Private John Durkin.
5169 Royal Army Medical Corps.
Died of Sickness contracted as a prisoner 4th May 1918, aged 26.
John was born in the Sept quarter, 1891, Burnley. The son of Thomas and Mary Durkin. In the 1901 census the family lived at 1 Park St Burnley. Thomas 40 Mason, Stone Walling, Mary 38, John 9, Martin 4, Patrick 2 all born in Burnley, along with 3 boarders.
In the 1911 census John was already in the RAMC and stationed in York, Yorkshire.
Army Record: John was in the RAMC previous to the Great War, having signed on the 1st Aug 1910. His next of kin at that time were is father and Mother and they lived at 4 Edward ST, Burnley. He passed his Semaphore Signalling course in Newcastle 13th March 1911.
He was mobilised on the outbreak of the war and posted to the 19th Field Ambulance and immediately sent to France. He was at Mons and on the retreat from Mons fell ill. John was captured on the 26th Aug 1914 and taken to Sennelager. There he was exposed to severe hardships and privations. In the Feb of 1915 he complained of debility. He was found to be suffering from Diabetes, his weight fell from 11st 7lbs to 6st 7lbs. He was exchanged and arrived at Aldershot in the June of 1915. He spent a long spell in Queen Mary’s hospital. Whalley from 22 July 1915 until 18 July 1916. He was discharged from the army on the 1st Aug 1916 as no longer medically fit to serve.
John married Margaret Jane Sutcliffe in the Sept. quarter of 1916, Burnley.
From the Burnley Express dated 8th May 19115: KEEPING HIM ALIVE. –PARCELS TO BURNLEY PRISONER OF WAR.
Mr and Mrs M Durkin of Fort Edward Street Burnley. Have this week received a letter from their son private John Durkin 5169 of The RAMC, who since the Battle of Mons has been a prisoner of war in Germany. The letter dated April 5th is from the second old English camp at Sennelager and reads "just another card hoping you are in the best of health. The parcels you send are keeping me alive. Only for them I would have been a "doner". I enjoyed the rabbit very much. It made a nice feed for us. I know it will be hard for you as things stand, but do your best, and I shall not forget you when I come home. Don't - (hear two lines have been blacked out by the German sensor). That will be all this time. Goodnight and god bless you all."
Private Durkin belongs to a family who have responded splendidly to the country's call. He was called up on the reserve at the beginning of the war. His brother Martin is in the RAMC of kitchener's army. Peter Walton a stepbrother, of the East Lancs, has been at the front and had two fingers blown off and is now on home service. Patrick Durkin aged 15, set off to join the army and his parents had to fetch him back. Nothing would have pleased the only other brother, Tom Durkin, better than serving his King and Country, but he is a cripple and unable to enlist. Messrs W Hanson and Sons by whom he is employed, are short-handed on account of their men and enlisting. From the marine stores eight or nine men have gone into the army, and over 20 from the Bottle works.
From the Burnley Express dated 29th May 1915: NO NEWS FOR MONTHS. - PRISONER WANTS FOOD PARCELS.
Missing since soon after Mon's, it's now transpires that Private John Durkin of the are RAMC of Edward Street Burnley, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a reservist and was called up at the beginning of the War, and was reported missing early on. The family could get no news of him for nearly 8 months, letters being returned and definite information being obtainable. It was April before news of him came in the shape of a postcard from the second old English camp Sennelager, via Paderborne Germany.
In his postcards Private Durkin infurs a lack of food. Writing on April 5th he wrote "Dear father and mother, just another card hoping you are still keeping in the best of health. The parcels you send me are keeping me alive. Only for them I would have been a doner." part of the message has been obliterated.
On April 25th he wrote to say he was in good health but he asks for food but no clothing. "every time we receive a parcel here we have a tea party. It cheers our hearts up very much."
"I am always in waiting for something to eat so you must not be afraid to send plenty." he again rights "I am feeling in fairly good health and I hope everything will be over shortly."
His latest card says he received a letter dated April 19th but we cannot write as soon as we receive them so you must not expect a card from me every week. We have certain days to write on, and I shall write to you every possible chance I get. I shall receive all your parcels. Send a loaf of bread in every one and put in as much as you can. Send a little currant loaf now and then.
John left his effects to his widow Margaret and they lived at 4 Edward Street.
John was buried in St. John's Churchyard, Read, England: Grave Ref; 38. Son of Thomas and Mary Durkin, of Burnley; husband of Margaret Jane Thorpe (formerly Durkin), of Scottsdale, Tasmania.
