15 May 1918: L.Sgt John Gregson

John Gregson was born in Wellington, Shropshire in 1880.

Location of Wellington, Shropshire in the west midlands (cc OpenStreetMap)

At the 1901 Census John, age 21 was living with his 21 year old wife Gertrude at 1 Hughes Street, Wrexham A decade later he has two children and is living at 1 Mount Street, Wrexham with his wife, son, daughter and father in law.

John into his local territorial battalion in the early months of the war, but didn't see overseas service until mid 1916.

WW1 Western Front (1914-1918), 1917.Battle of Menin Road: North-country troops bring up rations, 1917 NAM. 1999-11-70-35 (Out of Copyright)

After taking part in the Battle of the Somme soon after his arrival in France, John was also to become a veteran of the Battle of Poelcapelle (part of 3rd Ypres) the following year.

Map showing German Lys offensive April 1918.

John was was seriously wounded by a gun shut wound to the shoulder and face during the Battle of the Lys in April 1918. He  was evacuated back to the UK he subsequently died of pneumonia in Lichfield Hospital on 15 May 1918.

John was buried in Wrexham Cemetery, N.Wales five days later.

Married to Gertrude, John left two children, 14 year old John and 7 year old Irene. 

Pension Card from The WFA Archive on Fold3 by Anccestry

L Sgt John Gregson, 1/6th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regt

15 May 1918

Sources: 1901, 1911 Wales Census Records.