Person

This article appeared in the published Chester le Street Chronicle on 17 May 1918:

Mrs. J. Griffen, 6 Iveson Street, Sacriston, was officially informed on Friday morning that her husband, Pte. John Edw. Griffen, N.F., who had been reported as missing since June last, was killed. He had been out since the commencement of the war, and had passed through several engagements without a scratch.

Unfortunately, the Chronicle seems to have misspelt John Edward’s surname as all other sources use the spelling Griffin. The article in the Chronicle also includes a report of James Oughton, who was possibly a relative of John Edward’s wife, whose maiden name was Oughton.

It seems likely that John Edward volunteered to fight at the beginning of the First World War. His medal index card shows that he original served with the Durham Light Infantry and that he disembarked in France on 25 August 1915. He would be transferred to the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers at some time before his death.

The official record does not seem to agree as to the date of John Edward’s death. According to Soldiers Died in the Great War, he was killed on 18 June 1917. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the date of 13 June, although some of the supporting documents on the website mention 18 June. The list of soldiers’ effects has the date range of 16-18 June. A look at the battalion war diary for June 1917 would suggest that 16 June is the most likely date for John Edward’s death. On that date the action undertaken by the 13th Battalion near Croiselles saw 14 out of 16 officers become casualties and 214 of 380 other ranks were either killed or injured. In August 1917 the 13th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers was amalgamated with the 12th Battalion.

It seems likely that John Edward was buried near to the place that he died. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records show that he was reburied at the Ballieul Road East Cemetery in 1922 as part of their effort to concentrate burial sites.

Sources:
13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers’ war diary, The National Archives, WO 95/2155/2

Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert

Death date: 1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: West Terrance, Billy Row, Crook (1901 census)
Greenside, Mirfield, Yorkshire (1911 census)
6 Iveson Street, Sacriston (1918, Chester le Street Chronicle)

Employment: Coal miner (1911 census)

Family: Parents: John Edward Griffin, Elizabeth A Griffin
Siblings: Margaret Griffin, Beatrice Griffin, S Arthur Griffin, William Griffin, Eleanor Griffin (1901 and 1911 census)
Wife: Mary May Griffin, nee Oughton (remarried 1920 to William Dawson Turner)
Son: Thomas Edward Griffin, born 1915

Military service:

25 August 1915; disembarked in France
Private
Durham Light Infantry, 17012
13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 46520

Medal(s): 1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy, France
Saint Peter’s Church, Sacriston, wall plaque (now at Working Men’s Club, Sacriston)
Sacriston Institute, Front Street, Sacriston, wall plaque (now at Fulforth Institute)

Gender: Male

Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office. Jack Mulligan and Lewis Cooper