John Willie Lax |
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John Willie Lax with wife Florence and daughter Doris, taken about 1914. Mr Brian Denham has provided this photograph and new resources about John Willie Lax, for which we are most grateful. |
John Willie Lax was born July 13, 1881 at Aycliffe, Co. Durham. John's parents were William Lax, born 1846 at Aycliffe and Sarah Ellen Bland, born 1867 at Aycliffe. John had 1 brother and 7 sisters: Henrietta Rebecca born 1868 Amelia Annie born 1870 Elizabeth Westgarth born 1872 Thomas Henry born 1874 Meggie Lyal born 1879 Nellie Bland born 1884 Ruby Jane born 1887 Septima Hannah born 1891
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John married Florence Hill February 20, 1909 at Fir Tree Parish Church. John was 28 and Florence 25. Florence was the daughter of Thompson Hill, a miner and was born at Toft Hill. Their daughter Doris was born December 25, 1909 at Sacriston. In the 1911 census John and family were living at 14, Gregson Street, Sacriston, Durham. John was 29, a Miner Bricklayer working at the colliery.
Two letters to Florence and one letter to Doris written shortly before he was wounded have survived: |
Army number: 18530. Rank: Corporal. Unit: 13th Battalion, Forest of Dean Gloucestershire Regiment.
John Willie Lax died of his wounds April 27, 1918 in B Ward, The Dublin, 83 General Hospital, B.E.F. France. A letter from the sister of the ward was sent to his wife at 1 Croft Street, Sacriston. Letter part a. Letter part b. |
Source: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France LAX , Corporal, JOHN WILLIE, 18530, 13th Bn. (Forest of Dean, Pioneers), Gloucestershire Regiment. Died of wounds 27 April 1918. Age 36. Son of Ellen and the late William Lax, of Aycliffe, Darlington; husband of Florence A. Lax, of 1, Croft St., Sacriston, Co. Durham. Grave Ref. IX. A. 37. Florence Lax visited John Willie Lax's grave in August 1931. |
With kind permission of the Evening Despatch, on Saturday, 4 May, 1918, the folllowing Roll of Honour death notice appeared: Florence Lax at the Menin Gate in Ypres |
John Willie Lax's grave |
Florence Lax's letter of August 14, 1931 describing her visit to Boulogne and other War Grave sites has been scanned by Brian Denham and can be read:
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