Biography of Private John Thomas Wyer, (27171)
8th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
Formerly 27171, 1st Royal Lancaster Regiment
23160, 7th Lincolnshire Regiment
Died 13th April 1918

Mother

• Name: Mary Ann Marshall
• DOB:1858
• Place Of Birth: Rippingale, Lincolnshire, England
• Marriage: 13th December 1880 Kirkby Underwood, Lincolnshire, England

Relatives in services

• John’s cousins Edmund Wyer, William Wyer, Robert Wilson Wyer, Harry Sandall, also fought and were killed in WW1. They can be found on our page dedicated to the Haconby War Memorial
• Other Cousins, John William Sandall and Walter Sandall also fought and were killed. They can be found on the Rippingale War Memorial.
• John’s brother Frederick Stanley Wyer survived the war after being shot and wounded by a sniper. Another brother Edmund fought in the Army in India and was at home on reserve when the first world war broke out. He re-joined and also survived the war.

• No marriage for John has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

• Sheffield Daily Telegraph Monday 20th November 1916
  WOUNDED
  LANCASTER REGT.,
  Wyer (27171), J. T. (Bourne)

• Grantham Journal Saturday 25th May 1918
  KIRKBY UNDERWOOD
  MUCH SYMPATHY is felt for Mr. and Mrs. T. Wyer, whose eldest son has been reported missing since an early date in April.

• Grantham Journal Saturday 12th April 1919
  WYER – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. John Tom Wyer (27171 King’s Own R.L.), missing 13th April, 1918, France.

  We do not forget him, we loved him too dearly
  For his memory to fade from our lives like a dream;
  Our lips need not speak when our hearts mourn sincerely,
  For grief often dwells where it seldom is seen.

  From his sorrowing Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Aunt Florrie (Kirkby)

Military Records

Medals

• The British Medal
• The Victory Medal

Memorials

• UK:
• Kirkby Underwood, plaque in St Mary and All Saints Church
• Kirkby Underwood, Names on the stained glass window in St Mary and All Saints Church

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In memory of Private John Thomas Wyer, 27171, 8th Battalion, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) who died on 13 April 1918 Age 35.
• Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Wyer, of Kirkby Underwood, Bourne, Lincs.
• Remembered with honour, Ploegsteert Memorial.
• Panel Ref: Panel 2

© Picture courtesy of Ernie Wyer

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

• The following notes are formed from dates taken from the Military Service records of John Thomas Wyer and also from the Unit War Diaries for the 8th Bn Kings Own Lancaster Regiment:-
• 19.4. 1916 – Attested to 9th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
• 20.4.1916 – Medical examination at Lincoln
• 21.4.1916 – Approved in 9th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
• 29.8.1916 – Posted to Infantry base deport
• 28.8.1916 – Embarked for France
• 20.9.1916 – Transferred to service with 8th King’s Own Lancaster Regiment
• 22.9.1916 – Joined D coy, 8th Battalion in the field
• 15.10.1916 – Wounded in action, Gun Shot Wound to the leg whilst carrying out carrying and working party duties at night
• Unit war diary for the 16th October shown many casualties during the night when Billeted at Bertrancourt and performing working party duties at night
• 21.10.1916 – Classed Fit for duty
• 22.10.1916 – Rejoined Battalion in the field
• 18.12.1916 – Posted sick with Inflammation of the Connective Tissue of Foot and sent to hospital
• ICT was a catch-all abbreviation for any soft tissue damage including trench foot.
• 2.1.1917 – Problem with ICT of Large toe on left foot
• 6.1.1917 – Posted to UK to Hospital (St Patrick)
• 7.1.1917 – Arrived UK and moved to Western General Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool
• 14.4.1917 – Left Hospital after 94 days
• 25.4.1917 – Classed as “Class II”, Fit for Light Duties. Posted to depot
• 17.5.1917 – Posted
• 10.6.1917 – Returned to France to the 8th Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancashire
• 29.6.1917– Rejoined Battalion
• 11.4.1918 – Battalion moved to the Avelette Bridgehead near Hinges north of Bethune
• Unit diary and trench maps are available for John Thomas Wyer’s last action before being killed.
• 13.4.1918 – Reported missing in action after 2 days of engagement with the enemy at the Bridgehead. In total, between the 12th and 14th April, the Battalion suffered 156 casualties of which 27 were killed on the 13th
• 4.1.1919 – Thomas Wyer in receipt of the British War Medal and also the Victory Medal for his son
• 24.7.1919 – Memorandum to OC Infantry, Preston stating that any personal belongings should be forwarded to Thomas Wyer of Kirkby Underwood, Bourne, Lincolnshire

Sources

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• British Newspaper Archive.
• Fold 3
• Find My Past
• Genealogist
• Forces War Records
• British Army Service Numbers
• War Gratuity Calculator
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
• General Registry Office