John Culbert
JOHN ARNOLD CULBERT
Private 46575, 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Died of Wounds 28th October 1918 aged 27
Buried Giavera British Cemetery Giavera del Montello, Provincia di Treviso, Veneto Italy
Son of James and Ann Culbert
Lived at 10, Park Road, Heckmondwike
In the 1891 census James Albert Culbert, John's father, was living as a boarder at 14 ,Liversedge Hall Lane, Norristhorpe, he was working as a Dyer's Labourer. James Albert had been born in Halifax in 1868, he married Ann Woodcock at St Peter's Church, Birstall on 27th March 1893. In 1871 Ann, born in 1867, was living with her parents in Shavers Hill, opposite the Sir Robert Peel Public House, she had been baptised at a non-conformist baptism. In 1891 Ann lived in Blanket Hall Street and by 1891 lived in Swashland, near Wharton Terrace and was a Rug Weaver. At the wedding, James made his mark (X) in the register. His deceased father had been a Chimney Sweep. Ann was able to sign her own name, her father had been a Blanket Weaver.
In 1901 James and Ann were living at 119, Halifax Road, Staincliffe with their two children John Arnold, now aged 7 years, and Eveline, aged 1year. In 1902 Evelyn (sic) Allatt Culbert was buried at Westgate Independent Chapel in Heckmondwike.
In 1911 the family, James, Ann and John were living at 10, Park Road, Heckmondwike, in a house with three rooms. They had a lodger, John Tolson, aged 81 a widower. In 1916 John Arnold Culbert was working for J & M S Sharp & Co as a Cloth Finisher and he worshipped at the United Methodist Free Church.
He enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers at Halifax on 29th July 1916 when he was 25 years old. He was engaged to a girl called Alice. John's military records were destroyed during WWII as result of enemy bombing.
The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, by declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. The 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November 1918. The Northumberland Fusiliers were fighting in the area around the River Piave. At some point in this fighting John was wounded and admitted to hospital. The final Battle of Vittorio -Veneto ended with the Armistice.
John Arnold died from his wounds and is buried in the British Cemetery at Giavera del Montello in the Venice region of Northern Italy. The inscription on his grave is: "The only beloved son may his reward be as great as his sacrifice". He received the British and Victory medals. A photograph, taken by The War Graves Photographic Project, of his headstone can be viewed by following this link.
His parents signed for his effects at York in May 1919 and February 1920: he left £17-11-01 and a war gratuity of £9-10-00.
The Cleckheaton Advertiser of 31 October 1919 carried two In Memoriam notices. The notice from Alice, John's fiancée said: " In our home you are fondly remembered, Sweet memories cling around your name. True hearts that have always loved you, Will love you to death just the same." His parents wrote: "He sleeps with England's heroes, In a hallowed grave unknown. But his name is written in letters of love in the hearts he left at home."{KW-032}
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