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John Wilton Ironside (1880-1917)


South Shields gardener served as an able seaman in the Royal Naval Division


John Wilton Ironside was born on 5 August 1880 in South Shields. His father was Scottish-born coal trimmer William Ironside (1856-1935). His mother was Bristol-born marine steward’s daughter Hannah Ironside nee Wilton (1857-1942). His parents married in Scotland in 1876 and had six children, but only two were surviving at the time of the 1911 census. John had an older sister Julia Isabella Ironside (b 1878).

In 1881 the Ironside family lived at 19 Byron Street, South Shields. By 1891 they had moved to 26 John Williamson Street, South Shields. At the time of the 1901 census John was a boarder at New Kennels, Simonburn, Northumberland where he was working as a gardener. This was close to where Mary Ann Ballantine (b 1881), a farmer’s daughter lived. The couple married in 1903 in Hexham. Their first son James Wilton Ironside was born in Simonburn in 1905. Their second son was born in South Shields in 1906. In 1911 the family lived at 68 Wouldhave Street, South Shields. John was still working as a gardener at the time of the census.

John became part of the Army Reserve on 10 December 1915. He entered active service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) on 12 June 1917. He was drafted to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on 11 October 1917 and joined Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division (RND) on 13 November 1917. John was killed in action on 31 December 1917 during the action of Welsh Ridge. He has no known grave and is honoured on the Thiepval Memorial. He is remembered in his home town on the Porch and Plaque 1914-18, St Bede’s Roman Catholic Church, South Shields.

Thomas Robinson was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One and his medals were sent to one of his sons.

Civil Parish: South Shields

Birth date: 05-Aug-1880

Death date: 31-Dec-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 19 Byron Street, South Shields (1881 census)
26 John Williamson Street, South Shields (1891 census)
New Kennels, Simonburn, Northumberland (1901 census)
68 Wouldhave Street, South Shields (1911 census)

Employment: Gardener (1901 and 1911 census)

Family: Parents: William Ironside (1856-1935), Hannah Ironside nee Wilton (1857-1942)
Siblings: Julia Isabella Ironside (1878)
Spouse: Mary Ann Ironside nee Ballantine (1881)
Children: James Wilton Ironside (1905), John Robert Ironside (1906)

Military service:

Army reserve, 10 December 1915
Entered Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), 12 June 1917
R/1650
Ordinary seaman, able seaman
Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
Porch and Plaque 1914-18, St Bede’s Roman Catholic Church, South Shields

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham

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