Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown War Memorial

In Memory of

Private John William Dunn

300239
18th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Formerly 250352 Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry
Died of Wounds 29th March 1918 Age 22

Private John William Dunn was the son of William and Jessie Dunn of 110 High Street, Newton-le-Willows. He was a former pupil at St. Peter's. According to his obituary published in the NEG of April 12th 1918, he "broke off a promising career when war broke out, leaving a good position in the accountancy department of the White Star Line*, Liverpool, to take his place with the Lancashire Yeomanry, of which he was a member." He was on the Western Front for a long period.

At the time of John's death, his father was serving on the Western Front as a "vet" and he had a brother with the Royal Engineers "somewhere in the Eastern arena".

John is buried in Etretat Churchyard Extension in Plot II, Row B, Grave 9. Etretat is a small seaside town about twenty six kilometres north of Le Havre. In December 1914, No 1 General Hospital was established in Etretat and it remained there until December 1918. In July 1917, it was taken over by No 2 (Presbyterian USA) Base Hospital Unit, but it continued to operate as a British hospital. Etretat Churchyard Extension contains 282 First World War burials and four from the Second World War. There are also 12 German graves in the extension.

* Probably best known as the owners of the Titanic.