Cpl 22808 John Peters

• Age: 28
• From: Neston, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

John Peters was born in Neston in the December quarter of 1889 and was the son of John and Ellen (nee Murray) Peters who were married in 1879 at St Mary, Birkenhead. He was baptised on the 27th December 1889 also in Neston.

The 1891 Census shows the family living in Leighton, Nr. Neston, Cheshire. John's father, John, is aged 30, a fisherman, mother Ellen is aged 29, children Sarah aged 11 a scholar, Richard aged 9 a scholar, Margaret aged 7 a scholar, Mary aged 5, Henry aged 3, and John aged 1 (everybody born Neston).

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Parkgate, Neston cum Parkgate, Cheshire. His father, John, is aged 42, born in Parkgate in 1859 and is employed as a fisherman, his mother,  Ellen, is aged 40, born in Parkgate in 1861 and has no occupation listed. They have nine children in the household, who were all born in Parkgate; Richard aged 19, born 1882, Mary aged 15, born 1886, Henry aged 13, born 1888, John aged 11, Betsy aged 9, born 1892, Ellen aged 7, born 1894, Job aged 5, born 1896, Albert aged 3, born 1898 and James aged 1, born 1900.   

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Crosby House, Parkgate, Cheshire, Neston cum Parkgate, Cheshire. His father, John, is still employed as a fisherman, his mother, Ellen, is aged 50 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty one years and have had thirteen children. Those remaining in the household are shown as; Richard aged 28 is a fisherman assisting in the business as is John now aged 21, Betsy aged 19 and Ellen aged 17 have no occupation listed, Job aged 15 is also assisting in the business as a fisherman, Albert aged 13, James aged 11, Ethel aged 9, born 1900 and Christopher aged 6, born 1905 are at school. Their nephew William Peters aged 25, born 1886 in Parkgate is also employed as a fisherman assisting in the business.  

John enlisted on the 10th November 1914 at Liverpool and gave his age as 24 years and 11 months and his occupation as a fisherman. He had previously served with a Volunteer Regiment but had been discharged in 1908. His medical record in 1914 notes that he was five feet five and a quarter inches tall, weighed 132lb, was of fresh complexion, had green/blue eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. He had a 36-inch expanded chest and was of ‘good physical development’.

7.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

5.5.16: Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal.

23.6.16: Appointed paid Lance Corporal.

30.7.16: Shotgun wound to right thigh and sent to 36 Casualty Clearing Station.

31.7.16: To No 4 General Hospital.

13.12.16: Appointed Corporal.

3.2.17-13.2.17: Granted leave to the UK.

He was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 22808 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres(Passchendaele).

19^th Battalion

The 19^th Battalion started the day in Divisional Reserve but were called forward in the early morning of 31^st July and reached Maple Copse in late afternoon. It was originally detailed to continue with the morning’s attack but this was cancelled and they eventually relieved a Battalion of the 53^rd Brigade in the newly captured line, sustaining casualties from shell fire.

The Battalion was relieved on the night of 3^rd/4^th August.

Although not actively engaged in the assault the Battalion lost 26 men killed or died of wounds with four officers and 101 men wounded.    

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

John was reported wounded in the Chester Chronicle on 16th September 1916:

WOUNDED

Peters, 22808, L-Cpl J. (Parkgate);  

His brother Job (b.1896) served as Corporal 124644 Royal Engineers.

Soldiers Effects to father John, Pension to mother Ellen.

In April 1920 his mother wrote a letter to the authorities asking if an unknown soldier suffering from "loss of memory" was her son and which hospital he was in. They replied they had no further information and asked for a copy of the cutting in the "News of the World" regarding this unknown soldier.

His mother, Ellen, died aged 76 in the June quarter of 1936 and was buried in St Mary and St Helen, Neston.

His father, John, died aged 87 on the 30th July 1945.

Probate 1946:- PETERS - John of 4 Coast Guard Cottage, Parkgate, Cheshire died 30th July 1945 Administration (with Will) Llandudno 28th February to Albert Peters fishermen. Effects £918 9s 1d. 

We currently have no further information on John Peters, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.