224242 Pte. John George Summers British Army 18th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers from:Middlesbrough John Summers was conscripted to the 18th Batt Lancs Fusiliers on 14th of January 1917. He was reported missing on the 13th of April 1918 and held POW at Dulmen, Germany where he appears to have been first found on 28th of August 1918. I know he was repatriated at Hull in December 1918 or January 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal after the war. Both medals have since sadly gone missing.
I can find no record of where my Grandfather went missing, what action he would have been involved in and exactly what his war effort might have consisted of. It is interesting to read that the Battalion was mostly comprised of men who were short in stature. He was only 5' 5" tall and was a publican in a dockside pub in Middlesborough. He was nearly 30 when he was conscripted and had seven children (my Father included) by the time he was called up. My Grandmother was one of very few women (at that time) who was permitted a Justices licence to run a pub/hotel. He never spoke of his time as a POW but for some reason, had an abiding dislike for Belgians after the war, the reason for this is not known.
I would be very grateful if you have any records or information about him that you would be kind enough to share with me. My Father's family are nearly all gone now, save for one very elderly Aunt who is 93. My father also served as an army Chaplain for many years and retired as as a Major before going back to 'civvy street.' He spent many years in the TA following his regular service in Singapore and British Guyana but he missed the Army to his dying day.
Many thanks in anticipation.
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