Private 51231 John Allmark

Killed in Action on Thursday, 24th October 1918 , age 20.
Commemorated on Panel 4 of Vis-En-Artois Memorial, Pas De Calais, France.

2nd Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment. 62nd Brigade of 21st Division.

Son of Mrs Prudence Harvey Allmark, of 22a, Howard St., Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1739513/

Genealogical Data

Birth of John Allmark registered June quarter 1898 in Dudley.

1901 Census
4 Court 4 House, Tibbington Terrace, Tipton, Staffs.
John Allmark (31, Carpenter, born Ocker Hill), his wife Prudence (25, born Princes End), and their 3 children: John (2, born Tipton), Jane (1, born Tipton), and Norah (6 months, born Princes End).

1911 Census
188 Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
John Allmark (42, Journeyman Carpenter, born Tipton), his wife Prudence (36, born Tipton), and their 6 children: John (12, School, born Tipton), Jane (11, School, born Tipton), Norah (10, School, born Tipton), Isaac R. (9, School, born Tipton), Prudence R. (6, School, born Tipton), and Enoch (2, born Tipton).

Personal Data

After John's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £1/16/1d (1 pounds, 16 shillings and 1 penny); this was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Prudence H., in March 1919. His War Gratuity was £5/0/0d (5 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in March 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that John had enlisted in July 1917.

Action resulting in his death

On 23rd October 1918 the River Harpies and a number of villages were the immediate obstacles. The enemy could be seen retiring in small parties towards Vendegies and the wood near that village. The 21st Division never halted until it was close to Vendegies, reaching it at 10 am. The defence was thickening, and it was very heavy going in the afternoon. Nearly 800 prisoners had been taken in that area on the day. It was determined to renew the battle next morning, 24th October, before daylight.

The 21st Division again went forward on the right, but the opposition was still very stiff. They captured the village of Poix du Nord where some 3000 inhabitants were found in the cellars, but were held up on the road north of the village. About 4pm the line moved forward again behind a fresh barrage. The men of the 21st fought their way forward to the south-east of Ghissignies, where they were again pulled up. By the end of the day they had secured the crossings of the Harpies at Vendegie Wood and captured Vendegie Village (12miles north east of Cambrai).

On these 2 days 22 men of the 2nd Lincolns lost their lives, amongst them John Allmark who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

Newspaper Cuttings

Birmingham Daily Post 14th December 1918
RANK AND FILE: MIDLANDS MEN.
KILLED.
Lincolnshire Regiment, Allmark, 51231, J., (Tipton).