Private 14/1205 John Thomas Buxton

Died of Wounds on Thursday, 3rd May 1917, age 39.
Buried in Grave VI. E. 35. at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

2nd Bn., York & Lancaster Regiment. 16th Brigade of 6th Division.
Formerly 14/1205 14th Bn., York & Lancaster Regiment.

Husband of Mrs Annie Buxton, of 12 Rowland Street, Royston, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
Born: Great Bridge, Enlisted: Barnsley, Resident: Barnsley.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial, but commemorated on St. John the Baptist Church Memorial, Church Street, Royston, Barnsley.
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/62352/

Genealogical Data

Birth of John Thomas Hill registered March quarter 1878 at Dudley. Mother's maiden name was Hill. John was born on 4th January 1878 in Providence Street, Horseley Heath, Tipton; his birth was registered by his mother, who signed with 'X' the mark of Clara Hill.

John Thomas Buxton was born John Thomas Hill. He was the first of 4 children born to Clara Hill before her marriage to James Buxton in September quarter 1890; John later took his step-father's surname. The entire family moved to Barnsley, Yorkshire soon after the 1901 census.

1891 Census
12 Gough Buildings, Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
Clara Buxton (33, Head, born Tipton), and her 5 children: John T. Hill (13, born Tipton), Annie Hill (9, born Tipton), Clara Hill (8, born Tipton), Harriet Hill (5, born Tipton), and James Buxton (4 months, born Tipton).

1901 Census
52 Sheepwash Lane, Horseley Heath, Tipton, Staffs.
James Buxton (41, Coal Miner - Loader, born Tipton), his wife Clara (43, born Tipton), and their 8 children: John (23, born Tipton), Amy (19, born Tipton), Harriet (15, born Tipton), James (10, born Tipton), William (8, born Tipton), Moses (5, born Tipton), Leah (2, born Tipton), and Joseph (1, born Tipton).

Marriage of John Thomas Buxton and Annie George registered in December quaerter 1903 in Barnsley.

1911 Census
Rowland Street, Royston, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
John Thomas Buxton (33, Coal Miner - Hewer, born Tipton), his wife Annie (27, born West Bromwich), and their 3 surviving children of 4: Clara (5, born Royston on 5th April 1905), Thomas (3, born Royston on 11th June 1907), and Annie (1, born Royston on 10th February 1910). Two further children were born, Elizabeth on 14th December 1912 and Frances on 1st June 1916.

Personal Data

John Thomas Buxton was born John Thomas Hill, but took his step-father's surname after his mother married James Buxton in 1890. The entire family moved to Yorkshire soon after the 1901 census, as John married Annie George in 1903 in Barnsley.

John enlisted with the 14th Bn. York and Lancaster, known as the 2nd Barnsley Pals, on 15th May 1915. He was 37 years of age, 5 feet 4½ inches tall with a 34½-inch chest, and signed his enlistment form with " 'X' the mark of". He was employed as a miner, and his religion was stated as Church of England.

The Barnsley Pals were part of the 31st Division, probably the most famous Pals Division. They were sent to Egypt in December 1915 as defence for the Suez Canal, before transferring to France in March 1916; it was then that John joined their ranks. On 1st July 1916, the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, the 31st Division were in action near Serre where the 2nd Barnsley Pals were the second line to attack, following the Accrington Pals and Sheffield City Battalions. On the day, 4 Officers and 88 Other Ranks were killed, with another 8 dying of wounds in the next week.

On 4th July 1916, John Buxton was admitted to No.2 General Hospital at Le Havre, having received Gun Shot Wounds to his left leg and left hand. He was recorded as 38 years old, had completed 1 year's service, and had been serving abroad for 4 months. He was evacuated to the UK on the same day on Hospital Ship Asturias. It is possible that he was wounded on 1st July and had moved slowly through the over-burdened Casualty Evacuation chain, but more likely to have been wounded on 2nd or 3rd July. Even after their awful losses on 1st July, the 14th Bn. York & Lancasters remained in the front line until relieved on 4th July.

It was 6 months until John was considered fit to return to France, landing for a second time on 2nd January 1917. He was then posted to the 2nd Battalion, Yorks and Lancs, in 6th Division.

After John's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £2/13/4d (2 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence); this was paid to his widow, Mrs Annie Buxton, in July 1917. His War Gratuity was £9/0/0d (9 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his widow in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that John had enlisted in approximately April 1915.

John's widow, Annie, was awarded a one-off grant of £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was paid on 5th July 1917. She was also awarded a Widow's Pension of £1/11/3d (1 pound, 11 shillings and 3 pence) per week for herself and her 5 children, effective from 12th November 1917. Her address at this time was 12 Rowland Street, Royston, Barnsley.

Action resulting in his death

On his return to the Western Front in January 1917, John was posted to the 2nd battalion York and Lancaster (in the 6th Division) in the Loos area of French Flanders. Most of the early part of 1917 was relatively peaceful until March and April 1917 when the Germans began withdrawing to the Hindenburg Line.

On 13th April 1917 the Germans began withdrawing from their positions in front of the 2nd York and Lancs, the battalion was ordered to closely follow up the German withdrawal. The 2nd Battalion followed so closely that they completely occupied all the German positions by 6pm. During the next four days the division advanced so rapidly that they almost managed to capture Hill 70 (a strategically important German position) before the Germans strengthened their resistance.

John Buxton was wounded either during the pursuit, or when the advance had come to a halt. He was treated at the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station in Bethune and died there from his wounds on 3rd May 1917. He is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

Barnsley Independent, Saturday July 15th 1916
Royston Wounded.
Private John T. BUXTON, Second Barnsley Battalion, of 12 Rowland Street. Wounds in leg and arm, and in a Glasgow hospital.

also the following who was likely John's younger brother.

Private James BUXTON, First Barnsley Battalion, who was transferred to the West Yorks, of Midland Road. Severely wounded, and in hospital in Monmouthshire. His parents visited him on Tuesday.

The Barnsley Chronicle, Saturday May 26th 1917
DEATHS
BUXTON – In affectionate remembrance of Pte. John Thomas Buxton, Y and L, the beloved husband of Annie Buxton, who died of wounds received in action May 3rd 1917, aged 42 years (editor: actually aged 39 years).
Little we thought when we said good-bye,
We were parting for ever and you was to die;
We know, dear husband, you did your best,
May God grant you eternal rest.
But the hardest part is yet to come;
When the warriors all return;
And we miss among the cheery crowd,
The face of our dear one.