Name
John (poss Jack) Randle (poss Randall)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/03/1918
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
37877
Somerset Light Infantry
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ROCLINCOURT VALLEY CEMETERY
I V. E. 4
France
UK & Other Memorials
Hunsdon War Memorial
Memorial Plaque St Dunstan’s Church, Hunsdon
Pre War
Born in 1877, in Hunsdon, to parents William and Maria, he had five brothers, one of whom was Walter, who also died in the war, and three sisters. In 1881 his father was employed as a builders carman. In 1891 the census shows that his mother was a widow and John was employed as a farm labourer and they are living in Widford Road, Hunsdon, with some of their family. By 1901 John had moved to Bethnal Green and in 1911 he was a boarder living in 74 Sewardstone Road, Victoria Park, also in Bethnal Green, he was employed as a Hay Carman.
Wartime Service
Joined the 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry which went to France on 22nd August 1914, and served the whole of the war on the Western Front. They fought first at Le Cateau and in 1915 at Second Ypres. They took part in the Somme campaign in 1916 and the following year at 3rd Ypres. On 19th March 1918 the battalion moved to Arras and the on to Fampoux, where they were when the German Spring Offensive started on 21st March. No attack took place on their front, but they were heavily shelled, for the next few days the Battalion was involved in holding back the German advances, but units were forced to retreat. In the early hours of 29th March German shelling began in the early hours and by 7.00am they had reached and were occupying some of the British trenches, a counter attack by the 1st Somerset L.I. forced them out and fierce fighting continued during the day. By the end of the day the Battalion had suffered 3 0fficers and 80 other ranks killed one of whom was John Randall.
Acknowledgments
Terry & Glenis Collins
