John James Harrison was born on 31st January 1895 at Kearby, one of ten children born to John and Sarah Ann Harrison. In 1911, John was a 16-year-old labourer working on Jane Harper's farm at Kearby, as was a younger brother, Fred; their parents and six siblings were living at Sicklinghall.
John
was called up on 5th March 1917. After training, he was posted to
France to join the 16th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and was
later transferred to the regiment's 8th battalion.
In September 1918, John was awarded the Military Medal for carrying in a wounded officer under machine-gun fire, most likely during the battalion's capture of the Montagne de Bligny on 28th July 1918.
John was at home on demobilization furlough when he died from influenza on 15th/16th February 1919. He is buried in Kirkby Overblow Wesleyan Chapel Burial Ground adjacent to his mother, Sarah Ann, who died five days later, and his father John, who survived until 1952.
I am grateful to Carol Simmonds for introducing me to John's story and for guiding me to his grave.