Lance Corporal John Axon Manchester Regiment
The Man John Axon was born Friday 10th October 1884 in Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire. Son of Charles a Bricklayer’s Labourer and Maria nee Cook, he was christened on 14th December and one of 14 children, Alice Ann (1874 – 1911), Bertha A (1876 - 1932), Emily May (1878 -) John (1879 - ), Dorothy (1880 – 1944), Robert (1880 – 1955), James (1882 -), Vanda (1885 - ), Alfred (1887 - 1889), Annie Beatrice (1889 - ), Ivy (1890 - 1989), Austin (1894 -1971) Phyllis 1895, although the records in this regard are not clear.
The 1891 census shows the family living at 66 Mossley Road, Ashton Under Lyne and John still at school. By 1901, they lived at 71 Church Street and John, aged 16 had left school and become a Coal Carter and then a Weaver. On 5th February 1902, aged 17, but stating he was18, John enlisted into the regular army, Manchester Regiment as a Private with service number 7604, signing on for for seven years followed by five on reserve.
On enlistment John was described as 5’.4” tall, weighing 119lbs and a good physical development. He was posted to the 4th Battalion, joining the regiment who were stationed in Cork, Ireland on 13th February 1902. On 8th January 1903 he was one of 157 men posted to the 3rd Battalion, embarking aboard the SS Dominion for South Africa to join his Battalion in Middleburg (the Boer War having ended some months earlier) and landing on 31st January.
In April he was among 134 men sailing from South Africa to Longworth Camp, St Helena where many Boer PoWs were being held. On 23rd May however, he was admitted to hospital having injured his right leg 10 days earlier. He was released on 8th June but admitted to hospital again on 6th September, following a head wound received on 5th, he was released 10 days later.
The 1891 census shows the family living at 66 Mossley Road, Ashton Under Lyne and John still at school. By 1901, they lived at 71 Church Street and John, aged 16 had left school and become a Coal Carter and then a Weaver. On 5th February 1902, aged 17, but stating he was18, John enlisted into the regular army, Manchester Regiment as a Private with service number 7604, signing on for for seven years followed by five on reserve.
On enlistment John was described as 5’.4” tall, weighing 119lbs and a good physical development. He was posted to the 4th Battalion, joining the regiment who were stationed in Cork, Ireland on 13th February 1902. On 8th January 1903 he was one of 157 men posted to the 3rd Battalion, embarking aboard the SS Dominion for South Africa to join his Battalion in Middleburg (the Boer War having ended some months earlier) and landing on 31st January.
In April he was among 134 men sailing from South Africa to Longworth Camp, St Helena where many Boer PoWs were being held. On 23rd May however, he was admitted to hospital having injured his right leg 10 days earlier. He was released on 8th June but admitted to hospital again on 6th September, following a head wound received on 5th, he was released 10 days later.
On 10th October john was promoted to Lance Corporal returning with the rest of his draft, to re-join their battalion in South Africa on 16th January 1904. However, on 21st John was convicted, along with Private John Moore of assault by the local magistrate in Middleburg. He was sentenced to pay a fine of £3.00 (£305.00 in 2024) and it seems the fine was not paid as John served one months imprisonment with hard labour and reduced to the rank of Private.
On his release John extended his service with the colours from seven to eight years, remaining in South Africa and moving to Sanderton on 14th May, spending a further 11 days in hospital during February 1905.
In 1906 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion and sailed to India arriving on 10th November and moving to Secunderabad. On 29th October 1908 he was posted to Kamptee and left India the following year returning to Mullingar, Ireland on 4th December 1909 in preparation for his transfer to the reserve. His conduct was described as ‘Very Good’ and his qualifications gained included, the Mounted Infantry, as a Shoeingsmith and in 2nd class musketry. He had received two good conduct badges and in receipt of 5d a day good conduct pay. He was now 26 years old and described as 5.7¾” tall, 38” chest, 30” waist, a fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, with a small scar on the back of his neck. He gave his intended place of residence as 11 Princess Street, Ashton Under Lyne.
John became a Tram Conductor for Oldham Corporation Tramways and continued serving in the reserve attending training at Fleetwood in May 1911 and upon the expiry of his served time on 4th February 1914, aged 30, re-engaged to serve in the reserve for a further four years. John seems to have been in a relationship with Mary Smith nee Townley as they had a son, John junior born on 3rd September 1914. Although he seems not to have married her until after the war, despite the fact Mary is named as ‘Axon’ on John junior’s baptism record. They had another son James born in 1923.
On the declaration of War against Germany on 4th August 1914, John was immediately recalled to the Colours and posted to the newly formed 11th (Service) Battalion Manchester Regiment, formed in Ashton Under Lyne in August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army in the 34th Brigade, 11th Northern Division.
Following their training the division was inspected at Hankey Common on 31st May 1915 by HM King George V and on 12th June received orders to prepare for service in Gallipoli. Most of John’s division sailed aboard the Aquitania and Empress of Britain, landing on 6th and 7th August. John, however, did not disembark until 21st November according to his records. The battalion were then in dugouts on the beach below the Karakol Gap and on 15th December embarked from Suvla Point aboard HMT Carron sailing to Mudros. On 21st December aboard HMT Ermine they sailed for Imbros, landing next day followed by training and recovery after the tragedies of Gallipoli. On 27th January 1916 they sailed to Alexandria landing on 30th, more training at Sidi-Bashr camp followed by El Ferdan and Kantara, leaving on 30th June and sailing on the 2nd and 3rd July aboard the transports Toronto and Transylvania, arriving at Malta on 6thJuly and Marseilles on the 8th staying at Fournier Camp awaiting orders to entrain for the front.
