John Aykroyd

JOHN AYKROYD

Private 16/1539, 1st/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

Died 9th October 1917 aged 38

Buried Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium

Husband of Amy Aykroyd

Lived 11, Powell Street, Heckmondwike

John was born in 1879 in London, his father Simeon was a felt Carpet Printer and the family moved around the country before coming to live in Liversedge sometime between 1887 and 1891. He was one of eight children and his brothers also served in the army during The Great War.

John married Amy Leach in 1906, they had no children. He was a member of Westgate Chapel and before the war he worked as a Boot Riveter.

He died during the assault on Passchendaele Ridge. His Battalion left the dugouts at night in the pouring rain, the going was described as very heavy and the men had great difficulty finding the way and getting through the mud. The Battalion came under enemy fire and most men were killed by snipers or machine gun fire.

The attack by ten British and Australian Divisions of both the Fifth and Second Armies 'proved a tragic fiasco' (Liddle Hart).{PL-003}

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