Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Skerritt, a railway labourer, born 1863 in Wymondham, Leicestershire and his wife Emily Skerritt (nee Underwood, married in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1869 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. John Skerritt was born in the 4th quarter of 1895 in Melton Mowbray, his siblings were, Edith, born 1894 and Harriet, born 1895, both his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, in March 1901 the family home was at 30, Goodriche Street, Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 John was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray together with his father, a railway foreman, his mother and siblings, Edith, a hosiery trade wool spinner and Frederick, a schoolboy, born 1906 in Melton Mowbray.
John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 23rd January 1913 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as St. Mary’s, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Alfred Skerritt, mother Emily, brother Frederick, sister’s Harriet and Edith of 21, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¼ inches in height, weighed -?- pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 28th January 1913 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number -?- on the 28/1/13. Discharged, having claimed it on payment of £10.00 within three months of enlistment on the 8/4/13. A summary of his service records: Home Service 23/1/13 – 8/4/13, 76 days. Total service, 76 days. John re-enlisted into the Regular Army on the 1st September 1914, a note inside his record states:- Certified that the sum of £5.00 refund of purchase money has been paid, the man having re-enlisted as No. 12056, J. Skerritt in the Leicestershire Regiment. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, weighed 139 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 1st September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 12056 on the 1/9/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted sick suffering from a bullet wound to three fingers, forehead and hand to the 48th Field Ambulance, in the field on the 18/1/16. Admitted to hospital in Rouen suffering from a gunshot wound to the head on the 23/1/16. Transferred to England aboard Hospital Ship Copenhagen on the 21/2/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force on the 4/7/16. Disembarked on the 4/7/16. Joined the Base Depot, 12th Infantry Brigade at Etaples on the 4/7/16. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/7/16. Joined the Battalion in the field on the 3/8/16. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 7/9/16. Deprived of 28 days pay on the -?-. Killed in action on the 25/9/16. The following information was provided by John’s father Albert Skerritt on the 13th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by James Parry, J.P. County of Leicestershire, The -?-, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Albert Skerritt of 21, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, Emily Skerritt of 21, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sister of soldier, Harriett James, age 24 of 16, New Street, Melton Mowbray. John’s surviving service documents are in a 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.
On Friday January 28th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON SOLDIERS WOUNDED. We are sorry to learn that two more Melton soldiers have been wounded. On Sunday morning Mr. and Mrs. Albert Skerritt, 21, Rosebery-avenue, received a letter from their son Pte. John Skerritt of the grenade section, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, stating that he had been hit on the forehead and finger by bits of German shrapnel, but was glad to say it was not so serious as it might have been. He was very bad for two days, but was going on all right now, and was in hospital down away from the firing line. A postcard received from him on Tuesday stated that he was being sent down to the base. Pte. Skerritt was in the employ of the late Mr. Henry Denman, builder, until he relinquished business, then went to the Holwell Iron Works. He enlisted in the 2nd Leicester’s three years ago, but was bought out, and when the present war broke out he joined the 8th Leicester’s in August 1914.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.
On Friday October 13th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – FURTHER MELTON CASUALTIES. – PTE. J. SKERRITT. Mrs. Skerritt of 21, Rosebery-avenue, has received a letter from her son-in-law, Pte. John James, informing her that her son, Pte. John Skerritt, of the Leicester’s, has been seriously wounded, and was last seen lying in “No Man’s Land.”
On Friday October 20th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MORE MELTONIANS KILLED. – PTE. J. SKERRITT KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. J. Skerritt. 21, Rosebery-street, whose son, Pte. J. Skerritt, of the Leicester’s, was reported seriously wounded, have now received confirmation of the rumour that he was killed by a sniper. His brother-in-law, Pte. J. James, writes stating that he gave him some water, and bandaged up his wounds, and remained with him till he died. He himself had his rifle shot to pieces. Lieut. Matthews states that Pte. Skerritt was killed when the battalion charged and with great bravery took an important position. He died nobly doing his duty, and it was through such men that the battalion had earned such a great reputation from the higher command. In another letter 2nd Lieut. R. M. R. Davison says:- “As his platoon officer I regret the loss of a keen and willing soldier, and the men of my platoon have lost in him a good comrade.” Pte. Skerritt who was 20 years of age, was formerly employed at Holwell Works. He joined in August, 1914, and went to the front the following July. He was wounded last January, and rejoined his regiment on July 8th. Deceased was educated at the British School.
On Friday October 27th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” - LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED. – PTE. J. SKERRITT. (A photograph accompanied the article). On Friday Mr. and Mrs. Albert Skerritt, 21, Rosebery-avenue, Melton Mowbray, received from the War Office official confirmation of the death of their son, Pte. John Skerritt of the Leicester’s who was killed in action. Some further details have also been received from their son-in-law, Pte. J. James, who in the course of a letter says: We went over the top to the German’s at half past two and proceeded together over two of the German trenches. Just as Jack was getting into the third line of trenches he was hit in the right side of the kidneys, and died at night. We had to stop in the trenches all night, till Tuesday, and when we left I had to go with the others. Of course they did not let me stay with him, and it would have been no use me doing so when he was dead. I left him in the trenches and covered him over with a waterproof sheet. After he was wounded I and a Leicester man bandaged him up as best we could, but he could not bear to be moved. I got him some rum, but he could not drink much. I got lost myself for two days, and got no water or food till I found my battalion, or rather what was left of them. I was lucky to get out of it as I did. I heard that Charlie Donoghue was in Melton. I did not know that the other lads from Melton were killed until I was told that Nigger Wootton, Sid Summerfield, and John Howlett were killed by a shell.