Private John Lavin.
16985 7th East Lancashire Regiment.
Killed in Action 21st July 1916. Aged 30.
John was born in Burnley. The son of Patrick Lavin and Catherine Quinlan. There is no trace of the family in either of the 1891 or 1901 census. It could be that John was in South Africa fighting in the Boer War in 1901.
In the 1911 census he is living with his mother Kate at 5 Pitt St, Burnley and his occupation is that of a Pavior. His mother who was 44 was born in Ireland and stated she was married and had been so for 26 years and had 6 children 4 of whom had died.
From the Burnley Express dated August 1917: AFTER THIRTEEN MONTHS.
Mrs. Lavin, of 5, Pitt-street, Burnley has received a message from the War Office regretfully presuming the death of her only son, Pte. (16985) John Lavin, who was in the 7th East Lancashire Regt., no news having been heard of him since he went into action at the Somme on July 21, 1916. The soldier, who was aged 30 years and single, served in the Boer War with the Manchester Regt., and he enlisted voluntarily on November 5, 1914, in one of the Kitchener battalions, going to France in 1915. He worked as a labourer for the tramway department, and attended St. Mary's R.C. Church and School. Two cousins, Pte. James McCarthy and Pte. Thos. McCarthy, were killed on July 6, 1915, at Ypres, and August 9, 1915, at the Dardanelles, and two other cousins, brothers of the McCarthy's killed have been wounded, the four brothers, by coincidence, all being in the East Lancashire Regt.
The soldiers father who lives in Healey Wood, was very much upset when he heard of the official news of his son’s death.
From the Burnley Express and Advertiser dated March 17, 1917: Family That Has Been Hard Hit. -- Two Brothers Killed, Two Wounded, Cousin Missing.
A family very hard hit by the war is that of the McCarthy's, one of whom as announced Wednesday's issue, has now been presumed dead, after being missing at the Dardanelles from August 9, 1915. It is a remarkable record of four brothers and a cousin. All were in the East Lancashire Regt. Two brothers have now been killed; one has lost his left eye but is still serving; whilst the cousin, Pte. Lavin, has been reported wounded and missing since July 1st last, and there are no hopes that he is alive, as nothing has been heard of him, either officially or otherwise since. The unmarried McCarthy brothers lived at 11, Leyland Road, and the cousin (the only cousin) resided with his widowed mother in Pitt Street. Two of the brothers, John and Thomas, and the cousin enlisted within three days of each other.
The eldest of the McCarthy brothers is Sergt. Michael, who is forty years of age. He served in the Boer War, and was a reservist when the present war began with the 3rd East Lancashire Regt. He was on going out attached to another battalion, and has been wounded twice -- once at Neuve Chapelle and once at Salonika. He has now been in hospital at Salonika for the past eight months. He is unmarried.
Denis McCarthy, the second brother, has been rejected for military service, but he is working munitions.
The third, Pte. James McCarthy, who was 33 years old at the time he was killed, was with the 1st East Lancashire Regiment, and previous to joining the Army worked at Cooper's Foundry. He was married. He was killed at Ypres on July 6th 1915. He was a reservist having been with the colours seven years. He went through the Boer War. He left three little children, and on his dead body was found a photograph of his wife and children.
John McCarthy, the fourth son who is 32 and married, and belongs to the 6th East Lancashire Regiment lost his left eye through a bullet wound received at the Dardanelles. He was just coming out of the trenches when he was hit. He was taken to a hospital at Port Said, and afterwards came to a hospital at Brockenhurst, Hants. Pte. John McCarthy is still serving, being at the headquarters at Plymouth. He was formerly a joiner's labourer.
The fifth brother, Thomas is now presumed to have been killed after being missing at the Dardanelles since August 9th 1915. He was 23 years of age then, and previously was employed at Rowley Colliery. At the time he was missing a comrade said he was wounded in the head and body, and then disappeared.
Their cousin, Pte. John Lavin, also of the East Lancashire Regiment was wounded and has been missing since July 1st. It is feared that he is dead.
The McCarthy family are connected with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Lived at 5 Pitt Street.
John left his effects to his mother Catherine.
John is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France: Pier and Face 6C
Photo courtesy of George Coppock, 2024