A 69 year old private!

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by General Knowledge, Apr 11, 2019.

  1. General Knowledge

    General Knowledge Well-Known Member

    Hi Everyone,

    I am curious as I came across this man, he died in December 1939 at the age of 69 whilst still it would seem serving as a Private in the W.Yorks regiment.

    D/8241 He was Private John Edwin Masterman. he is buried at Fulford Cemetery, North Yorkshire
    Can anyone expand on how he died and what he was still doing in the Army?
    Many thanks
    Linda
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  3. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Last edited: Apr 11, 2019
    Ramiles and CL1 like this.
  4. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I did wonder, although that "Home Defence Battalion" poster (in post #3) says "Men 41-55" I'm not sure how strict such criteria were, provided someone was quite willing to serve and thought fit.

    Still Fighting After All These Years – Meet Some of History’s Oldest Soldiers - MilitaryHistoryNow.com

    Has a bit on "The mission to destroy the Ehrenfels" - The mission "carried out by the Calcutta Light Horse, a local reserve regiment mostly made up of retired veterans of the Boer War." - " the inspiration for a book entitled Boarding Party: The Last Action of the Calcutta Light Horse as well as the 1980 Gregory Peck, David Niven film The Sea Wolves."

    As regards the "Home Guard" though for instance, there's an interesting IWM article here: The Real 'Dad's Army'

    "Dad's Army"

    Private Godfrey - Wikipedia

    upload_2019-4-11_20-0-2.jpeg
     
  5. General Knowledge

    General Knowledge Well-Known Member

    That's interesting, are you referring to the Home Guard or is something different. I have just been writing up on the Wiltshire battalions and according to regs they had to retire at 65.
     
  6. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Regimental Home Defence Battalions pre-dated the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers (L.D.V.).
    They must have made an exception in Private Masterman's case.
     
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  7. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Quite a young chap compared with those listed below? :)

    Kyle



     
  8. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Field Marshals never retire; they are paid till they die.
    Chris
     
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  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    The casualty lists just have him recorded as 'Died' with no further explanation.
     
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  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: John Masterman
    Given Initials: J E
    Rank: Private
    Death Date: 15 Dec 1939
    Number: 8241
    Birth Place: York
    Residence: York
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: United Kingdom
    Regiment at Death: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own)
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: John E Masterman
    Death Age: 69
    Birth Date: abt 1870
    Registration Date: Dec 1939
    Registration district: York
    Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
    Volume: 9c
    Page: 1869

    UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current
    Name: Pvt John Edwin Masterman
    Death Date: 15 Dec 1939
    Cemetery: Fulford Cemetery
    Burial or Cremation Place: Fulford, York Unitary Authority, North Yorkshire, England
    Has Bio?: N
    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56208560

    Name John Edwin Masterman
    Spouse Laura Gant
    Father John Rayson Masterman
    Mother Elizabeth Goodwin
    Children Edwin Masterman
    Birth 07/1870 York Yorkshire England
    Death 15/12/1939 York Yorkshire England
    Residence 02 Apr 1911 1 St pauls street, Holgate, York, Yorkshire-East Riding, England

    TD
     

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