Private John Myerscough.
8081 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.
Died 25th April 1916, aged 30.
War memorial Chapelstown Sheffield
John was born in the March quarter of 1885 in Burnley. The son of Thomas Myerscough and Mary Moss. In the 1891 census the family were living at 15 Dale St West, Horwich, Westhoughton. Thomas 28 iron moulder born in Liverpool, Mary 30 born in Preston, John 6, Lily 3 both born in Burnley and Ellen 3 months born in Manchester.
The family obviously moved around a lot, with the children being born in different places and again in the 1901 census they had moved to 18 Livesey Branch Rd Blackburn. Mary 40 weaver, John 16 creeler, Lily 13, Nelly 10 and Thomas 4.
John married Mary Elizabeth Harris nee Laycock, in the Dec quarter of 1909 in Wortley, Leeds.
In the 1911 census they were living Mary’s father, William Laycock at Howbrook, High Green, Nr. Sheffield. John 26 miner, Mary Eliz. 19, and Bertha 4 months.
Below is a letter sent to the wonderful website “WWW.burnley inthegreatwar.info”
"Hello Andrew , can I relate a story about the above for the last few years, I have been researching the families of those on our WW1 memorial,& have got stuck on some who I can't relate to a local family . One of the names on our tablet is G Myerscough.it was only when I decided to take a new digital photo of the memorial of the Chapeltown parish , of which we were a part until 1925 that I noticed Myerscough's initial was J ! Obviously someone had given the wrong info to the engravers.
Going back to the CWGC site I found there were only 3 J.Myerscough's - 2 Johns & a Joseph. although the initial info was Lancashire linked, I went back to our local paper, the S. Yorks Times, which has been a mine of info on our WW1 soldiers. & immediately came up with the attached cuttings. John had obviously left the mills of Burnley for the mines of Yorkshire, as the 1911 census shows him as a lodger with a fellow miner in a local hamlet , Howbrook, having married a local girl ,& joined the WMC., the cuttings are from Feb/ March 1915, so he must have recovered & gone back in service as he died 1st April 1916.
Hope this finds a corner in your archives, perhaps you could pass it on to your FHS as info on a stray, any news cuttings from your local press , particularly a photo, would be welcome regards Edward"
(courtesy of Edward Bellamy, archivist at St Saviours Church, High Green, Sheffield)
From the South Yorkshire Times February 1915.
Private John Myercough of the East Lancashire Regiment, who was on the reserve list at the Outbreak of the War, and was with the Expeditionary Force at Mon's, was wounded while fetching ammunition. He is now in hospital at Birmingham, this makes the third member of the High Green W.M.C. who has been wounded in the war. The other two are Private A Darwin and Lance Corporal J A Wadsworth. All are in hospital in England.
From The South Yorkshire Times March 1915.
On Saturday evening a pleasant ceremony took place at the High Green Working Men's Club. "A welcome home fund" has been organised by the members, the object of which is to provide grants to members of the club who are invalid home from the front or member’s home from the firing line on a few weeks furlough. A short time ago Private John Myerscough of the East Lancashire Regiment, who went out with the first Expeditionary Force, sustained a broken foot. He was sent over to England, where he lay in hospital at Birmingham for a few weeks. On Friday he was invalid home to High Green for a short period. He was presented with £2 by Dr T W Norton, being the first to receive a grant out of the fund.
From The Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 28th April 1916: VICTIM OF ENTERIC.
Mrs J Myerscough of Howbrook, High Green, has received news that her husband Private John Myerscough, of the East Lancs, has died in hospital from enteric fever. Private Myerscough had recently been home on leave for a few days only returning a week last Saturday. During the time he was at home he complained of feeling unwell. He had seen a great deal of fighting. He was a reservist when the war broke out. He sustained a broken foot owing to falling off and ammunition wagon, when he had been at the front 6 months. After lying in hospital and number of weeks he was invalided home for a period. To the war he worked as a detailer at the Wharnliffe Silkstone Colliery. He was an esteemed member of the High Green Working Men's Club and during the time he was invalid home he received a grant of £2 out of the "Welcome Home" fund. He leaves a widow and three children.
From The Sheffield Daily Independent dated 28th April 1916: HIGH GREEN SOLDIERS DEATH.
Mrs J Myerscough of Highbrook, High Green, has received news that her husband Private John Myerscough, East Lancashire Regiment, has died from enteric fever. Private Myerscough had seen a great deal of fighting, leaving England with his regiment shortly after the Outbreak of War. He leaves a widow and three children.
From the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 25th May 1916:
The members of the High Green Working Men's Club have decided to open a fund for the Widow and children of Private J Myerscough. Private Myerscough recently died from enteric fever, after seeing a good deal of fighting at the front. He was in the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, Sergeant George W Dixon of Worthley Road, High Green, who is serving at the front with the York and Lancaster Regiment, has sent a 20 Francs note towards the fund.
Born in Burnley, lived in Blackburn.
John left his effects to his widow Mary.
John was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France: Grave Ref; I.M.14A. Husband of Mary Eliza Myerscough, of "Bella Vista" 55, Abbey Rd., Highfield Rd., South Shore, Blackpool.