John Metcalfe 1895 - 1916

John Metcalfe Barnsley Chronicle 24 June 1916

Born: In Q1 1895 in Barnsley. He was 
Baptized: on 26 Feb 1895 in Barnsley, St George, Yorkshire, England.

Son of:
John Metcalfe was born abt. 1859 in Ripon, Yorkshire, England and died in Q3 1906 in Barnsley, Yorkshire West Riding. 
In the 1901 census he was a Bobbin Maker living at 20 Sackville Street, Barnsley.
He was married in Barnsley, St Mary on 24 May 1884 to Sarah Jane Bexon who was born Q2 1864 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. She married John Greaves Smith born abt. 1864 in Lancashire, labourer, on 26 Dec 1907 in Barnsley.

Position in family: The 3rd of 5 natural siblings.
1    Ernest Metcalfe born 01 Feb 1889 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, baptised 10 Apr 1889 in Barnsley, St Mary, Yorkshire, England and died 14 Jul 1916 in France and Flanders WW1 KILLED
2    Jane Metcalfe born 05 Feb 1891 in Barnsley baptised 06 Sep 1891 in Barnsley, St Mary, Yorkshire, England
3    John Metcalfe born Q1 1895 in Barnsley baptised 26 Feb 1895 in Barnsley, St George, died on 31 May 1916 in France WW1 KILLED
4    Thomas Bexon Metcalfe born abt. 1901 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England
5    Martha Metcalfe born abt. 1897 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England
 
Home address, age and occupation:
1901: 20 Sackville Street, Barnsley, age 6. 
1911: Mount Vernon Road, Barnsley, age 16, Marble Maker.   

Marriage:    He was not married

Military Service:
Enlisted: Enlistment date estimated from gratuity payment, January 1915 age 20
Regiment and Battalion: York and Lancaster Regiment 14th service (2nd Barnsley Pals) Battalion
Service number and rank:  14/174 Private
Awards: British War Medal and Victory Medal

Death:     31 May 1916 aged 21
Buried at:     Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps
Grave Reference: I.F. 48

Remembered: 
Barnsley, Redfearn Brothers Glassworks & Aldham Works Memorial Tablet
Worsborough Combined Memorial, St Thomas And St James Church, Worsborough Dale  
 
Notes:
Lives of the First World War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Extract from the War Diary for 14th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment

In the Field 31st May:
Weather misty in morning, afterwards fine.
Enemy active with light guns & shrapnel over various parts of our sector, special attention being paid to the front line.
Enemby also very active with cannister bombs & rifle grenages.
Casualties 17 killed & 7 wounded.

Section of Trench Map showing area in front of Serre, where the 13th & 14th Y&L attacked on 1 July 1916
Blue lines are British trenches, Red lines are German trenches

This biography was submitted to the Barnsley War Memorials Project by Peter West in August 2016.