BOLTON, John Edgar

John Bolton was born at Halesowen. He enlisted in the Worcesters and was sent to the 14th Battalion (Severn Valley Pioneers) in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. They fought on the Somme in 1916 and in the particularly hard fought battle of the Ancre in November and December. A fierce battle was fought at Grandcourt in February 1917 and they followed up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March. At some point Private John Bolton was seriously injured. He returned to Britain for further treatment but died of his wounds. He was 36 years of age and is buried in Halesowen cemetery (J 7). His name is commemorated on the Halesowen Memorial. His wife remarried and moved to the Caravan at Cradley but was also buried in the same plot in 1986.