Private John William Noble

Service Number: 15371

11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

Killed in Action 1st July 1916, aged 23

Son of John Edward & Alathea Noble, 15 Robinson Street, Burnley

From the Burnley Express dated 29th July 1916:  A COMRADE'S TRIBUTE.  Burnley Weaver Killed

Official news reached Mr. & Mrs. Noble of Robinson Street, Burnley on Tuesday that their son, Pte. John Wm. Noble of the "Pals", was killed in action on July 1st or 2nd.  Pte. Noble who would have been 24 today had he lived, was a former scholar at St. John's School, Ivy Street, and had worked as a weaver.  He enlisted in the September following the outbreak of the war.  His elder brother Pte. Thomas Noble is serving in the 2/5th Batt. East Lancashire Territorials.

Pte. Noble was in the company that went over the parapet first, and he was seen by comrades to be badly wounded.  Pte. J. Birch who was his companion in the Army has written to Pte. Noble's mother saying: - "We were just like two brothers.  Everywhere one was the other would be near.  Now death's sting has taken him away from me.   I must ask you for poor Jack's sake, to have a brave spirit, and try to keep your heart up, for when you were well and happy it always made him happy.  So it will be the same in spirit.

'Sudden and awful was the stroke

By which the thread of life was broke;

Oh, Heart to Christ make no delay,

For no-one knows their dying day'."

Pte. Noble's brother-in-law, Pte. A. Dickinson is now on active service in France.

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial: Pier & Face 6