Also Served: John Atherton - John ATHERTON
18 Cyprus Street, Prescot Pte 2195, 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment John was a pre war Territorial but signed up for military service on 4th August 1914 on the outbreak of war. At the time, he was an 18 year old clerk employed at the Wire Works, was single and lived at the above address. The family were recorded at this address in the 1911 census, where Robert Atherton, a 47 year old Watch maker, lived with his wife of 26 years, Ann, and their 8 children, of whom John was the fourth.
John was an elder brother of Redvers Henry Atherton
He went to France with the 1/5th Battalion on 13th February 1915 and was appointed Lance Corporal 23rd January 1915), Corporal (31st May 1915), Lance Sergeant (14th August 1915) and eventually Sergeant on 4th September 1915.
In the Territorial Force renumbering of February 1917 he was renumbered to 240470.
He was eventually disembodied on 18th February 1919 when he was granted an Honorary commission as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force.
It isn't clear when 2/Lt Atherton finally left the Air Force, though his address appears to have changed from 16 to 28 Cyprus Street.
John was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Atherton's entry on the EFD Memorial
(Additional research by John Yates)
Ref. No.: A1688
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