Ref ID: 3118
Name
John Close.
Description
Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Private John Close.
Life Story
Name: John Close.
Service Number: 4258.
Rank: Private.
Battalion: 1st Battalion.
Regiment: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Born: 4th March 1896, Ballymena, County Antrim.
Died: 23rd September 1918.
Address: 115 Cambria Street, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
John Close, son of John and Matilda Close, lived at 115 Cambria Street, Shankill Road, Belfast.
The 1911 Ireland Census has John living at 44 Railway Street (Ballymena No 3 Urban, Antrim) with his mother, occupation, Yarn Spinner, father, Factory Labourer, two sisters, Elizabeth, 12 years, Martha, under 1 year, and two brothers, Richard, 10 years, and Robert 8 years. Johns occupation at this time is given as Mill Worker.
John joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
He was posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 25th of May 1915.
John Close was a Private in 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when, as a Prisoner Of War, he Died of Influenza within Mannheim Prison Camp, Germany, on the 23rd September 1918 aged 23 years.
A local newspaper stated in July 1916.
Lance Corporal John Close Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, wounded, had been at the Dardanelles for twelve months. His mother resides at 115 Cambrai Street.
Another states in 1918.
Pte John Close Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, missing. News to his mother at 115 Cambria Street.
Another in 1919 finally states.
Pte John Close, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 115 Cambrai Street Belfast, died in Germany.
John was buried within Mannheim Principal Cemetery, Germany, however the Commonwealth War Graves Commission states that after the war over 1500 Soldiers who had died and were buried within 190 different burial sites around Germany, Mannheim Principal Cemetery included, would be removed, brought together, reburied within one of four Cemeteries.
Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel was one of those four, John was one of those Servicemen.
Johns Soldiers Effects were left to his mother.
His Will, signed and dated the16th December 1916 left his Property and Effects to his mother Matilda too.
A Pension Application Form shows his mother as claimant.
A Dependant Pension Application Form shows his mother as claimant also.
John received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1915 Star.
He is Remembered at Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
1918
Classification
Newspaper, Photograph, Photograph - Belfast Telegraph
