Private John Edward Tunney
Service Number: 55769
10th Bn. Welsh Regiment (1st Rhondda)
Killed in Action 4th September 1917, aged 19
Son of John Edward & Lily Tunney, 35 Ivy Street, Burnley
From the Burnley Express dated 27th October 1917: YOUNG TRAM CONDUCTOR. Killed at 19 Years of Age.
Mr. John E. Tunney of 35 Ivy Street, Burnley, has been informed officially that his son, Pte. John Edward Tunney, 55769, Welsh Regiment, was killed in action on the 4th September. He was only 19 years of age on June 10th last, and enlisted when 18 years of age in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. He went out to France at the beginning of July this year, and, being a Lewis gunner, he was transferred to the Welsh Regiment. He started work in Burnley for the Corporation Tramways Department as a messenger at Burnley, Padiham and Nelson respectively, also as a car cleaner on nights in the Queensgate Depot. As his turn came round, he was promoted to tram conductor, which position he held when joining the forces in 1916. He has ten uncles serving, and his father was formerly a trooper in the Royal Horse Guards (Blue). The deceased young man attended St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Ivy Street.
Captain James has written, and after saying that Pte. Tunney was killed by a German shell adds: - "He was one of my Lewis gunners, and had not been with me long, but he had soon attracted my attention with his general smartness on parade. He was a most attractive boy and immensely popular with his comrades, and I was more sorry than I can express to lose him. That same evening we moved up to the front line, where we had a very rough time, which is probably the reason why his platoon commander did not write to you himself; and we were none of us able to attend his burial, unfortunately, because we had to reinforce the front line at short notice. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your loss and my assurances of the gallant way in which your son conducted himself in most difficult circumstances".
Buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium: IV. E. 41