John Thomas's Story.
John Thomas Jobson was one of seven children born to John and Elizabeth Jobson, John was born in Shrewsbury in 1888, however by 1901 the family had moved to Shavington, near Crewe. By the time of the 1911 census his mother had passed away and John was boarding at 6 Queens Road, Chester and working at W.H Smiths. John enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment in Crewe, he had been manager of W.H. Smiths in the town for five years and was living in Buxton Avenue with his wife, Annie Isobel. He was later transferred to the 2/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was killed in action on the 3rd September 1917, during the 3rd Battle of Ypres more commonly now known as Passchendaele. On the 2nd September the battalion received orders to capture a hostile position the war diary states.
3/9/1917 Orders had been received the previous day to capture the hostile position on Hill 35 on the night 3rd/4th September. This hostile position was a strong one consisting of 4 gun pits connected by a trench with 2 concrete and steel M.G. emplacements immediately to the rear – the whole being connected with IBERIAN (in front of the 42nd Division) from which locality strong cross fire could be brought to bear. In addition, crossfire could be brought to bear from enemy trenches about D.13. central, and further fire from the neighbourhood of GALLIPOLI. The strength of the garrison was estimated at about 40 men with numerous Machine Guns.
The plan of attack was as follows. Zero hour was to be at 10pm.
At Zero minus 2 an intense Lewis Gun and Rifle grenade fire was to be opened on the western face of the position from POMMERN REDOUBT. At zero the 18-pounder protective barrage was to open on the line behind the position (to the East and N.E.) with a box barrage on IBERIAN. This barrage was to consist of shrapnel, H.E. and smoke shells.
At the same time a feint attack by 1st platoon of ‘A’ Company under 2nd Lt. I. Sowerby, was to be made on the western face of the position from POMMERN CASTLE.
At zero plus 2 ‘C’ company (2nd Lt. Forsyth) in column platoons at 15 paces distance, was to rush the position from the Northern flank, having previously moved to a convenient assembly position.
The operation commenced punctually, but the assault was a failure, owing to the intense machine gun fire brought to bear on the assaulting troops from 3 sides. At about midnight we re-occupied our original line.
Our Casualties were.
Officers. Killed. 2nd Lt. I Sowerby
Wounded. 2nd Lt. J. Forsyth, 2nd Lt. W.A. Assinder, 2nd Lt. G.H. Swann, 2nd Lt. A.J. Law
Other Ranks. Killed 3, Wounded 37, Missing 10.
Records today show that 13 men from battalion were killed in action, it can therefore be assumed that the 10 listed as missing also fell, these include 260186 Private Frederick Stockton, who was born in Tarporley and resided in Hoole.