Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.
please scroll down to send a message
Sgt. John William Atkinson MM.
British Army 5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
My great grand father, John Atkinson, also known as Jack, served in the 5th Battalion the Durham Light Infantry 1914- 1918. He was a coal miner from Trimdon Colliery in County Durham and worked at Deaf Hill pit.
He entered the theatre of war on the 31st of October 1916 and went on to be wounded on the 17th of September 1916 during the battle of Flers Courcelette. He returned to active service in June 1917 and won the Military Medal during the Battle of Estaires on the 9th of April 1918. On the 27th of May 1918 he was taken prisoner during the third battle of the Aisne and was incarcerated in Damstadt POW camp. After repatriation he returned to the mining industry and passed away in 1951 aged 68.
I believe J W Atkinson is seen on a photo supplied to this site by J Miller of Durham Light Infantry prisoners of war- bottom left front row.
