MCCARTHY John

In Memoriam (Bromsgrove newspaper)
McCarthy
In loving memory of my dear husband Sapper John McCarthy, who died in the Military Hospital, Sandwich, Kent, on the 31 October 1918
€œA loving husband true and kind,
One of the best that God could find,
He answered the call,
He did his best,
Oh grant him Lord eternal rest.€
Ever in the thoughts of his loving wife Nellie, and relatives.

The following information has been researched by Sandra Taylor:
The marriage of John J. McCarthy to Nellie Hooper is registered in the September Quarter 1917 under the Bromsgrove Registration District.

John McCarthy enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on the 3rd November 1914 at Kingston, Ontario. On his attestation form he gave his place of birth as Dublin, Ireland, his date of birth as August 1887, his occupation as a Fireman and his next of kin as A.A. Worden (Friend), Brockville, Ontario. He was 5 feet 5½ inches tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He had previously served 12 years 3 months with the Oxford Light Infantry and 4 years 3 months with the Army Medical Corps (Special Reserve). John sailed from Montreal on the S.S. Metagama on the 6th May 1915. He was admitted to No 3 Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, France on the 10th March 1916 suffering from myalgia. On the 30th June 1916 he was admitted to Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital at Shorncliffe, Kent suffering from bronchitis. He was discharged to duty on the 25th July 1916. He required a further hospital admission from the 9th September 1916 to the 25th September 1916 for neurasthenia. On the 14th October 1916 he returned to Canada due to neurasthenia.

He appears to have re-attested with the Canadian Forces on the 21st April 1917 at Brockville, Ontario, when he gave his place of birth as Dublin, Ireland, his date of birth as 28th September 1878, his occupation as a Fireman, his current address as 154 King Street West, Brockville, Ontario and his next of kin as his fiancé, Miss Ann Hooper, Buell Road, Barnt Green near Birmingham, England. He had previously served 2 years 7 months with the 21st Battery and was discharged on the 21st March 1917.

Having re-enlisted using a different date of birth, address and next of kin, John arrived in England on the S.S. Olympic on the 9th June 1917. There appears to have been some consultation as to whether or not he was to be discharged but on the 9th September 1917 he was €˜found fit for duty’. However, John was discharged from the Canadian army at Kingston, Ontario on the 18th November 1917 as medically unfit for war service. According to the results of the Medical Board at Shorncliffe he was weak and over age and was nervous and not sleeping well.

Ireland’s Memorial Records:
McCarthy, John Joseph. Reg. No. WR/602102. Rank, Sapper, Royal Engineers (Inland Water Transport); died, home, October 31, 1918; born Dublin.