John Empsall was born in 1895 at Woolley, near to Barnsley, in the Yorkshire coalfields. He was the fourth of 9 children 6 of whom survived infancy – he had 5 living brothers and a younger sister. His parents were John and Eliza Empsall. His father and all his brother  worked as colliers, John, however, became a gardener. In about 1913 he came to Oswestry to work in the gardens at Park Hall – before it became Park Hall Military Camp. In Oswestry he became a member of the St Oswald’s Institute

John returned to Yorkshire to enlist at Wetherby in May 1915. He joined the Royal Field Artillery and was posted to A Battery, 155(CLV) Brigade RFA. He went on active service to France in December 1915 probably joining the brigade in March 1916 when they returned from Egypt and were transferred to France. John was KIA on 17 November 1916. His unit was in action during the taking of Beaumont Hamel in the later stage of the Somme Offensive. The battery were in position at White City – near to Auchonvillers and Mailly Maillet an area of dead ground unobservable by the enemy and used as a forward supply depot as well as dugouts. They were engaged in barrage fire to support the infantry. John was killed by a direct hit on A Battery’s telephone dugout. He is buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps. He is also commemorated on the war memorial in Woolley and at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

His brother, Harold also enlisted. He was 3 years older and served in 13 Bn York and Lancaster Regiment, 1st Barnsley Pals. He was wounded twice, the second time in both legs resulting in one leg being amputated.

Gunner L/23751 John Empsall, 155 (CLV) Brigade RFA. KIA 17 November 1916. Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps. Wooley Memorial, Yorks. (Banrnsley War Memorial Project. PS)

Acknowledgements.

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