldwell, his brother-in-law Thomas Caldwell (born in Birkenhead, in 1888), and their two children: Alice E. Caldwell (born in 1909); and John Caldwell (born in1910). Thomas was also employed as a General Shipyard Labourer.

On 10th September, 1914, John Billington (Jnr) enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment (No.11834) (his sister, who completed the application form to have his name commemorated on the Birkenhead war memorial, incorrectly gives his regimental number as being 13811, and his battalion as being the 13th Bn Cheshire Regiment – at his time of death, this battalion was still in training at Aldershot), at Birkenhead. On completion of his training, Private Billington was sent to France on 17th February 1915, and was posted to the 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment. He was killed by shell-fire on 2nd June 1915, in the line at Zillebeke, Belgium, when his battalion came under intense shelling. His body was never recovered and identified from the battlefield, and is therefore commemorated by name only on Panel’s 19 – 22, The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.




Family application form requesting John to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial.

His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.

John Billington’s (Jnr) younger brother, 36329 Private Richard Billington, 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment, was killed in action on 2nd September 1916.


Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.