Pte 94245 John Entwistle

• Age: 19
• From: Salford,
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

John Entwistle was born in 1899 in Salford and was the son of John Henry and Jane (nee Cash) Entwistle, who married in 1893 at Sacred Trinity, Salford. 

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 23 Earl Street, Salford. His father, John Henry, is aged 33, and is employed as an iron turner and fitter, his mother Jane is aged 31 with no occupation listed. They have three children in the household; May aged 6, Annie 3 and John aged 2. Their children were all born Salford. 

The 1911 Census shows the the family have moved to 46 Princess Street, Duke St, Lower Broughton. His father, John Henry, is now aged 43, and is still employed as an iron turner, his mother, Jane, is aged 40. They have been married for 17 years and have three children The children are still living at the home address. Daughter May aged 16 is a bookbinder, Annie aged 14 is an office clerk and  John aged 12 is a scholar.

John enlisted in Salford and originally served as Private 60204, Manchester Regiment and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 94245 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 19, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing"

His family paid tribute to John in the Manchester Evening News 27th May 1918

ENTWISTLE - In loving memory of our dear and only son, Private JOHN ENTWISTLE, Kings Liverpools, who was killed in action, April 29, 1918, aged 19 years. On that happy Easter morning,

All the graves their dead restore,

Father, sister, child, and mother

Meet once more.

The supreme sacrifice - his life.

From his sorrowing MOTHER, FATHER, sisters MAY and ANNIE, and also JACK, 46 Princess Street, Lower Broughton. Memorial service at Sacred Trinity Church, Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m.

ENTWISTLE - In loving memory of our dear nephew Private JOHN ENTWISTLE, Kings Liverpools, who was killed in action, April 29, 1918, aged 19 years.

Father in thy gracious keeping,

Leave we now our dear one sleeping.

From his sorrowing AUNT, UNCLE, cousins LILLY MAY and THOMAS, 35 Princess Street, Lower Broughton. 

ENTWISTLE - In loving memory of my long-life long chum and cousin Private JOHN ENTWISTLE, Kings Liverpools, who was killed in action, April 29, 1918, aged 19 years.

He gave his life for one and all,

And nobly answered duty's call.

Sadly missed by his Cousin HARRY (Royal Navy).

His death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on 29th May 1918:

Pte. John Entwistle, King's Liverpools, 46 Princess-street, Lower Broughton, killed April 29, was employed by the Clifton and Kearsley Coal Co., Manchester.    

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.  

Soldiers Effects to father John H., Pension to mother Jane. 

His father died in September 1926, aged 61.

Widowed mother Jane, dob 30th Nov 1869, is found on the 1939 register still living at 46 Princess Street, Lower Broughton.

She died in March 1950 aged 80 (Manchester Evening News 2nd March 1950 - Acknowledgement by daughters, 16 Ashbourne Rd, Stretford). 

Grateful thanks are extended to Joe Devereux for permission to use the photograph of John now shown on this site. 

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