John Sherriff (1895-1975)
Grocer's assistant from Bishop Auckland served with 20th DLI won DCM in the '100 Days Offensive'
John Wilfred Sherriff, the son of William Henderson and Sarah Sherriff, was born in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, on 1 August 1895. He had four brothers and four sisters and joined the 20th battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in 1915. At some time in 1917, he was Mentioned in Despatches. He rose to the rank of sergeant and, in 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal, he was also wounded in April of that year. During the ‘100 Days Offensive’ he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After demobilisation, he married Elizabeth Maria Etherington on 30 August 1924 in Birtley and they had six daughters.
His award of the DCM was gazetted on 3 September 1919 and the citation reads:
“During the period 25th February, 1918, to 16th September, 1918 he showed a fine example to the men. During the retirement on the Somme he carried out the duties of platoon commander in a highly satisfactory manner. On the 4th September his conduct was again of the highest order. He repeatedly exposed himself when encouraging the men and directing fire”.
International Encyclopedia of the First World War, Hundred Days Offensive:
https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/hundred_days_offensive
Durham Light Infantry, medal collection database:
http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/7532/Medal-collection
Civil Parish: Bishop Auckland
Birth date: 1-Aug-1895
Death date: 18-Jan-1975
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Eden Arms Hotel, Leasingthorne Lane, Merrington, Durham (1901 census)
19 Mary Terrace, Coronation, South Church, Bishop Auckland (1911 census)
1 Anson Street, West Hartlepool (1939 Register)
Employment: Grocer’s assistant (1911 census)
Boiler shop labourer (1939 Register)
Family: Father: William Henderson Sherriff
Mother: Sarah Sherriff (nee Brown)
Siblings: Mary Jane, Sylvester, Edith Blanch, Nora Emily, Frederick William, Albert Edwin, Ada Florence & Ernest Randolf Sherriff
Wife: Elizabeth Maria Etherington
Daughters: Elizabeth M, Patricia, Veronica, Kathleen, Monica & Hilda M Sherriff
Military service:
20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Regimental number: 20/142
Sergeant
Medal(s): Distinguished Conduct Medal
Military Medal
Mentioned in Dispatches
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards