John Abershaw 1896-1916

Barnsley Chronicle 16 September 1916 (with thanks to Barnsley Archives)

Born:
1896 in Barnsley

Son of:
James Abershaw b.1867 Barnsley (Packing Case Maker in 1911)
married at St Mary's Barnsley on 25 December 1890 to
Lily (maiden name Nixon) b.1871 Barnsley (worked for Bobbin Manufacturer in 1911)

Position in family: The fourth of 8 children
1. Ada Abershaw b.1890
2. Elizabeth Ann Abershaw b.1891
3. Herbert Abershaw b.1894  WW1 SERVICE  2nd Yorks & Lancs
4. John Abershaw b.1896 WW1 KILLED
5. Lily Abershaw b.1899
6. Emily Abershaw b.1903
7. James Abershaw b.1907  Served in WW2
8. Harry Abershaw b.1912   Served in WW2

Home address, age and occupation:
1901: 4 Ct 13 Shambles Street, Barnsley age 4
1911: 15 North Pavement, Barnsley age 14 Errand Boy
1915 (on enlistment): 10 Sovereign Yard, Westgate, Barnsley Colliery Worker
 
Marriage: He was unmarried

Military Service:
Enlisted: 8 July 1915 under age
Regiment and Battalion:    York and Lancaster Regiment  1st/5th Battalion
Service number and rank:  5/4187 Private
Entered Theatre of War: 13 March 1916
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Death:     Killed in Action 12 August 1916 aged 19
CWGC Remembered: Theipval Memorial in France

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission: 
Son of James and Lily Abershaw, of 10, Sovereign Yard, Westgate, Barnsley.

Remembered:
St Mary's Combined Memorial  Panel 1 

Links & Notes:

Lives of the First World War 
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
 
Much of the preceding information was supplied by John's great-niece Anne and niece Annie Arnold who are happy to be contacted via us about this soldier.  Anne also included some additional family information which follows:

"My great uncle was Private John Abershaw 4187 who served in 1st/5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment.  He enlisted by lying about his age.  
He was the 4th of 8 children born to Lydia (nee Nixon) and James Abershaw who lived at 10 Sovereign Yard, Westgate, Barnsley.  John was born in 1896 and was educated locally and was working at a local coal mine when he enlisted under age on 8th July 1915.

His elder brother Herbert (born 1894) also served in the York and Lancaster Regiment enlisting on 3 September 1914 and although he suffered injuries to his foot and was gassed (mustard gas) he served until the his discharge on 18 December 1919 and was awarded the Silver War Badge.

John's 2 younger brothers James (born 1907) and Harry (born 1912) served in the Second World War.  James was a guard at Nuremburg and Harry suffered severe leg injuries whilst manning a gun during one of the air raids on Coventry.
John had 2 older sisters - Ada (born 1890) and Elizabeth Ann (known in the family as Fan - born 1891), and 2 younger sisters Lily (born 1899) and Emily (born 1903).  I am Lily's granddaughter." 

Anne has also sent us a transcription of a piece from the Sheffield Evening Telegraph dated 8 September 1916.

Barnsley Casualties
Further Barnsley and district heroes who have given their lives in the war include the following: - Two life long chums in the persons of Private William Cassell (18) and Private John Abershaw (19) Y & L of Westgate, Barnsley, who attended the same school, joined the local Territorials and went to France together to fall in the same action.

 William Cassell is also remembered on St Mary's War Memorial.