Pte 303045 John Valentine Green

• Age: 23
• From: Wavertree, Liverpool
• Regiment: 1/7 LANCS FUSIL
• Died on Monday 22nd July 1918
• Commemorated at: Bertrancourt Military Cemetery
  Panel Ref: 2.E.35

John Valentine Green was born in Wavertree, Liverpool on the 14th February 1895. He was the son of Thomas Green and his wife Sarah (nee Hewitt). He was baptised at All Saints Church, Stoneycroft on the 14th April 1895. The family were then residing at 13 Duoro Place.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 12 Rathbone Road. His father Thomas is shown as born in Liverpool in 1854 and his occupation is as a Foreman on the Railways. His mother Sarah was born in Prescot in 1858. He has two elder brothers Thomas Joshua and William. 

By 1911 the family are living at 176 Rathbone Road. Both parents are still living and all three boys are at home. John who is now 16 is working for a paint manufacturer.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23018. At some point, probably having been wounded, he was transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers. His medical records show he was admitted to 139th Field Ambulance on the 06th October 1917 and transferred to the 1/3 East Lancs Field Ambulance on the 09th October 1917 and discharged to rest.

John was killed in action on 22nd July 1918 with the 1/7th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, aged 23, and now rests at Bertrancourt Military Cemetery in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"TIME CHANGES MANY THINGS BUT HIS FOND MEMORY CLINGS FOREVER".

The cemetery was used by field ambulances in 1916 and 1917 and again by corps and divisional burial parties in the critical months of June, July and August 1918, when German advances brought the front line to within 8 kilometres of Bertrancourt.

There are 416 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery. Many of the graves are of Yorkshire or Lancashire regiments.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

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