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John Secombe |
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Age
28
Married Private
203849 Killed
in action on
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John was born and
raised in Furness Vale, Cheshire before moving to live with his sister at
27 Pendle Street West, Sabden. Having
served his time as a printer, John began work in Sabden at Messrs Steiner
and Company Printworks. John had previously
been in the Whaley Bridge Territorials and, as he was an excellent rifle
shot, he had represented them in competitions at Bisley. John was a keen
sportsman having run for the Disley Harriers. He also played cricket for
New Mills and was a superb billiard player.
At the outbreak of the war John immediately went to Burnley to
enlist but was refused due to an injury he had received whilst running.
John applied a further three times and each time was refused. He
then went to Buxton, Derbyshire where his father was able to use his
influence and John was accepted in to the Sherwood Forresters.
Before going out to France in late 1915, he married Eleanor and
they set up home at Hillcrest, Bramhall Lane, Davenport, Stockport.
In mid 1916 John was severely wounded and, suffering from shell
shock, he returned home to recover. In March 1918 John was well enough to return to the front line in France. Just over a month later his wife received official notice that he was missing in action. Eighteen months on
John’s remains were discovered in an isolated battlefield grave in the
Aveluy Wood area. These were
exhumed and John is now buried at Aveluy Wood Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart,
Somme, France. In Sabden he has been remembered on both the School and Church Plaques. |
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