Died
7 August 1943
Aged 25
Sources
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Ancestry
Place
Walks
Themes
Pte. John Gaitskell (3857885)
The Manchester Regiment
The Barrow News 14 August 1943 had an account of Private Gaitskell’s funeral:
PTE. GAITSKELL, ULVERSTON
The funeral took place at Ulverston Cemetery on Thursday, the Rev. H. S. Betts officiating, of Pte. John Gaitskell, of Ford Villa, Hart-street, Ulverston, whose death occurred at Maidstone. He was the son of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. Gaitskell.
The mourners were Mrs. Gaitskell, mother; Mr. Chorley, grandfather; Mrs. T. Gaitskell, sister-in-law; Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. I. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. W. Robinson, uncle and aunts; Mr. Coulthard, Mr. Angus, Mesdames Williams, Caddy, Bryan, Athersmith, Croasdale, Miller, Atkinson, and numerous others.
The many floral tributes included tokens from the Spiritualist Church. The exors. of J. W. Higgin, Ulverston, were the undertakers.
I have not discovered whether Pte. Gaitskell died of illness, or of wounds. In the days before antibiotics plenty of people died of illnesses such as tuberculosis, or conditions such as appendicitis.
There are various documents on Ancestry outlining John Gaitskell (Snr)’s service in WW1. They appear to suggest that he served in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, and the Royal Army Service Corps, as a Driver.
The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1927 has:
GAITSKELL John of 34 Quay-street Ulverston Lancashire died 1 August 1927 at the Sands Nabb Point Egton-cum-Newland Ulverston Administration Lancaster 9 December to Florence Gaitskell widow and Ann Jane Chorley (wife of William Thomas Chorley). Effects £1905 15s 6d.
From Ancestry we learn that John Gaitskell (Jnr) was born on 5 July 1918.
1921 Census
In the 1921 Census the family was living at 34 Quay Street, Ulverston. In the household were John Gaitskell (35) Beaterman in Paper Factory (Mcallan Mathers & Co. currently out of work), born Dalton in Furness, Lancs; Florence Gaitskell (35) Home Duties, born Dalton; Thomas Gaitskell (5) Whole time school, born Ulverston; John Gaitskell (2) born Ulverston; and William Gaitskell (11 mo), born Ulverston.
1939 Register
The 1939 Register shows several Gaitskells living at Ford Villa, 69 Hart Street, Ulverston. They are Florence Gaitskell (DoB 15 April 1887) Widow, Unpaid Domestic Duties; Thomas Gaitskell (DoB 21 February 1916) Tailor’s Shop Assistant; William Gaitskell (DoB 25 June 1920) Ships’ Blacksmith, Apprentice. Another record is redacted.
