Private John Costello.
2615 1st Lancashire Fusiliers.
Killed in Action 4th June 1915, aged 19.
From the Burnley News October 8th 1914: BULLET IN THE SHOULDER. BURNLEY SOLDIERS PAINFUL ORDEAL.
Private John Costello of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, who was wounded at Cambrai on August 26th, and who resided with his uncle in Moseley Street Burnley has just arrived home on sick leave.
Interviewed regarding his experiences Costello said that on the night of August 25th his Company had a forced march of 22 miles round a village which had been fired by the Germans, and next day took up position on elevated ground. As they were digging trenches the enemy commenced firing at 5 in the morning. About 3 hours later he was struck in the right shoulder with a Maxim bullet. He crawled about for nearly an hour and was then placed in a private carriage which had been commandeered. For 2-days he was driven in this vehicle and for another 25 hours travelled by train to Rouen, where the bullet was extracted 3 days after he was hit.
"When you come under fire for the first time said Costello you feel a bit nervous just at first but you'll soon get over that and want to have a "do" at the enemy. All the Wednesday morning, Captain Woodman of the Fusiliers, was standing in an exposed position directing our fire and to me it seemed marvellous how he escaped being hit by the Germans. Indeed our Men concluded that he was one of those who are fated not to be hit."
From a newspaper circa Oct 1914: FIRED 200 ROUNDS.
A thrilling story of British soldiers doings at Mons and Cambrai is told by Private John Costello, of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, returned to his home in Moseley Street Burnley, on Tuesday evening on sick leave.
To our Burnley Express reporter yesterday, Costello said he landed near Mons on Tuesday, August 25th, and got under fire in the afternoon in the trenches. At 7 at night they were ordered to do a forced march, the man thinking they were intended to lead the Germans into a trap. They had to go 22 miles around the village which had been fired by the Germans. On the march four regiments got lost three times. It had been intended that they should have been on the top of a hill during the night, and got trenches ready, so as to be ready for an attack at dawn. Through being lost, it was daylight before they got there are and they discovered that the Germans had already arrived and taken the Rangers and positions. "They let go" he said "at us when we were in our shirt sleeves prepared for digging trenches." when the Germans began firing, they threw on their coats and equipment as best they could. When the affair open, the German Infantry were not far off, and later their machine guns were about 350 yards away. About 8 o'clock in the evening the order was given that there were to retire. They got about 15 yards out of the trench when somebody said: "stay where you are," and as he was turning back he got hit by a Maxim bullet.
" After this" he said," I was crawling about for nearly three quarters of an hour." Some Irish Fusiliers came up in skirmishing order, and I asked the officer where the ambulance was. He could not tell me, but he told me to stay where I was until he came back. I had been where he was going, and as he was not compelled to come back, I did not stay there. Then I got into a lane where some of our men and retired. It took me to a private carriage which had been....
From the Burnley Express dated 21st July 1915: THOUGHT TO BE DEAD. TRANSFERRED FROM FRANCE TO THE DARDANELLES.
It is feared that Private John Costello of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, has been killed in action at the Dardanelles. This information has been received by his grandmother who resides at 54 Moseley Street Burnley. In a letter just received by Mrs Heaton, 13 Bamford Street Burnley from her son Lance Corporal Heaton of the East Lancs Territorials, the writer states that he saw Costello buried and the latter’s relatives believe the official notification of the death has not come to hand owing to the fact that Costello's father recently changed his address in Yorkshire. A Burnley Express representative saw the name of Private J Costello among the killed in a casualty list of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, but the list stated that the soldier belonged to the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, whereas Costello was in the 2nd Battalion when he left this country.
Before being sent to the Dardanelles he had an exciting experience of warfare in France, being in the fighting at Mon's on August 25th. On the following day he was wounded at Cambrin a maxim bullet entering his right shoulder. Upon his return home he was interviewed by an Express reporter and said: "when you come under fire for the first time you feel a bit nervous just at first, but you soon get over that, and want to have a do at the enemy."
Private Costello who was only nineteen years of age, was an excellent swimmer and won the St Mary's RC School shield at Burnley on three occasions. His father has just joined the army.
Lived at 54 Moseley Street.
John was buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Gallipoli: Special Memorial B.18.