JOHN WILLIAM AYRE 

John William Ayre was born in Bishop Wearmouth, Durham, in 1894, the son of Storey Oliver Ayre. His father had been born in Durham, in 1859, and had married his stepmother, Mary, had been born in Durham, in 1877, in 1908. By 1911, Storey Oliver Ayre was employed as a Shipyard Plater, and was living at 26, Cirencester Street, Sunderland, but by 1914, had moved with his family to Birkenhead, and were living at 160, Argyle Street South.

 

On 14th November 1914, John William Ayre enlisted into the 1st/4th Bn Cheshire Regiment, who were already in training in Northampton. On joining the battalion, he continued training with it here until December 1914, when it was sent to Cambridge. In May 1915, the battalion was sent to Bedford, where it became part of 159th Brigade, 53rd Division. On 16th July 1915, Private Ayre and his battalion sailed from Devonport, on board the S.S. Euripides, and via stops at Gibraltar (20th July 1915), and Malta (24th July 1915); the 1st/4th Bn Cheshire Regiment arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on 27th July 1915. Three days later, it sailed for Port Said, and sailed to Lemnos, on 4th August 1915. They sailed for Gallipoli on 8th August 1915, and landed at “C” Beach, Suvla Bay, on 9th August 1915. Private Ayre had not been serving at Gallipoli for very long when he contracted dysentery, and was evacuated to a hospital in Malta, where he died as a result of his illness, on 5th September, 1915 His Medal Index Card states that he died on 4th September 1915).

His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.


He was buried in Plot B, Row 8, Grave 3, Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.


Family application form requesting John William to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial.


Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.