Royal Field Artillery, Service no. 72940
Born 1894. Died 23rd July 1952, aged 57.
Story
Son of William Barton (1859-1931) and Dorina Croswaite (1877-1956), John William Barton was born in Oulton, baptised in Allerton Bywater, and was living at 57 Commercial Street, Rothwell in 1901. By 1911, John’s parents had separated. Dorina had moved to Hoyland where she had started a second family with Harmor Rupert Burtoft (1874-1950). Both Dorina and Harmor had been convicted of theft in their youths and had criminal records. William Barton meanwhile had moved to Holmfield Lane, Kippax, which was known as Packgate to Kippisers. This was the area behind Butterfields Greengrocers on Crosshill.
John was a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery, after training at Basingstoke (pictured below). Whilst on leave, John was set to marry Kate Biscomb in Kippax on 26th January 1918, but Reverend E.B. Smith has crossed out the date, and annotated the entry: “Soldier taken suddenly ill and marriage deferred to March 11th 1918.” The marriage did take place on the 11th, and John and Kate had a son, John in 1923. John’s younger brother Bernard (1897-1975) was also injured in the War, and moved to Northamptonshire.
John William Barton was living at Lincroft, Westfield Lane when he passed away in 1952.
Kippax Roll of Honour 