Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Martin Ingall, an iron furnace man, born 1867 in Kirkby Underwood, Lincolnshire and his wife Martha Ingall (nee Walker, married on the 30th March1890 in Newbold, Derbyshire), born 1871 in Essendine, Rutland. John was born in the 2nd quarter of 1899 in Sheepbridge, Derbyshire and was baptised on the 4th May 1899 in Whittington, Derbyshire, his siblings were, George William, born 1890 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 5th June 1892 in Peterborough, Albert Martin, born 1895 and baptised on the 7th March 1895 in Whittington and Ellen, born 1896 and baptised on the 2nd November 1896 in Whittington, the latter two siblings were both born in Sheepbridge, Derbyshire, in March 1901 the family home was at 136, Sheffield Road, Old Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. In March 1901 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his father, a blast furnace man, his mother and siblings, George, a blast furnace man, Albert, an electrician, Ellen, a day girl and Violet Gertrude, born 1906 in Asfordby.
John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 2nd February 1917 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Sheepbridge, Derbyshire, his age as 17 years and 11 months and his trade or calling as electrician. He gave his religion as Church of England. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5½ inches in height, weighed 109 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30¾ to 32¾ inches.
After attestation on the 2/2/17 in Melton Mowbray he was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 3/2/17. Mobilized on the 30/8/17. Returned from Woolwich having failed his trade test on the 8/9/17. Posted as Private, service No. TR/5/112960 to the 86th Training Reserve Battalion at Catterick on the 8/9/17. Transferred to the 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and allotted the service No. 59469 on the 8/12/17. Posted to the Infantry Brigade Depot on the 30/3/18. Joined the Infantry Brigade Depot on the 31/3/18. Posted to the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment on the 3/4/18. Reported missing, in the field on the 27/5/18. Died in Stahnsdorf Hospital, Germany on the 20/10/18. A summary of his service records: Home service 2/2/17 – 2/2/17, 1 day. Home Service (Reserve) 3/2/17 – 30/8/17, 208 days. Home Service, 31/8/17 – 30/3/18, 212 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 31/3/18 – 27/5/18, 59 days. Prisoner of War, 28/5/18 – 20/10/18, 146 days. Total service, 1 year 261 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Taken from a copy of a letter: The Officer in Charge of No.2 Record Office is informed that a report has been received on an official return of Dead. Z.30/10 of the death of No. 59469 Pte. J. Ingall, 2nd West Yorks. on the 20.10.18 in Hospital II at Stahnsdorf from pneumonia and influenza. Buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery. This report has been accepted as sufficient evidence for official purposes. The next-of-kin should therefore be notified accordingly and the usual non effective documents prepared. (The place of burial, and the place, cause and date of death, should be communicated to the next-of-kin when these particulars are furnished.). The following information was provided by John’s mother Martha Ingall on the 6th January 1920, and was witnessed and signed by D. W. Parsons, Ironworks Director, The Gables, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Mother of soldier, Martha Ingall of 28, Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brothers of soldier, George Ingall, age 30 of Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire. Albert Ingall, age 25 of 3, Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sisters of soldier, Ellen Ingall, age 23 of 28, Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray. Violet Ingall, age 13 of 28, Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray. John’s surviving service documents are in very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 27 May-18 – FRONT LINE. 1.00am. The enemy opened up an intense bombardment of High Explosive and gas shells on our positions which lasted for about 4 hours. During this bombardment the Battalion withdrew to the Redoubt Line and evacuated the outpost line and there awaited the enemy’s attack.
4.30am. About 4.30am the enemy came over in very large numbers and, although at a disadvantage owing to having to wear Box Respirators, we promptly replied with Machine Gun and rifle fire, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, who were temporarily held up. At this time, however, it appeared that he had penetrated our redoubt line on the right and left and it was, therefore, necessary to withdraw to the Support Line.
5.00 – 6.00am. At this time, as it appeared that the enemy was well past us on the flanks and threatening to surround the Brigade, the remainder of the Battalions and Brigade Headquarters withdrew to a position South of the AISNE above LA PLATTERIE.
7.00am. Owing to the enemy having crossed the River about GERNICOURT and advancing upon this position from the flank it was evacuated and the Brigade withdrew to the base of ROUCY HILL, where the remains of the 24th and 25th Brigades were picked up and some of the 25th Division, and a position established. Towards the night this position had to be evacuated, and we withdrew down to slope of hill towards VENTELAY. During the day the following reinforcements were sent to the Line from the Transport Lines:-
2nd Lieutenant A. J. STAGG and 69 Other Ranks from Lewis Gun School.
2nd Lieutenant W. B. GERRITY and 60 Other Ranks.
The Transport left their lines near VENTELAY about noon and marched to lines in wood near MONTIGNY. This wood was shelled at regular intervals all day, and at night the Transport left and proceeded to near BRANSCOURT.
On Friday July 5th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ASFORDBY.” – ANOTHER LOCAL SOLDIER MISSING. – Mr. and Mrs. W. Ingall, of 28, Asfordby-hill, Melton Mowbray, have received official notification from the War Office regretting to inform them that their son, Pte. John Ingall, No. 59649, West Yorks. Regt., was posted as missing between the 27th April and 9th May, 1918. Before volunteering for service in August, 1917, Pte. Ingall was in the employ of the Holwell Iron Co., Ltd. He was 19 years of age, and had been out in France eight weeks. Any news of him would be gratefully received by his parents.
On Friday July 19th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. The following local names have appeared in the official casualty lists published during the past week: - From Monday’s list: - Missing. West Yorkshire Regt. – Ingall, 59469 J. (Melton Mowbray).
On Friday August 16th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ASFORDBY.” – ANOTHER PRISONER OF WAR. – Mr. and Mrs. W. Ingall, of Asfordby Hill, have received the following card from their son, Pte. J. Ingall, No. 59469, West Yorks. Regt. “Dearest Mother, - Do not worry, I am a prisoner of war, and am quite well, but have no address at present. From your ever loving, Pte. J. Ingall.” Pte. Ingall, who has been missing since the 27th May, 1918, is only 19 years of age. He enlisted on August 30th, 1917, going abroad on Easter Sunday. Previous to enlistment Pte. Ingall was employed at the Holwell Iron Co’s works.