JOHN LEONARD HILL 

John L. Hill is remembered on the Hartford Memorial, he is also remembered on the Weaverham Methodist Chapel Memorial. The Chapel Memorial records twenty five names of the “Fallen,” this is assumed that the lads attended the chapel or their family did. Twenty of the lads named are on the main “Fallen” Memorial at St. Marys, five are not, John L. Hill is one of the five.

C.W.G.C. remember a John Leonard Hill, Cpl., with the East Yorkshire Regiment, Service No 28369. Died on the 12th March 1918 aged 31. Remembered at the Maroeuil British Cemetery, lV.H.1. With family information of son of George Henry and Lucy Hill of Hartford, Cheshire.

Cheshirebmd records the birth of a John L Hill in 1886 Winsford and a second John L. Hill in 1887, Warrington, but no obvious marriages. His death at 31 in 1918 gives him a birth year of 1886/7!

N.A.M.C. have a medal card for J.L. Hill, with the 10th Hussars Reg’t |No 5464, Pte. Also with the 6th East Yorkshire Reg’t No 28369, Pte. The card records Date of Entry 6/10/14 but no Theatre  of War recorded but must be France. Awarded the 14 Star, British War and Victory medals. The medal card does not record his death.

N/wich Guardian 1st March 1918, Roll of Honour, Wounded.

News has been received that Corporal John L. Hill of Hartford, who is attached to the East Yorks, was severely wounded a few days ago and is now at the clearing station. No particulars are given as to the nature of his wounds but a later message states that his condition is as favourable as can be expected. Corporal Hill is a son of Mr. George Hill chauffeur to Sir John and Lady Jarmay. (Sir John Jarmay, at the outbreak of war in 1914 Jarmay led the industrial effort required to make sufficient explosives for the armed forces, and sat on a government committee dealing with high explosives. In 1918, on the recommendation of Lord Moulton, the minister of munitions, Gustav Jarmay was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire.)

Northwich Guardian 21st March 1918, ROLL OF HONOUR, WOUNDED. CORPORAL J.L. HILL.

News has been received that Corporal John L. Hill of Hartford, who is attached to the East Yorks, was severely wounded a few days ago and is now at a clearing station. No particulars are given as to the nature of his wounds but a later message states that his condition is as favourable as can be expected.

Northwich Guardian 12th April 1918 ROLL OF HONOUR. DIED OF WOUND. CORPORAL JOHN LEONARD HILL.

It was announced a few weeks ago that Corporal John Leonard Hill (Hartford) East Lancashire Regiment had been seriously wounded and was in hospital. On Sunday his parents who lived in Beech Road, received a letter from the matron of the hospital, informing them that he died on the 12th inst. The matron wrote;- Your dear son died last night at 12 o’clock. Poor brave boy; he was one of the best patients anyone could have. He passed away quite peacefully in his sleep. In your great loss you have my sincere sympathy. It is little one can do at a time like this but he had every care and attention and never wanted for anything. I did hope we might save him but it was not to be.” The doctor wrote; - “I want to tell you what a great admiration I had for your son and how I feel his loss. He put up a splendid fight and for patient courage I have never seen his equal.”

Corporal Hill, who was 31 years of age, enlisted in 1910 in the Hussars and when the war broke out he was serving in South Africa. He volunteered for services at the front and since then he had been wounded once and had also been invalided home on two occasions suffering from nephritis.

His father is well known in the village and for many years has been employed as coachmen for Sir John and Lady Jarmay. At the time he was wounded Corporal Hill was expecting leave to come home to be married.

Research Bob Heaton