Biography of Private John James Booth, (241635)
1st/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
Formerly 4939 1st/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
Died 19th June 1917

Soldier

  • Name: John James Booth
  • Date of birth: 1896
  • Place of Birth: Morton nr Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: January – March 1896
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Father

  • Name: Thomas Booth
  • DOB: 1868
  • Place of Birth: Haconby, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Portable engine driver

Mother

  • Name: Martha Jane Taylor
  • DOB: 1867
  • Place Of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 25th September 1895 Morton nr Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

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

  • John James Booth, 1896, Morton
  • Thomas Booth, 1898, Morton
  • Marjorie Booth, 1899, Morton
  • Bertie Booth, 1901, Morton
  • George Booth, 1903, Morton
  • Winifred Booth, 1906, Morton
  • Eliza Jane Booth, 1908, Morton

Census

  • 1901: John is living with his parents in Morton nr Bourne, Lincolnshire.
  • 1911: John is living with his mother in Morton nr Bourne, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 16 and he is listed as a labourer on farm.
Relatives in services

  • None found

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

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 14th July 1917
    MORTON
    SAD NEWS – On Friday week, Mrs. Jane Booth was the recipient of the sad official news that he eldest son, Pte. John James Booth, had been killed in action.  It is just a year since Pte. Booth arrived on French soil, and he has never failed during this time to write to his mother every week.  Everyone is deeply sorry for Mrs. Booth, for Jack was a real good boy to his mother, whose husband died suddenly nine years ago, when Jack was a boy of 12, and Mrs. Booth was left with a young family of seven.  His mother and little ones are heartbroken at the sad news.  A memorial service will be held in Morton Church tomorrow (Sunday).  The sympathy of the whole village goes to Mrs. Booth in her great loss.

 

  • Sheffield Daily Telegraph Friday 20th July 1917
    N.C.O.’S AND MEN.
    The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men are reported under varius dates.  All are privates except where otherwise shown.  The town shown ahainst each soldier’s name is the home of his next-of-kin, except when followed by the abbreviation ‘Enlt.” when it is his place of enlistment.
    KILLED
    LINCOLNS
    Booth (241635), J. G. (Bourne)

 

  • War Office Casualty List 20th July 1917
    N.C.O.’s and Men
    Lincolnshire Regiment
    Killed
    Booth, 241635, Private J. G. (Bourne)

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 21st July 1917
    LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES
    SECOND LIST.
    LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT
    Killed
    Booth 241635 J. G. (Bourne)

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • None found

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Private John James Booth, 241635, 5th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment was killed in action on 19th June 1917 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Mother Martha J

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Morton, Roll of Honour in St John the Baptist Church
  • Bourne, Memorial Gardens

 

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • John J Booth enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment and was given the regimental number 4939. This was later changed to 241635 but does not state why the change on the medal rolls.

    We are unsure when John enlisted in the army as the medal rolls section for the date of entering the theatre of war are left blank. The biggest clue is also on the medal rolls in that John was not eligible for the 1914 or 1914-15 star. This would indicate that John did not enter the theatre on active service until after 1915.

    On the 15th June 1917 the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment received orders to attack the enemy at 2:30pm on the 19th. This was planned as a prelude to the main attack and would use 4 companies of the 5th battalion.

    On the evening of the 18th the 5th Battalion moved up to the front line at Cite de Riaumont.

    As planned the 2:30pm barrage started and the two assaulting companies advanced. One company made the enemy trench without difficulty, whereas the other was assaulted by machine-gun and rifle fire and bombs were thrown at the attackers. Both assaulting companies met their objectives and three men were awarded the Military Cross for leading their men. Many N.C.Os and men were mentioned for their courage.

    Three counter attacks were launched by the enemy, the final being at 10pm. In total twelve other ranks were killed, two officers and fifty five other ranks wounded. Four other ranks subsequently died of wounds and one missing. James Booth was killed on 19th June 1917 in this action as part of the attack towards Lens.

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