On his release John extended his service with the colours from seven to eight years, remaining in South Africa and moving to Sanderton on 14th May, spending a further 11 days in hospital during February 1905.
In 1906 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion and sailed to India arriving on 10th November and moving to Secunderabad. On 29th October 1908 he was posted to Kamptee and left India the following year returning to Mullingar, Ireland on 4th December 1909 in preparation for his transfer to the reserve. His conduct was described as ‘Very Good’ and his qualifications gained included, the Mounted Infantry, as a Shoeingsmith and in 2nd class musketry. He had received two good conduct badges and in receipt of 5d a day good conduct pay. He was now 26 years old and described as 5.7¾” tall, 38” chest, 30” waist, a fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, with a small scar on the back of his neck. He gave his intended place of residence as 11 Princess Street, Ashton Under Lyne.
John became a Tram Conductor for Oldham Corporation Tramways and continued serving in the reserve attending training at Fleetwood in May 1911 and upon the expiry of his served time on 4th February 1914, aged 30, re-engaged to serve in the reserve for a further four years. John seems to have been in a relationship with Mary Smith nee Townley as they had a son, John junior born on 3rd September 1914. Although he seems not to have married her until after the war, despite the fact Mary is named as ‘Axon’ on John junior’s baptism record. They had another son James born in 1923.
On the declaration of War against Germany on 4th August 1914, John was immediately recalled to the Colours and posted to the newly formed 11th (Service) Battalion Manchester Regiment, formed in Ashton Under Lyne in August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army in the 34th Brigade, 11th Northern Division.
Following their training the division was inspected at Hankey Common on 31st May 1915 by HM King George V and on 12th June received orders to prepare for service in Gallipoli. Most of John’s division sailed aboard the Aquitania and Empress of Britain, landing on 6th and 7th August. John, however, did not disembark until 21st November according to his records. The battalion were then in dugouts on the beach below the Karakol Gap and on 15th December embarked from Suvla Point aboard HMT Carron sailing to Mudros. On 21st December aboard HMT Ermine they sailed for Imbros, landing next day followed by training and recovery after the tragedies of Gallipoli. On 27th January 1916 they sailed to Alexandria landing on 30th, more training at Sidi-Bashr camp followed by El Ferdan and Kantara, leaving on 30th June and sailing on the 2nd and 3rd July aboard the transports Toronto and Transylvania, arriving at Malta on 6thJuly and Marseilles on the 8th staying at Fournier Camp awaiting orders to entrain for the front.
On 11th July, the battalion left Marseilles, bound (after various route marches and stops) for the trenches at Wailly in the Arras sector and on 20th July 1916 John saw his first taste of life on the Western Front when they relieved the 7th Liverpool's at the front, during this first day the battalion suffered four casualties. They later saw service at the Battle of the Somme from 19th September and heavy shelling on the morning of 20th caused 8 casualties within the battalion. A similar scenario the next evening caused a further 15. They were involved in various operations between 26th - 30th September, costing the battalion 309 casualties.
John retuned to the UK on 17th April 1917, most likely because of wounds or sickness as he spent time in Fulham Military Hospital, Hammersmith from where he was given 10 days furlough from 23rd June - 3rd July which he spent at 141 Fleet Street, Ashton Under Lyne with Mary. He returned to France on 27th September and was posted to the 2/10th Battalion, seeing action in the third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
John was injured again and returned to the UK on 31st January 1918 spending time in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. He did not return to the front line and was posted to the regimental depot at Ashton Under Lyne where on 5th September 1918 he was discharged from the army under King’s Regulation Para 392 (xvi) ‘No longer physically fit for war service’ returning to his family at 141 Fleet Street.
On leaving the army he was given a ‘Certificate of Sobriety and Trustworthiness’, a £1.00 advance, suit of plain clothes, a civilian greatcoat and pension of 27/6 a week. He was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge No B10832.
The 1939 Register shows John, Mary and James living at 96 Miller Street Ashton Under Lyne and John as a Transport Permanent Way Labourer and Mary a Cotton Ring Spinner.
John died on 10th October 1962 aged 78 and was buried in Hurst Cemetery, Ashton-Under-Lyne.
John retuned to the UK on 17th April 1917, most likely because of wounds or sickness as he spent time in Fulham Military Hospital, Hammersmith from where he was given 10 days furlough from 23rd June - 3rd July which he spent at 141 Fleet Street, Ashton Under Lyne with Mary. He returned to France on 27th September and was posted to the 2/10th Battalion, seeing action in the third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
John was injured again and returned to the UK on 31st January 1918 spending time in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. He did not return to the front line and was posted to the regimental depot at Ashton Under Lyne where on 5th September 1918 he was discharged from the army under King’s Regulation Para 392 (xvi) ‘No longer physically fit for war service’ returning to his family at 141 Fleet Street.
On leaving the army he was given a ‘Certificate of Sobriety and Trustworthiness’, a £1.00 advance, suit of plain clothes, a civilian greatcoat and pension of 27/6 a week. He was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge No B10832.
The 1939 Register shows John, Mary and James living at 96 Miller Street Ashton Under Lyne and John as a Transport Permanent Way Labourer and Mary a Cotton Ring Spinner.
John died on 10th October 1962 aged 78 and was buried in Hurst Cemetery, Ashton-Under-Lyne.
The Story To read the story, click here for John Axon junior's page.
Medal Details
- 1914-15 Star: 7460 CPL. J.AXON. MANCH.R.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 7460. A.CPL. J.AXON. MANCH.R.
- Victory Medal: 7460. A.CPL. J.AXON. MANCH.R.
This page last updated 15 Jun 24