Main CPGW Record
Surname: ATKINSON
Forename(s): John
Place of Birth: Holme, Westmorland
Service No: 92066
Rank: Gunner
Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Battalion / Unit: No.8 (Hampshire) Fire Command
Division: ---
Age: 29
Date of Death: 1918-10-19
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: In South part.
CWGC Cemetery: BENTHAM (ST. MARGARET) CHURCHYARD
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BURTON-IN-LONSDALE, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: HIGH BENTHAM, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
John Atkinson was the son of John Wearing and Jane Atkinson, née Shepherd and brother of L/Corporal Robert James Shepherd Atkinson (28802) (q.v.). Their father was born at Lupton and mother at Firbank, Westmorland.
1891 Holme, Westmorland Census: Milnthorpe Road - John Atkinson, aged 4 years, born Holme, son of John W. and Jane Atkinson.
1901 Burton-in-Lonsdale, Yorkshire Census: High Street - John Atkinson, aged 14 years, born Holme, Westmorland, son of John W. and Jane Atkinson.
1911 Burton-in-Lonsdale, Yorkshire Census: High Street - John Atkinson, aged 24 years, born Holme, Westmorland, son of John Wearing Atkinson, widower. [Jane, his wife, died in 1905.]
John Atkinson was married to Margaret Briscoe in 1913. Margaret was the sister of L/Corporal Edward Walton Briscoe (10632) (q.v.). In 1924 Margaret married Tom Procter.
The British Army Service Record for John Atkinson exists but may be incomplete.
John served in France and/or Belgium with the 180th Siege Battery, R.G.A. When he died at Portsmouth John was serving with No.8 (Hampshire) Fire Command, R.G.A.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Gnr John Atkinson, 92066, R.G.A.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Gnr John Atkinson, 92066, Base Dtls., R.G.A.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Gnr John Atkinson, 92066, R.G.A. Date and Place of Death: 19.10.18. 5[th] Sthn. Gen. Hos., Milton Section, Portsmouth. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow and Sole Legatee - Margaret. £14 14s. 4d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for John. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Margaret Procter (Remarried), born 21.5.89. Address: 6, Graham Street, Lancaster. Child: John, born 22.7.14.
John and Margaret’s son, Sergeant (Flight Engineer) John Atkinson, 1017417, 149 (East India) Sqn., R.A.F.(V.R.) died in the Second World War. John, along with all the other aircrew, were killed when their Stirling bomber was shot down over Holland on the 22 June 1943; he is buried in Wonseradeel (Makkum) Prostestant Churchyard, Netherlands. John had married Margaret Heyworth in 1936.
A short biography of John is included in: ‘Bentham’s Part in the Great War 1914-18’ by Allan and Marilyn Hartley (2019).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Gunner John ATKINSON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Garrison Artillery
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
The family of John Wearing Atkinson and his late wife, Jane, c. 1906
Courtesy of Chris Roberts
St Margaret's Churchyard, High Bentham
CWGC Headstone
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
02 June 1916
BURTON IN LONSDALE
War items - Sergt. Wm. H. Horner, Leeds Pals, and Pte. Norman Bateson, R.A.M.C., have both sufficiently recovered from their wounds to be removed from France to hospitals in England this week. John Atkinson has gone forward in his group and joined the R.G.A. on Tuesday. During this week a number of local soldiers have been home on furlough, including Pte. Thos. Atkinson, Grenadier Guards; Lance-Corpl. Kenyon Bateson, 5th Manchesters; Lance-Corpl. R. Wilson, and Sappers J. Kirkbride and W. Dodgson, Royal Engineers; Pte. Carr Kettlewell, Duke of Wellington's; Trooper Edward Wilson, Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry and Pte. George Whitfield, R.A.M.C. The healthy appearance of all is a gratifying feature of these visits.
29 September 1916
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE - Wounded in action
Mr. John W. Atkinson, High Street, has received intimation that his son, Pte. Thomas Atkinson, Grenadier Guards, has been wounded in the right knee whilst in action in France and has been removed to hospital at the base. Two other sons-Gunner John Atkinson, R.G.A., and Pte. Shepherd Atkinson, Duke of Wellington's Regiment-are also engaged on active service in France.
