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

Soldier

  • Name: John Thomas Wyer
  • Date of birth: 1883
  • Place of Birth: Kirkby Underwood, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth registration: July – September 1883
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Father

  • Name: Thomas Wyer
  • DOB: 1852
  • Place of Birth: Kirkby Underwood, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Labourer and Parish Clerk

Mother

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

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • Edith Annie Wyer, 1881, Kirkby Underwood
  • John Thomas Wyer, 1883, Kirkby Underwood
  • Edmund Ernest Wyer, 1886, Kirkby Underwood
  • Frederick William Wyer, 1888, Kirkby Underwood (died 1888)
  • Jessie Estella Wyer, 1889, Kirkby Underwood
  • Frederick Stanley Wyer, 1897, Kirkby Underwood
  • Albert Edward Wyer, 1901, Kirkby Underwood (died 1901)
Census

  • 1891: John is living with his grandparents John and Caroline Marshall in Kirkby Underwood, Lincolnshire
  • 1901: John is living in Aslackby with the Bailey Family as a Servant. The census gives him an age of 18 and he is listed as a Waggoner on farm.
  • 1911: John is living in Folkingham with the Stancer Family as a Servant. The census gives him an age of 27 and he is listed as a Farm Waggoner.

Relatives in services

Marriage

  • 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

  • LincolnshirenEcho Monday 20th November 1916
    LOCAL CASUALTIES
    SATURDAY LIST.
    WOUNDED
    LANCASTER REGMENT
    Wyer, 27171 Pte. J. T. (Bourne)

 

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

 

  • War Casualty List 20th November 1916
    N.C.O.’S and MEN
    Wounded
    King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
    Wyer, 27171, Private J. T.

 

  • 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

Attestation Papers

  • Available
Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Private John Thomas Wyer, 27171, 8th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) was killed in action on 13th April 1918 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left Too

  • Father Thomas

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

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline:

  • 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