Pte 16257 John Mullock

• Age: 18
• From: Egremont, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 20th January 1916
• Commemorated at: Carnoy Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: P.13

John Mullock was born on 27th January 1897 in Egremont, Cheshire, the eldest of two children born to Alfred and Margaret Haldane Mullock (nee Gibson) who had married 27th April 1896 at St Mary's Church, Walton. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 71 King Street, Liscard. John is 4 years of age and is living with his parents and younger sister. His father, Alfred, is a grocer born in Cheshire in 1870, whilst his mother, Margaret was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool in 1874. John's younger sister, Rachel, was born in 1898 also at Egremont. There is also a servant recorded in the household, 

His mother Margaret died in 1910 in Birkenhead. 

The 1911 Census shows the family still at the same address and his father is now a widower, living with his son and daughter. John is now 14 and at school. His sister, Rachel is 13 and also at school. Again there is a servant listed in the household.     

John enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31^st August 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16257. He gave his age as 19 years 5 months when he was in fact 17 years old, his place of birth as Egremont, Wirral and his employment as clerk. He was educated at Vaughan Road, Higher Elementary School and was employed by Joseph Bibby. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

John was killed in action just 2 months later, shot in the head whilst on sentry duty. He was killed during the Battalion’s posting to the Somme line near Carnoy on the 20th January 1916. He was 18 years of age and just a week short of his 19th birthday. 

John now rests at Carnoy Military cemetery, France.

The cemetery was begun in August 1915, by the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, when the village was immediately South of the British front line. It continued in use by troops holding this sector until July 1916, when Field Ambulances came up and a camp was established on the higher ground North of the village. It was closed in March 1917. From March to August 1918, it was in German hands, and German (and a few British) graves were made between the British graves and the entrance, and also in a German Cemetery alongside; but the German graves and the German Cemetery were removed in 1924.

There are now over 850, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 30 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery covers an area of 4,441 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 28th January 1916:

Private John Mullock of the 2nd "Pals" was shot by a sniper when going on sentry duty. He was the only son of Mr.A.Mullock a wellknown Egremont tradesman, of 87 King-street, and was in his nineteenth year. He enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war, being then only seventeen and a half  years only. He was at the time employed at Messrs.Bibby 's Liverpool offices. He had been at the front since November.

The Wallasey News gave the following report on 29th January 1916:

Killed on Duty   Egremont "Pal" in action  Glowing Tribute

The greatest sympathy will be extended to Mr. A. Mullock, of 87 King Street, Egremont, who received news on Wednesday evening that his only son, Private John Mullock, of the 2nd Battalion Liverpool Pals was killed in action on January 20th. Mr. Mullock, first received the sad tidings in a field postcard, and he has since had a letter from Captain. C.N. Brocklebank, the C.O. of No 1 Company, saying - 

I fear by the time you receive this letter you will have received the sad news about your dear son. He was killed instantaneously yeasterday by a bullet through the head when taking up his position as sentry in the trenches. I cannot tell you how much I as well as his platoon officer feel your son's death. He was one of the nicest boys imaginable, never giving the least bit of trouble and always a smile on his face and most popular with all his platoon. The one comfort is, he had no suffering whatever, and he died on duty, doing his duty to the end as cheerfully as he had always done. I offer you my sincere sympathy.Your son was buried tonight in the little cemetery behind the trenches and in due course you will receive official notice of the place, and the exact spot.

Lieutenant Eric Fitzbrown, in a letter also adds a tribute to Private Mullock, he writes:-

Captain Brocklebank, has I believe written to you already, so I know that I can pay no glowing tribute to your son's memory, who was without exception one of the most popular menin the company. I can only add my own personal tribute as well as that of his platoon to a man who by his unfailing cheerfulness and courage under all circumstances had made himself an invaluable member of his company.

A comrade who was also associated in business with the deceased in a letter to Mr. Mullock, writes:-

It is with the saddest of feelings that I send to you the deepest sympathies of the office staff of Bibby's out here, and of the many friends of dear Jack . . . Last Friday, I along with our platoon officer and another of Jack's intimate chum's attended the funeral. he was laid to rest in a cemetery close by the lines with a full burial service. He was one of the best fellows, and his memory will remain with us always.

Private Mullock enlisted after the outbreak of war, was previously a clerk in the firm of Joseph Bibby, of Liverpool. He was educated at Vaughan Road Higher Elementary School.        

John’s death was reported in the Liverpool Echo dated 27th January 1916 

-  Killed in Action – MULLOCK – January 20^th killed in action in France age 19 years, John Mullock 2^nd Battalion Liverpool “Pals”.  Only loved son of Mr A Mullock 87 Kings Street Egremont (His duty done)

A notice was placed in Liverpool Echo dated 27th January 1918 recording what would have been his 21st Birthday: 

-  In Memoriam – MULLOCK – In everloving 21^st Birthday Rememberance  of John Mullcok (Jack) KLR killed in action Jan 20 1916 in France.  The dearly beloved only son of Alfred and the late Margaret Mullock, King Street, Wallasey.  (His Duty done)  Never forgotten by Day, Ray and Nurse.

John is also commemorated on the J. Bibby and Sons War Memorial, Cargill Brocklebank Mill & Refinery, Regent Road, Bootle.

His father Alfred died 8th November 1929  and his probate states Alfred of 87a King Street, Wallasy last seen alive 8th November 1929, dead body found 9th November 1929. Probate was granted to William Penn Doyle, shipping clerk £162.12.6d (Husband of Rachel) 

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