Name
John Bass
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/03/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
406252
Canadian Infantry
18th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RIDGE WOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
II. J. 6.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial,
St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin,
St Faith’s Church Memorial, Walsworth
Pre War
John was born in Hitchin on the 30th June 1891. He married Miss Annie Beatrice Crook in 1915.
Before emigrating to Canada, he had worked for W.B. Moss the Hitchin grocers. He enlisted in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada on the 16th April 1915. At the time of his enlistment his next of kin was given as his mother, E Bass of 14 St Michael’s Mount, Hitchin. He married Miss Annie Beatrice Crook in 1915 and they lived, first at 8 Ickleford Road, Hitchin and then, from 9th May 1916, the 26 Chatsworth Road, Luton, Beds.
He was 5’ 6”, fair haired, blue eyed and fair haired.
Wartime Service
John held Regimental Number 406252 in the 18th Canadian Infantry.
He had only been in France for two months when he was hit during a bombardment and died four hours later.
He is buried in Plot 2, Row J, Grave 6 at the Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, Voormezele, which is south of Ypres in Belgium near where he fell. The Canadians used this cemetery during the time that they occupied the front line nearby.
Additional Information
John is also commemorated on his parents' headstone in Hitchin Cemetery. His inscription reads:
ALSO JOHN BASS SON OF ABOVE KILLED IN ACTION 2ND MARCH 1916 AGED 24 YEARS
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, National Defence Headquarters, Canada. Paul Johnson, "The Ypres Salient" by M. Scott. Lawson Thompson Scrapbooks. Herts Express dated 18th March 1916, Cilla Dyson
