John James's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Son of James and Mary Booth, of 11 Black Lane, Macclesfield.
WWI SERVICE
Private Booth’s death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on Friday 12 July 1918:
DISCHARGED SOLDIER’S DEATH AT MACCLESFIELD – John James Booth, a discharged soldier, died at 11, Black Lane, Macclesfield, on Sunday [7th July], from pneumonia following an attack of influenza. Deceased was 27 years of age and joined the Army in January, 1915. He enlisted in the local Territorials and was later transferred to another battalion of the Cheshire Regt. Booth served in France for a considerable period and received a wound in the left hand, which resulted in the amputation of the thumb. He was discharged in October 1917. The military funeral took place at the Cemetery yesterday [11th July] with military honours.
COMMEMORATION
Private John Booth is buried at Macclesfield Cemetery, Cheshire, in grave ref. X. 15541, marked by a family headstone with the inscription “FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONES SLEEPING”.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private John Booth, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
Locally, Private John Booth is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, Beech Lane Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and Fence Sunday School war memorials.
SOURCES
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Times: 12 July 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley.