No.10678, Private John Alfred AYRES
Aged 24
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John Alfred Ayres was born in Lode in November 1892,(Newmarket Q4-1892 3B:496), son of Alfred and Hephzibah AYRES (née AYRES).
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Station Road, Lode with his father Alfred AYRES [41] farm labourer; his mother Hephzibah [33]; brothers William [15] (farm labourer) and Sidney [1] and sisters Malvina [13], Louisa [8] and Ruth [4]. The whole family were born in Lode. 1911 census...Aged 18,a farm labourer, he was still at Station Road, Lode with his parents, brothers William, and Sidney, and sisters Doris [8] and Kathleen [3] both born in Lode. His mother was still there according to the pension card(1919) His cousin Charles Edward AYRES was killed serving in France in 1916. see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. Many pages missing from his records, but he attested in Bury St. Edmunds on 10th December 1916, giving his age as 23 years
1 month, a cowman, next of kin his father Alfred John AYRES, 5ft 5.5 inches (166.4 cm) tall, chest 38"-41" (96.5 to 101.6 cm). He was placed in the Reserves and then mobilised on 6th May 1916.
Posted to the 3rd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, he was then sent to the British Expeditionary Force in France on 26th August 1916, joining his unit, the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment in the field on 11th September. He was reported missing on 8th May 1917 and presumed killed on or after that date. He left no effects but his medals were sent to his father at Station Road, Lode. On the 8th May 1817 during the battle of Arras the 1st East Surreys were in the line in front of Fresnoy. The first attack came at 3 am., that attack, and the next wave were beaten off but then the Germans broke through on their left and the battalion were swamped by the weight of numbers and virtually wiped out. Only one officer came out un-injured and they lost around 550. CWGC records 113 dead, of which 106 have no known grave.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
