Person

The following information has been contributed by Chloe from Wolsingham School:
John Crawhall Waller, known as Jack, was the son of George Harker Waller and his wife Sarah Ann Waller. He was born in Stanhope, County Durham in 1889.

In 1901, when John was 12 years old, he had three siblings; Annie Harley Waller (14 years old), Mary Elizabeth Waller (ten years old) and Jennie Pratt Waller (eight years old). At this time the Waller family was located in Stanhope and John’s father was working as a railway signal steam raiser in Stanhope.

Wolsingham Grammar school magazine, “The Phoenix” reports Jack joining the school in 1908, describing him as “a successful cricketer and footballer”. When Jack joined the army to serve with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) he became a private with a service number of 45391 .

Jack died on 11 October 1918. He was on his return journey home from Salonica, during which he was taken ill with pneumonia in Italy. It is unclear whether he died in a hospital in Italy or whilst on a hospital ship bound for England. He was due to be married after he got home. Jack received the Victory medal, the British War Medal and the 1914-15 Star for his service.


Further research has found the additional information to add to Jack’s story:
In August 1906 Jack was appointed as a pupil teacher at Stanhope Wesleyan school for a two year engagement. It was after this that Jack joined Wolsingham Grammar School.

By 1911 the Waller family had moved to Garnet House in Stanhope. George was now a quarry manager and two of his daughters were working as teachers. Jack was not with his family on the night of this census but is listed as a visitor in the household of Thomas Stainsbry in Durham.

Jack began his military service in France on 7 September 1915, as part of the RAMC. Jack was initially attached to the 66th Field Ambulance who left France to journey to Salonica in October 1915. During at least some of his time in Salonica, Jack was based at the 28th General Hospital.

In both August and September 1918, Jack was admitted to hospital with malaria, a disease which was endemic amongst the troops in this area. It was not long after Jack returned to his unit that he became ill with pneumonia, leading to his death.

Jack is buried in Faenza Communal Cemetery in Italy. In addition to being commemorated at Wolsingham Grammar School, he is also remembered on several memorials in various locations in South Shields. His parents were living in Marsden, South Shields at the time of his death.

Wolsingham Grammar School planted 18 oak trees during 1918 and 1919, each commemorating an old scholar at the school who lost their life serving in the First World War. The following inscription appears on a plaque by the trees: “These trees were planted in memory of Old Boys who fell in the Great War “non timidi pro patria mori”.

Civil Parish: Wolsingham

Birth date: 1889

Death date: 11-Oct-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Back Lane, Stanhope (1891 Census)
West Front Street, Stanhope (1901 Census)
27 Hawthorn Terrace, Durham (1911 Census)

Education: Wolsingham Grammar school

Religion: Wesleyan

Employment: Pupil Teacher – Stanhope Wesleyan School 1906-1908
School Teacher (1911 Census)

Family: Parents: George Harker Waller, Sarah Ann Waller nee Earl
Siblings: Annie Harley Waller, Mary Elizabeth Waller, Jennie Pratt Waller

Military service:

Royal Army Medical Corps
66th Field Ambulance
28th General Hospital
Private
Service Number 45391

Medal(s): Victory medal
British War Medal
1914-15 Star

Memorial(s): Cross 1914-18, West Harton Methodist, South Shields
Stained Glass Window 1914-18, All Saint’s Church, South Shields
Stained Glass Window 1914-18, St. Andrew’s Church, Marsden
Obelisk 1914-18 1939-45, Village Green, Whitburn
Plaque 1914-18, Wesleyan Methodist Church, Whitburn
Plaque 1914-18, Grammar School, Wolsingham
Photos 1914-18, Grammar School, Wolsingham
Trees 1914-18, Grammar School, Wolsingham

Gender: Male

Contributed by Chloe Allen, Wolsingham School