Person

John Thomas Middleton was born on 16 May 1895 in Stockton-on-Tees. His father was local labourer John Middleton (born 1853). His mother was Emma Middleton (born 1852), also from Stockton. The 1911 census records that by that time his parents had been married for 38 years and during their marriage 11 children had been born, of whom nine were surviving. Of eight known children six were boys and two were girls. At both the 1910 and 1911 censuses the Middleton family lived at 73 Bickersteth Street, Stockton. In 1911 John was working as a painter at a boilermaker’s facility. His Royal Navy service record from 1916 records his occupation as a pig iron worker.

John enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on 3 September 1914 but transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) on 7 September 1914. He served as an able seaman with the service number KX/161. He joined Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division (RND) and saw service at Antwerp, Belgium in October 1914 and Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915. On 6 May 1915 he suffered a bullet wound to the chest requiring hospital treatment. He re-joined Howe Battalion at Gallipoli from 27 June 1915 until 4 October 1915 when he was invalided to the UK suffering from enteritis.

After medical treatment John was posted to Blandford Camp in Dorset which was the depot for the RND. From there he was drafted to the Stoker Unit at Crystal Palace, London. He was then drafted to Devonport joining the Royal Navy as a stoker 2nd class on 6 June 1916 with the new service number K33729. He served on the destroyer HMS Marmion from 18 July 1916. On 21 October 1917 Marmion collided with HMS Tirade in the North Sea off Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland. Attempts were made to tow Marmion but she sank with the loss of 72 crew including John. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

John Thomas Middleton was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One. John married Mary Frances Middleton nee Lyall in 1917 and as his widow she received his war medals.

Civil Parish: Stockton on Tees

Birth date: 16-May-1895

Death date: 21-Oct-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 73 Bickersteth Street, Stockton (1901 and 1911 census)

Employment: Painter at boilermaker’s (1911 census)
Pig iron worker (1916 Royal Navy service record)

Family: Parents: John Middleton (b 1853), Emma Middleton (b 1852)
Siblings: Martha Middleton (b 1875), Albert Middleton (b 1880), Isabella Middleton (b 1884), William Middleton (b 1886), George Middleton (b 1888), Robert Middleton (b 1890), Ernest Middleton (b 1899)
Spouse: Mary Frances Middleton nee Lyall

Military service:

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Service Number KX/161
Able seaman
Royal Navy
Service Number K33729
Stoker
HMS Marmion

Medal(s): 1914 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham