Lance/Corporal John Lavelle.
17751 9th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
Killed in Action 20th September 1917. Aged 27.
(John’s brother Joseph died from wounds 25th Sept 1915)
John was born on the 28th May 1890 in Ormskirk, Lancs. The son of James Lavelle and Elizabeth Garretty. In the 1891 census the family lived at 3 Court St, Burscough St, Ormskirk. James 24 miner, Elizabeth 21, and John 10 months all were born in Ormskirk.
By the 1901 census the family had moved to 157 Park Rd, St Helens, Lancs. James 35, Elizabeth 32, Catherine 11, John 10, Joseph 7, Mary 4 and Ruth 3 months.
John served in the Royal Navy from the 25 May 1907 until he was invalided out on the 31 Dec 1912. He served on numerous ships including Ganges II, London, Vivid I, Donegal, Monmouth, Andromeda and the Royal Arthur.
John was posted to France 1st June 1915.
From the Burnley Express dated 6th October 1917: SECOND SON LOST.
A large number of friends will sympathize with Mrs Lavelle of 85 Ardwick Street Burnley, in the loss she has sustained by the death in action, about 20th September, of her son Lance Corporal John Lavelle of the Scottish Rifles. This makes the third member of the family who has died since the commencement of the war. On 25th September 1915, her son Private Joseph Lavelle of the 9th Scottish Rifles, fell at Loos, and her husband Mr James Lavelle a well-known steeplejack, was accidentally killed while following his work at Messr's Vickers Wagon Works Lancaster.
The loss of her second son is announced in a letter received from Private Blakey son of the landlord of the Turf Hotel Burnley, who states that his friend was shot through the head. The unfortunate soldier joined the army on January 15th of the present year. He having previously served 6 years in the Navy during which he had the misfortune to lose an eye by accident. Lance Corporal Lavelle was 27 years of age and leaves a wife and one child, who reside at Burnbank Hamilton Scotland. Previous to joining up he was a spinner at New Hall Mill Burnley. Several members of this patriotic family are still serving.
In religious life Lance Corporal Lavelle was identified with St Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Lived at 85 Ardwick Street.
John left his effects to Alice Padden. (one tree on Ancestry has Alice Padden as the wife of his brother Joseph, but I cannot find any trace of this marriage and it also gives his children as Mary Ruth born in 1914 and Anne Nora born in 1915, but their mother’s maiden name was Green).
John is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium: Panels 68 to 70.
