Private John Francis Durkin. 

5888 2nd East Lancashire Regiment. 

Killed in Action 12th March 1915, aged 30.

John was born in the March quarter 1885,Burnley. The son of Thomas Durkin and Sarah Ann Pendleton. In the 1891 census the family lived at 24 Crowther St, Burnley. Thomas 34 builder’s labourer, born in Ireland, Sarah Ann 33 born in Haslingden, Mary Ellen 8, John Francis 6, Annie 1, all born in Burnley. Father in law John Pendleton 67, Margaret Pendleton sister in law 26, Eliza Simpson 30 lodger, Robert Simpson 10 and Edward Simpson 9.

In the 1901 census the family had moved to 40 Milton St, Burnley. Thomas 45, Sarah44, Mary Ellen 18, John Francis 16, Maggie 14, Annie 11, Genevieve 8, Herbert 4 and lodger Edward McLoughlin 27. All living in 4 rooms.

John married Eliza Barber in the June quarter of 1906, Burnley.

In the 1911 census the family was still living at 40 Milton St. Sarah 54, Genevieve 18, Herbert 14, John 26 builders labourer and married to Eliza 22, their daughter Evelyn and Ann Hunter 27 daughter of Sarah and Thomas. John’s parents had been married 31 years and had had 8 children 2 of whom had died. John and Eliza had another child named after his father, born in 1915.

From the Burnley Express 24th March 1915:

Boer War Veteran in Queens Lancers. Buried at the back of the firing line at Neuve-Chapel le by his friend Cpl Frank Windle of Burnley. No c/be 11226.

John left his effects to his widow Eliza. Lived at 59 Tentre Street.

John Francis is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France: Panel 18.