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Private John Lavery is also commemorated on the Blaydon War Memorial. |
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Awarded the British War and Victory medals, his mother Ann signed for the medals. |
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Private Lavery has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial in France. |
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Private John Lavery was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. |
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Private John Lavery landed with is unit at Boulogne on 11th September 1915. As a volunteer battalion, they were posted to further training with other experienced units on the Western Front, before their first action during the Somme Offensive. |
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The battalion was posted abroad on 12th February 1916 and disembarked at Etaples. |
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The battalion was formed in Newcastle in September 1914 and trained at Halton Park and Witley. |
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At the outbreak of the war John was living in Blaydon-on-Tyne and enlisted on 27th August 1914 in Newcastle-on-Tyne with the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He was 5’7” tall, weighed 157 lbs. with 34” chest and had blue eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion. |
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Family: Ann Lavery, Patrick Lavery (born about), Michael Lavery (born about), Joseph Lavery (born about), Thomas Lavery (born about), John Lavery (born about 1889, Pomeroy), Sarah Lavery (born about), Mary Lavery (born about). |
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John lived with his widowed mother Ann Lavery and family at 1 South Street, Blaydon, Newcastle, England. John was working as a labourer. |
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The family moved to England. |
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John Lavery was born in Pomeroy, County Tyrone about 1889. |
