ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE GREAT WAR - John Scanlan Pitsmoor Sheffield 1919
The 1911 Census shows the SCANLAN family living at 298 Earsham Street Pitsmoor Sheffield. The father Edwin James, was a linesman on the railways. The excellent Sheffield Indexers site adds to the information on the census by having a record of his children's school attendance
Scanlan, John Edwd (Student, dob 9 Nov 1903).
Parent or guardian name (s): Edwd Scanlan (~), of 298 Earsham St.
Admitted to All Saints Boys School, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, as of 29 Aug 1911,
until 08 Dec 1916, reason for leaving: Lab Cert. Previously attended Inft Dept.
Scanlan, Irene (Student, dob 2 Feb 1906).
Parent or guardian name (s): Edward Jas (~), of 298 Earsham St.
Admitted to All Saints Girls School, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, as of 19 Jan 1914,
until 31 Mar 1920, reason for leaving: Over Age. Previously attended All Saints
Infs.
But sadly his son John never reached adulthood. His burial record states
SCANLAN, John Edwin (Engineers Apprentice, age 16). Died at 269 Ellesmere Rd; Buried on December 16, 1919 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 2236, Section FF of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
But what the record does not state is that JOHN was "accidentally shot by a souvenir of the Great War"
His memorial inscription in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery is as follows
"In loving memory of JOHN EDWIN, the dearly loved son of EDWIN JAMES and EDITH SCANLAN, who was accidentally shot by a souvenir of the Great War, Dec 12th 1919 aged 16 years, Even at an hour when we know not, Our Heavenly Father calls his children home."
I believe that he may also be remembered on St Thomas Roll of Honour Holywell Rd now in St Margarets Jenkin Rd Sheffield
John's memorial in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery
The Sheffield Daily Independent dated Saturday 13th December 1919 gave a full report of the "distressing affair"
The question is and no-one can really answer it - was John the last man from Sheffield to be shot by a German bullet from the Great War?
Notes
Name: John Edwin Scanlan
Age in 1911: 7
Estimated Birth Year: about 1904
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Barnsley, Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish: Sheffield County/Island: Yorkshire-West Riding Country: England
Street Address: 298 Earsham St Sheffield
Occupation: School
Registration District: Sheffield Registration District Number: 510
Sub-registration District: East Brightside ED, institution, or vessel: 7 Piece:
27966
Sources
1911 Census
Sheffield Indexers
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Sheffield Daily Independent dated Saturday 13th December 1919
This page was last updated on 26/01/14 15:39