Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Rifleman 16940 John Benjamin Sandham

Age: 21
From: Liverpool
Regiment: 6th Kings
Died on Sunday 1st September 1918
Commemorated at: Queant Road Cem
Panel Ref: I.D.23

John Benjamin was born on 16th October 1896, the son of James Sandham and his wife Charlotte Ann (nee Brown). He was baptised on 01st November 1896 in Liverpool but no church is given. His parents married in 1887 at St Mary's Church, Bootle.

On the 1901 census the family are living at 38 Tetlow Street, Kirkdale. His father James is a 42 year old cotton foreman born in Liverpool, whilst his mother Charlotte A. is 38 years of age and was born in Pembroke. They have five children in the household all born in Liverpool, Thomas J. is 13, Arthur is 8, Ethel M. 6, John B. 4, and Florrie 2.

On the 1911 census the family are still living at 38 Tetlow Street. John's father James is a 52 year old cotton foreman, mother Charlotte A. is 49. THey have been married for 24 years and have had 6 children, 5 of whom have survived. Thomas James is a 23year old grocers traveller, Arthur 18 is a cotton sample man, Ethel May 16 a cashier at cloth warehouse, John Benjamin 14 a brokers office boy, Florence 12 is at school. Also visitors from Pembroke, Arthur Evans 35 a cross channel master mariner and his wife Elizabeth Mary 35.

John was educated at Walton Lane School.

His father James died on 01st June 1914, aged 54.

He was remembered on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo of 01st June 1915:

SANDHAM - In memory of my dear husband, James Sandham, who died June 1, 1914. 38 Tetlow Street.

Prior to enlisting he was a Clerk at a Liverpool Cotton Merchants.

He enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on 02nd September joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16940. He gave his age as

19 and 58 days, his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5' 2" tall, weight 116 lbs, with a 34" chest. He had a sallow complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Baptist. His next of kin was his mother Charlotte A., of 38 Tetlow Street.

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.

Whilst at Belton Park he was admitted to Grantham Hospital with pneumonia on 23rd August 1915 for 37 days..

On 07th November 1915 he embarked for France.

02nd September 1916 he was awarded good conduct badge for 2 years service

In January 1917 he had several visits to Field Ambulance and Casulaty Clearing Stations suffering from impetigo

01st July 1917 he was granted proficiency class 1 pay

From 08-19th September 1917 John was on leave to the U.K.

He was posted to the 2/6th King's on 27th May 1918.

John was killed in action on the 01st September 1918, aged 21.

"On 1st September 1918 the 171st Brigade received orders to attack and capture Reincort with the 52nd Division attacking on the South.

This attack was made by 2/6th King's leap frogging through the 8th King's and 2/7th King's on their left and was completely successful, all objectives being gained.

The Operations were made the subject of a Special Congratulatory message from the Divisional Commander and the Commanding Officers of all 3 Battalions pay special tribute to the spirit of determination shown by the men and the skill of the subordinate Commanders.

The Casualties were by the 2/6th = One Officer killed, 3 Officers wounded and 114 other Ranks Casualties

Amongst the captures made by the 3 Battalions were 650 Prisoners, 100 Machine Guns and One Field Gun"

He now rests at Queant Road Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"INTO THE SUNSHINE OF GOD'S PERFECT DAY. THE GOD HE LOVED AND SERVED"

Buissy was reached by the Third Army on 2 September 1918, after the storming of the Drocourt-Queant line, and it was evacuated by the Germans on the following day. Queant Cemetery was made by the 2nd and 57th Casualty Clearing Stations in October and November 1918. It then consisted of 71 graves (now Plot I, Rows A and B), but was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when 2200 graves were brought in from the battlefields of 1917-1918 between Arras and Bapaume, and from the following smaller burial grounds in the area:- BARALLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY BRITISH EXTENSION, which was made in September 1918, contained the graves of 25 soldiers from the United Kingdom; and the GERMAN EXTENSION, from which two graves were brought. CAGNICOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, contained the grave of one soldier from the United Kingdom who fell in September 1918. LAGNICOURT (6th JAEGER REGIMENT) GERMAN CEMETERY, East of the village, contained 137 German graves and one British. NOREUIL BRITISH CEMETERIES No.1 and No.2. These were close together, about 400 metres North of Noreuil village. They were made in April-August 1917, and they contained the graves of 50 soldiers from Australia and 16 from the United Kingdom (some of these were re-buried in H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein). NOREUIL GERMAN CEMETERY No.1, next to Noreuil Australian Cemetery, contained 78 German graves and ten British. PRONVILLE GERMAN CEMETERY "near the Cave", on the Western outskirts of Pronville, contained 17 British graves. PRONVILLE GERMAN CEMETERY No.4, South of Pronville on the road to Beaumetz, contained 83 German and 83 British graves (52 of the British being those of soldiers of the Black Watch). PROVILLE CHURCHYARD, contained two British graves. There are now 2,377 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,441 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 56 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 26 casualties buried in German cemeteries in the neighbourhood, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Charlotte A.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 12th September 1918:

SANDHAM - September 1, killed in action in his 22nd year, Rifleman J. B. SANDHAM (Jack) K.L.R., the very dearly-loved youngest son of the late James and Mrs Sandham, 38 Tetlow Street, Walton.

His kindly ways and happy smile pleasant to recall.

He nobly did his duty - died a hero for us all.

- Sadly missed by his Mother, sisters Ethel and Flo, Brothers Tom and Arthur (in France), Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law.

John Benjamin is also commemorated on the family headstone at Anfield Cemetery where the headstone shows:

Also RIFLEMAN JOHN BENJAMIN
(2/6 RIFLES LATE 2ND PALS)
DEARLY BELOVED YOUNGEST SON OF
JAMES AND C A SANDHAM,
KILLED IN ACTION SEPT 1ST 1918,
BURIED AT REINCOURT SEPT 3RD
IN HIS 22ND YEAR.
HIS HAPPY SMILE AND KINDLY WAYS,
ARE PLEASANT TO RECALL,
HE NOBLY DID HIS DUTY,
AND WAS BELOVED BY ALL.

John Benjamin is commemorated on the Liverpool Cotton Association Memorial, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool.

His mother passed away on 07th August 1936.

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

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 22nd April 1917.
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(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
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