Life, John 1917

John Life was born in 1882, the fourth of 9 children born to Richard and Rachel Life. He was born in Ryde in the Isle of Wight where the family were living. John’s father died in 1893.

By 1901 John had left his mother and was working in Tadley, Hampshire where he lodged with the Grocer for whom he worked. We have been unable to find his family in 1911, his mother had perhaps remarrried but where was John? possibliy already serving in the army.

certainly he joined the Army in Wokingham so perhaps his family were living here then. He joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire light infantry and served as a private in the 1/4th battalion. Records show that he had previously served in the Cavalry.

He was serving as part of the 48th, south midland division in France when he was killed on 16th august 1917. It seems likely that he was killed during the 3rd battle of Ypres ( passchendale) in which his battalion took part.The battalion fought on the Western front throughout the war and suffered many casualties especially at Ypres and on the Somme.

His body was never recovered from the battlefield and his name is commemorated on the wall of the Memorial to the missing at Tyne Cot.