207904 Pte. John Gilleeney British Army 4th (Extra Reserve) Kings Liverpool from:St Helens, Lancashire John Gilleeney served in the 1st Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment (KLR) during the Boer War and was awarded a South Africa medal for his involvement in the Defence of Ladysmith. He was injured and was invalided out in 1901.
After the Boer War John Gilleeney remained as a reserve with the KLR and at outbreak of WW1, at the age of 44, joined the 4th Battalion (extra reserve).
The movements of the 4th Bn are listed below:
- 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
- August 1914 : in Seaforth, Liverpool.
- 6 March 1915 : landed at Le Havre and attached to Sirhind Brigade, Lahore Division of Indian Corps.
- 10 November 1915 : transferred to 137th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.
- 3 December 1915 : attached to 56th and 58th Brigades, 19th (Western) Division.
- 27 February 1916 : transferred to 98th Brigade, 33rd Division.
The 4th battalion was involved in some of the worst fighting of the war and John was injured and was unable to continue fighting. He returned to the front in the Labour Corps and finally given Honorary Discharg on the 6th March 1919.
John often spoke about his time in the Boer War but never spoke about his time in the 1st World War.
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