BORN HULL 03/08/1897. SON OF JAMES GRAVES SKERN (1865-1939) AND FANNY GROVES (1869-1943) OF 137 BEAN STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION & CWGC ADDRESS). HE HAD FOUR BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS. WORKED AS A WAGON BUILDER, FOR THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAYS. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 6 INCHES TALL, 34 INCH CHEST, “GOOD” PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, TERRITORIALS, ON 16/03/1914. FORMERLY, PRIVATE, 225159, 5TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (CYCLISTS). HAVING SERVED FOR 3 YEARS AND 93 DAYS, HE BECAME TIME EXPIRED. HE RE-ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION, ON 16/06/1917. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, AT THE SOMME, ON 30/12/1917, AGED 20. HE IS COMMEMORATED AT THE THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, TO THE MISSING.
HIS BROTHER ROB SKERN, WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, ALSO SERVED.
First name:
JOHN EDWIN
Military Number:
2065
Rank:
Able Seaman
Date Died
30/12/1917
Place died:
Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
Age:
20
