WW1 Casualty: Sergeant 626 John Platt - Sergeant 626 John Platt
(C) Liverpool Echo, 4th June 1915
| Unit/Regiment |
5th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
26/05/1915 |
Age at Death |
24 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Prescot Churchyard
NP 162 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of Edward and Mary Platt, of 37, Manchester Rd., Prescot. |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
The Platt family lived at 34, Houghton Street, Prescot. Edward was a 42 year old Saddler. Along with his wife Mary (41), they had children Thomas (15), George (12), John (10), Harry (8) and Annie (3).
1911 Census -
The family now lived at 2, Garden Walk, Prescot. John was 20 years old and worked as a Test Clerk at the Wire Works.
|
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Prescot |
| How Died |
Died of Wounds |
Theatre of War |
Home |
| Research Ref. No. |
P223 |
Service DetailsJohn Platt was born in Prescot on the 16th January 1891, the third of four sons to Edward and Mary Platt.
He was a long serving pre-war Territorial, his number of 626 being issued in 1908
The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13th aboard s.s. King Edward. Arriving at Le Havre the same day.
The Battalion was moved around regularly without seeing action, until 28th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22nd.
On 2nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British lines.
More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed.
At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.
The fighting continued over the next few days, with the War Diary recording for the 13th May
'4.00 a.m. Enemy opened heavy artillery fore on our whole position and ground in rear.
8.00 a.m. Battalion moved to Divisional Support Line in rear of Wieltje. 'B' Coy under Capt. Hammill sent to support Royal Irish Regiment in Shell Trap Farm trenches.
2.00 p.m. Bn. moved to the left of the Support Line with left on road C.21 D, Right near King's Own Regiment.
8.00 p.m. Sent to Machine Guns to Royal Irish Regt.'
This is the end of the entry for the 13th. The burial record for Sgt Platt from Prescot Parish Church, shown below, reports that he was wounded on 13th May but it is impossible to know for certain which part of the action brought about his wounding.
He moved through the casualty chain and ultimately ended up in hospital in Glasgow, where he succumbed to his wounds on 26th May. His body was brought home to Prescot and he received a full Military Funeral on 29th May.
A list of Prescot men reported as "Died of Wounds" which appeared in the Liverpool Daily Post on 31st May 1915
How the Liverpool Echo reported Jack Platt's death in June 1915
An extract from Prescot Parish Church Burial register, recording Sgt. Platt's burial
An entry in the Parish Magazine of 25th August 1915 which states 'John Platt, Sergeant, 5th South Lancs. Died of wounds in hospital. Buried in Prescot Churchyard. May 29th, aged 24.'
John Platt's Medal Index Card, confirming that he died of wounds in May 1916
The Liverpool Echo of 31st May 1915 reported Private Platt's funeral at Prescot
Locating John Platt's grave in Prescot Churchyard proved difficult, but I eventually located it, finding it to be badly broken. Sgt. Platt's name is on a cross which originally stood at the head of tthe grave but has now been broken off and placed at the foot of the grave.
The picture above shows the grave in its current state
The inscription at the base of the cross, now lying recumbent on the grave
At the foot of the grave stands the above inscription from Sgt. Platt's works colleagues
The Register of Soldiers Effects, listing John Platt's father, Edward, as next of kin
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