30 March 1917
BURTONIAN KILLED
Mrs. Atkinson, Enfield Place, Roundhay Road, Leeds, has received intimation of the death in action in France of her husband, Lance Corporal R. J. Shepherd Atkinson, West Riding Regiment. The deceased, who was 25 years of age, is the third son of Mr. John W. Atkinson, High Street, Burton-in-Lonsdale. After his schooldays at Thornton's School he was apprenticed to Mr. W. J. Harrison, butcher, and was well known in the district. In September 1913 he married Miss Letty Maude, daughter of the late Mr. Geo. E. Maude, Mount Wellington, Burton, and went to reside in Leeds, joining the Army under the Derby Scheme in April last year. He leaves two young children. Two of his brothers are also in France - John, R.G.A., and Thomas, Grenadier Guards, who has just returned after being in hospital through shrapnel wound.
20 April 1917
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE - Casualties
Official information has been received by Mr. Edward Tomlinson, Leeming Lane, that his son, Pte. Kelly Tomlinson, Duke of Wellington's, has been wounded. Pte. Tomlinson, who has been in France two years, writes that wounds were only slight shrapnel wounds in the head and back and that he is again out of hospital. Gunner John Atkinson. R.G.A., son of Mr. J. W. Atkinson, High Street, has been sent to the base suffering from the effects of gas.
06 July 1917
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE - War Items
During the week two convalescents have been home on furlough before rejoining their regiments, namely, Gunner John Atkinson, R.G.A., and Corporal John Clark, of the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry.
14 December 1917
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE - Wounded a Second Time
Pte. Thomas Atkinson, Grenadier Guards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jno. W. Atkinson, High Street, has been admitted into hospital in France suffering from severe wounds in the leg. He was badly wounded in the right knee some time ago. His brother, Gunner Jno. Atkinson, R.G.A., is still in England after being gassed, and his brother Private Shepherd Atkinson, Duke of Wellington's, was killed in action in March last.
25 October 1918
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE - Death of Gunner John Atkinson
The death has taken place at Portsmouth, of Gunner Jno. Atkinson, R.G.A., from pneumonia. Formerly he was the popular secretary of the Burton Institute and a member of the local football and billiard teams. Some years ago he removed to Lancaster, where he took up an insurance agency. Of a literary turn he was popular amongst his Army friends and was billiard secretary at the Soldiers' Institute at his camp at Portsmouth at the time of his death. He always retained a keen interest in village affairs, and seemed to have a promising career before him. Much sympathy is felt for the family, another son, Shepherd, having been killed in France, whilst Thomas, late of the Grenadier Guards, has had both legs amputated as the result of wounds.
25 October 1918
HIGH BENTHAM - Soldier's Death
The death of Private John Atkinson, R.F.A., took place at Devonport on Saturday last from pneumonia. Deceased was a native of Burton, but was on insurance work at Lancaster when he was called up to the Colours. He was out in France some months and was badly gassed in the March retreat and sent over to hospital. He was 31 years of age, and married Miss M. Briscoe, of Bentham. The family has been very hard hit; his brother-in-law, Private E. Briscoe, is missing and reported dead; a younger brother of the deceased was killed; and another brother has had a leg amputated. The funeral, attended by military honours, took place at St Margaret's, Bentham, yesterday afternoon.
08 November 1918
HIGH BENTHAM - St. Margaret's Memorial Service
The season of All Saints was observed at St. Margaret's as a special memorial service for all those from the parish who have made the great sacrifice. Special mention being made to Chaplain T. B. Hardy, V.C., who was formerly headmaster of Bentham, and Gunner Atkinson (who married Miss Briscoe of this parish) and Quarter-Master-Sergeant C. Beck - the latest who have laid down their lives. The service was conducted by the Vicar and was very impressive. The Dead March in 'Saul' was played at the evening service.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
25 October 1918
Military Funeral at Bentham Yesterday
The death of Pte. John Atkinson, of the R.F.A., took place at Devonport on Saturday from pneumonia. Deceased was a native of Burton, but was on insurance work at Lancaster when he was called to the colours. He was out in France some months and was badly gassed in the March retreat and sent over to hospital. He was 31 years of age, and married Miss M. Briscoe, of Bentham. The family has been very hard hit, his brother-in-law, Pte. E. Briscoe, is missing and reported dead, and a younger brother of deceased, in the 'Duke's,' was killed, and another brother is crippled for life, having had a leg amputated. The coffin arrived at Lancaster on Wednesdlay night, and the funeral took place at St. Margaret's Church, Bentham, yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, and was of a semi-military character.
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