Pte 47034 John Edward Kelsey

 

In 1911 the only John Edward Kelsey born in Liverpool, is found, aged 16, as a farm labourer, an inmate at the County Reformatory for Boys in Weston Under Wetherley, near Leamington, Warwickshire. (The boys cultivated the land and were taught trades.). A search of records and newspapers has not turned up the reason why he was sent to reform school.

John enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22754. He gave his age as 20 years and 339 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5 foot 3 inches tall, weighing 108lbs, 34” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his mother Margaret, of 7 Grantham Street, Kensington. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham.
 
John's service papers display the fact that he moved around from Battalion to Battalion and indeed changed Regiment in the process. 

20/05/15 Depot


15/02/16 1st Garrison Battalion Manchester Regiment

29/04/16 Royal Defence Corps

12/12/16 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment

12/01/17 to France with 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment

21/08/17 Gunshot wound Thigh 

28/08/17 Returned to UK

29/08/17 Depot

13/12/17 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment
16/01/18 to France 

19/01/18 2/10 Battalion Manchester Regiment

14/02/18 1/8 Battalion Manchester Regiment

 

John was declared wounded and missing on 26th March, 1918 during the opening phase of the German spring offensive. His name appeared in the list of Wounded published in the Weekly Casualty List on 14th May 1918.

His wife contacted the International Red Cross in hopes that John had been taken prisoner. She received a reply dated 15th July 1918 stating that they held no information. 

The Hampshire Telegraph of 10th May 1918 contained a plea for information about John from his wife:

A HUSBAND'S WHEREABOUTS

Mrs J. E. Kelsey, of 37 Wykeham Road, North End, Portsmouth, writes to ask any wounded soldier of the Manchester Regt., who may be in hospital in Portsmouth, to forward to her at the above address, news which may lead to the finding of the whereabouts of her husband, J. E. Kelsey, Lewis gunner, Manchester Regt., who was reported wounded on March 26th this year, and of whom no further news can be obtained. Mrs Kelsey would visit anyone unable to call upon her.

He was eventually declared killed in action on 26th March, 1918 when the Army posted that they assumed such on 01st August, 1918.

Jack'ss body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France. He was 24 years of age and served in ‘A’ Company, 1st Platoon.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

 

His widow Mabel, living at 37 Wykeham Road, c/o Mrs. Ashwood, received his Army effects of £21-2s-4d and a War Gratuity of £19-10s.  She was awarded a pension of 13/9d a week from November 1918. 

Mabel remarried in 1920 in Hartlepool. Her address on the Service paper amendment  shows initially as 37 Wykeham Road, North End, Portsmouth. This was then altered to 47 Thornville Road,  West Hartlepool. She wrote to the War Office on 11th March, 1921 stating that the Memorial plaque for her husband had not been recieved. Her address at this time was 5 Sheriff Street, West Hartlepool. 

 

Probate was granted in 1933, giving John’s address as 42 Morden Street, Liverpool. His effects of £300 went to Mabel Adeline Peel, wife of Ralph Peel. The reason for the long delay in granting probate can only be surmised. Perhaps a delay was necessary when the deceased was missing, with no proof of death.

 

His brother Harry enlisted in the Loyal North Lancs in 1904 when he was 18 but was discharged in under three months as not likely to become an efficient soldier. 

His brother Roger (Richard) served in the Labour Corps during the war.

His brother George died after a long illness in Birkenhead just days after John went missing, at the age of 34, on 04th April 1918.

His brother William died in 1923, aged 32, and another brother Maurice died later that year.  
 

His mother died in 1932, aged 75, having lost her husband and four of her six sons. She was buried with her husband in West Derby Cemetery.

 

Mabel never had children; she died in Hartlepool in 1961, aged 71.

 

John is commemorated in the Church of the Ascension, Portsea, Hampshire.

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