JOHN MAKIN 

John's Story.

   John was born in Dukinfield, Cheshire in 1898. He lived with his father Frederick, a cotton spinner, & his mother Martha at 30 Jeffrey Street. He had 4 sisters, Sarah, Lily, Bertha & Mary.
   John enlisted in Ashton Under Lyne on the 1st May 1915, originally into the 17th Battalion. He entered France on the 4th December 1915. He was posted to the 14th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the 14th June 1918. He was killed in action on the 23rd August 1918. He is buried at Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert, France. II Q10.

The Battalion war diary for that day:

  Zero hour was 4.45am. 14th Battalion followed close behind the 13th Battalion. In some cases our men joined the 13th Battalion and went on in the front wave to the far objective. Battalion objective was Sunken Road in W23. Casualties were moderate. Three offocers were wounded. Captain Humphreys Owen, acting as 2nd in command, was wounded while objective was being consolidated. Lt K.O. Parsons was wounded during the attack & Lt Roberts was wounded at the assembly point. About 100 prisoners were taken & 4 machine guns captured.
  At 7am "A" Company moved up on the right to support the 13th RWF. B Company moved up on the left. Two platoons were sent to the left flank to hold the Chalkpit. 2nd Lt Seal moved this party to the flank & attacked a strongpoint, capturing a machine gun & 17 prisoners. The remainder of C Company & the whole of D Company remained in objective as reserve. 

Researcher: Darryl Porrino (Facebook: North Wales Pal)