Born: 22 March 1897, Bradford
Died: 9 November 1918
Buried: Maubeuge-Central Cemetery
Address: 15 Bromet Place, Eccleshill
Parents: William and Mary Anne, nee Walton
Spouse:
Siblings: Israel, Harry, Ada, Albert, Alfred
Occupation: Parcel boy, Bradford City Tramways
Organisations/clubs: Eccleshill Congregational Sunday School
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s
Children:
Regiment: Machine Gun Corps
John Abel Waite
John Abel Waite was born in
Eccleshill on the 22nd of March
1897, the son of William and Mary
Anne, nee Walton
In 1911 the family were living at 15
Bromet Place, Eccleshill. John,
FWS 14, was working as a worsted
spinner doffer. He was associated
with the Eccleshill Congregational
Sunday School.
John enlisted on the 15th October
1915 as Private 19/136 in the 19th
Local Reserve Battalion of the
West Yorkshire Regiment. He was
19 years of age and gave his
occupation as a parcel boy at
Bradford City Tramways.
At some point he transferred into
the 32nd Battalion of the Machine
Gun Corp (Infantry) as Private
31019. His Battalion joined the
11th Division in Egypt in March
1916 whilst manning the Suez
Canal defences.
On the 17th of June 1916 the
Division was ordered to France to
reinforce the Third Army on the
Somme. By the 27th of July they
were in the front line on the
Somme and took part in the capture
of Wundt-Werk, Flers-Courcelette
and Theipval.
In 1917 John was in action in
Operations in Ancre and then
moved north to Flanders for the
Battle of Messines. He was
involved in the Third Battle of Lys
known as Passchendaele at
Langemarck, Polygon Wood,
Broodseinde and Poelcapelle.
John survived all these operations
only to be killed in action on the
9th of November 1918 two days
before the end of the War during
the final advance in Picardy. He
was 22 years of age.
He is buried in the Maubeuge-
Centre Cemetery which had
remained in the hands of the
Germans until it was entered by the
3rd Grenadier Guards in the early
morning of the 9th November
1918.
John left his effects to his mother
Mary who received £20.2.0d on the
24th April 1919. This included his
War Gratuity of £17.10.0d.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
