John was born on 5th February 1885 to Edward and Mary Walmsley née Hughes and baptised three days later at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, Tatton Street, Stockport. Edward worked as a clogger and in 1891 they lived at 22, Tatton Street, Stockport. By 1901 they had moved to 14, Lord Street, Stockport and John was working as a grocer’s van-man or car-man. He seems to have had a similar job in the Royal Engineers. John had a younger brother, Joseph Charles and a younger sister, Mary.

John Walmsley’s service number (18250) suggests that he enlisted in the Royal Engineers towards the end of 1908. A newspaper article in 1918 stated that he had served through the South Africa War, but he was too young to have fought in the Boer War which finished in 1902. He was with the Royal Engineers in the army garrison in Cape Town, South Africa when the 1911 census was taken. If he signed on as a regular soldier in 1908, he would still be with the Colours when war broke out. As a driver with the Royal Engineers, John would have taken tools and equipment from depots to where the Engineers were operating. When the war started, he would have used horse drawn carts but by 1918 these were being replaced by lorries.

When the Great War started John was based at the Royal Engineers HQ at Chatham in Kent. The 54th Field Company was attached to the 7th Division which was formed during September and very early October 1914, by the bringing together of regular army units from various points around the British Empire. They landed in Zebrugge in 5th October 1914 to take part in the defence of Antwerp but were too late and could only help in the retreat of the Belgium Army towards Ypres. The 54th Field Company stayed with the 7th Division throughout the war and were in France until they moved to Italy in January 1918. During April John seems to have taken ill and was sent to a casualty clearing station where he died on 28th April 1918.

Driver John Walmsley, of the Royal Engineers, died in Italy on April 29. He was an old soldier, having served through the South African War, and during the present war has served on France and Italy. He was 33 years of age and his mother lives at 17, Wild-street, Stockport. Stockport Advertiser 14 June 1918.

John is buried at Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy.

John is also commemorated at the Stockport War Memorial, Wellington Road South, Stockport and on the War Memorial in St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, Tatton Street, Stockport.

Rest in Peace

1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. “Find War Dead”. 2. Nixon, Paul, Army Service Numbers 1881-1918. At the time Army Service Numbers were issued sequentially by regiment. Nixon has analysed these numbers by year, so the Royal Engineers issued Service Number 17948 on 24 September 1908 and Service Number 18313 on 12 January 1909. This indicates that John Walmsley enlisted between these dates. 3. Stockport Advertiser 14 June 1918. 4. National Archives of the UK, 1911 Census; Class: RG14; Piece: 34976; Page: 5. The military return is shown as Mauritius and South Africa and I cannot find detail below that level. However, Sir Henry J Scobell at the front of the record was commander of the British Forces at Cape Town in 1911. 5. Baker, C., “The Long, Long Trail – The British Army in the Great War of 1914 – 1918” “Composition of a Royal Engineers’ Field Company” and “Field Companies of the Royal Engineers” and “7th Division”. 6. St. Joseph’s Church, Stockport – Baptismal Register. 7. The National Archives of the UK, 1891 Census Class: RG12; Piece: 2797; Folio: 35; Page: 29 and 1901 Census; Class: RG13; Piece: 3291; Folio: 38; Page: 22. 8. Wells, Dominic “The Soldiers of St, Joseph’s Parish” 2018. 9. Hartley, John, “More than a Name” 2008. 10. The War Graves Photographic Project. 11. Thanks to the Stockport Heritage Library.