Very little is known about John Lewis Lidstone. We know from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website that his parents were James and Maria Lidstone
In the 1911 census he is shown as John Lidstone, aged 13 years and a schoolboy who had been born in London. This would mean that he had been born in either 1897 or 1898. He was living in a 3 roomed property at 98 Ebury Mews, London SW, with his father, James Lidstone, aged 58 years, a domestic coachman who had been born in Buckfastleigh, Devon and his mother Maria Lidstone, aged 52 years who had been born in Moretonhampstead, Devon. They had been married for 27 years and had seven children, all of whom were still alive. Also shown on the census return form were four of his siblings: Ethel Lidstone, aged 22 years, a dressmaker; Lilly Lidstone, aged 16 years, a domestic servant; Edith Lidstone, aged 11 years, at school and James Lidstone, aged 8 years and also at school.
He originally enlisted as a Private in East Surrey Regiment, service number 20976, but was transferred and was serving as a Private in the 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, service number 61816, when he was killed in action, aged 19 years, on 28 April 1917. As he has no known grave he is commemorated in Bay 3 on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, in the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Boulevard du General de Gaulle, Arras, France.
On 6 September 1917 his army effects totalling £2-19s-11d were sent to his father who was also sent his £3-0s-0d war gratuity on 29 October 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website and on the London WW1 Online Memorial website. He is shown as 'JOHN LIDSTONE' on the war memorial at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square, London, SW1 and 'LIDSTONE J. L.'on the Wealdstone war memorial on the Clocktower at the junction of High Street and Spencer Road, Wealdstone, Harrow, Greater London.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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