John Entwistle was born in Bolton Lancs about 1898. The 1901 census places the family at Southfield, Westhoughton, Bolton. The head of the household was William Entwistle aged 43, a brickworks manager, his wife was Jane 43 and their children were Carrie19, Annie 13 and John 2.
John’s Commonwealth War Grave Certificate (below), states that he was the son of William and Jane Entwistle of Arosfa, Leeswood, Mold, Flintshire.
UK Soldiers who died in The Great War 1914 -1919 on www.ancestry.co.uk states that he was born in Bolton but when he enlisted (in Chester), he was resident in Leeswood.
John’s Army Service Records do still exist and are accessible on Ancestry .co.uk but they are in poor condition and not always easy to decipher. They tell us that he enlisted in August 1916 at the age of 17 yrs and 6 months. His trade/calling was ‘Transport wagon driver’. He was described as 5 ft 7 inches tall and single. His next of kin was his father William Entwistle.
He was a reservist until February 1917 when after a medical at Wrexham, he was despatched to join the Mechanical Transport Depot ASC. and was kept on Home Service until September 1917. He was then detailed to join the British Expeditionary Force spending time in Italy and France.
One disciplinary incident was noted on his records on the 27th January 1918. He was found guilty of having a dirty rifle on parade and was ‘confined to barracks’ for 5 days.
A relatives’ form completed after John’s death lists his father William and mother Jane both of Arosfa, Leeswood. John had no brothers and his sisters were Carrie Entwistle, 38 and Annie Morris 31.
There is correspondence between the army and William Entwistle concerning John’s medals and commemorative scroll and plaque. There is also a slip that his mother be paid a £3 ..18 .. 2d separation allowance.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour index card for John Entwistle which states his name, rank and regiment details and which confirms that he srved from 12.2.17 until 25. 10.18. The card is signed by Jane Entwistle and dated 19.9.19. It says that he was killed in action.