John Cairns, TFEM

Forename(s):
John

Surname:
Cairns, TFEM

Initial(s):
J

Service Number:
242662

Rank:
Private

Regiment:
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 2/5th Battalion Territorial Force

Died:
05/11/1918

Aged:
37

Buried:
Vis-en-Artois Memorial (Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery)

Service History:
Enlisted at Alnwick, Northumberland.

Awarded a Territorial Force Efficiency Medal: The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force. This award superseded the Volunteer Long Service Medal when the Territorial Force was formed in 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial & Reserve Forces Act 1907, which was a huge re-organisation of the old Volunteer Army & the remaining units of Militia & Yeomanry. The TF was formed on 1 April 1908. The Militia were transferred to the 'Special Reserve' rather than becoming part of the Territorial Force.

Background:
Born in 1881, at East Cawledge Park, Alnwick, the son John Edward & Amy English Cairns, of Hobberlaw Kiln, Alnwick. Baptised on 31 October 1881.

In 1910, married Isabella Ellenor (Cairns; b. about 1888, at Embleton, Northumberland). In 1911 they lived at Lea Moor, Lesbury. Annie Cairns, presumably a younger sister, lived with them as a General Servant (Domestic), & they had a boarder, Frank Croft, a 38-years old widower from Doncaster, Yorkshire, & an Engineer at a local Whinstone Quarry.

Cairns was a Horseman & Farm Servant.

Local Memorial:
Alnwick Cemetery Denwick War Memorial (Source: For Denwick, newmp.org.uk)