John Thomas LIMMER

28 July 1916

LIMMER – Killed in action in France, Sergt. John Thomas Limmer, 8th Yorks. Regiment, of Grassington, aged 32 years.

28 July 1916

GRASSINGTON’S ROLL OF HONOUR

As the war drags its slow length along, the local ‘Roll of Honour’ grows, and this week another brave name has to be added. This is that of Sergeant John Thomas Limmer, who was killed in action in the great advance. The information has been sent by his brother, Pte. Walter Limmer. Sergeant Limmer was in his 33rd year, and was in the A Company of the 8th Yorkshire Regiment. The death has not been officially confirmed, but in the letter referred to, which was received last week but is undated, his brother says:– “I have been talking to the two Sergeants out of the same company as Tom, and they both told me that he was quite well and cheerful up to the time he was killed, and that he did not suffer at all; he was killed outright, the bullet going right through his heart.”

Sergeant Limmer was born at Lazonby, in Cleveland, and came to Grassington 13 years ago; he leaves a wife, child and widowed mother for whom there is great public sympathy.

04 October 1918

GRASSINGTON FAMILY’S SACRIFICE – FOUR SONS: TWO KILLED, ONE WOUNDED

It is with deep sympathy and regret that we report the death in action of Private Walter Limmer, the youngest son of Mrs. Limmer, Grassington, and the second to fall in action. Another brother is wounded in hospital, and one is serving in France. Pte. Limmer enlisted in September 1914, went out to France in August 1915, and was transferred to Italy in November of last year. He came home on leave on August 10th in the best of health. He was a fine type of manhood. He was married whilst at home and much sympathy is extended to his young wife. He had acted as officer’s servant, and in a letter to his wife his officer says the sad event took place on September 13th while serving with the British Expeditionary Force in Italy.

The letter adds:– “I write on behalf of No. 4 Platoon and myself to express my deep sympathy in your great bereavement. I personally feel the loss very much, as perhaps you know he has been my batman for some months now, and consequently we have been much together in the trenches, and naturally got to know each other very well. We had just moved to a new camp on the 13th, and your husband had only reported an hour before to me from leave. He had just finished tea when a shell came over that gave us no chance, and burst in the midst of us. Walter, I found, was badly wounded in his head. We immediately dressed his wounds and rushed off to the doctor, but I don’t think he ever regained consciousness until the following day, when he died at 4-30; at any rate he did not suffer any pain. I assure you we all miss him very much because he was always cheerful and willing to do anything I asked of him. You will be glad to know that he is buried in a very pretty cemetery in a pine wood. We have made a very nice cross for his grave. Be assured his resting place will be looked after as far as we are able. Yours very truly, G. C. SUGDEN”

Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Settbridge, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, writes very appreciatively of the deceased soldier, and says:– “He was a good and a gallant soldier, and it is particularly sad that he should have been hit just after returning from leave. Please accept the sincerest sympathy of myself and all my fellow officers in your terrible bereavement. Your consolation must be that your husband died doing his duty for his King and Country.”

In another letter a pal says:– “He was always one of the cheeriest, best and bravest – an example of what a really good soldier should be. The regiment can ill afford to lose men of his type.”