Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown War Memorial

In Memory of

Corporal John Stanley Tomlinson

53440
Training Depot, Aldershot, Royal Engineers
Died on 16th July 1917 Age 27

Corporal Tomlinson was the second son of Mr. John Tomlinson of 167, Crow Lane West, Earlestown, but was brought up by his grandfather in Shrewsbury. He was a joiner by trade and had been employed for short periods at the Vulcan Foundry and at Messrs. T. and T. Vicars’ Works. At the time of joining the colours he was engaged on constructional work at Leigh.

CWGC states that he was with the Training Depot at Aldershot, while the obituary published in the Newton and Earlestown Guardian on July 20th 1917, he was with the 3rd Pontoon Park, attached to the Royal Engineers.

Corporal Tomlinson joined the Army in September 1914, and put in his training at Chatham and Aldershot. He crossed to France in the middle of 1915.

According to the obituary, he was found to be suffering from shell shock, following an accident which occurred whilst he was in the act of stopping a runaway French horse. The animal bit his right hand, causing a bad wound. He never really recovered his health and went into hospital in France. He returned to the lines but had to be sent home. He was at Netley Hospital, but then was transferred to Paisley War Hospital where he died from peritonitis.

Corporal Tomlinson is buried in Newton-le-Willows Cemetery in Grave NC 2628.

A Private Josiah Tomlinson, 20443, of the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment died of wounds on 23rd July 1916 and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen. SDGW states that, while his birthplace was Broughton, Cumberland, he lived in Golborne and enlisted in Earlestown. No obiturary for this soldier can be found however.