Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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217570
Pte. William John Labrom
British Army 1st Btn Irish Guards
from:Newry
My great uncle, Wiilliam John Labrom, was born in Newry, County Down on 25 October 1874. He lived at 14 Pound Street, Newry with his parents, George and Margaret. His pension record says he was 24 years old when he enlisted in the Irish Guards in September 1900. (Regimental no. 390). He was 6 foot 2 inches tall, with light brown hair and green eyes. He had been working as a labourer.
In August 1914 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion and went with the British Expeditionary Force to France 23/11/1914 - 18/1/1915. In mid-October the BEF was moved to cover the Channel Ports and from the 21st October to the 12th November 1914 the 1st Battalion fought continuously in the first battle of Ypres, losing more than 700 men.
He was discharged on 25th June 1915 through sickness 'no longer physically fit for war service.' He was entitled to wear the Silver Badge.
He married Mary Ann Curran in 1916. I have no idea if they had any children.
He died at Drumcashellone in 1948 and was buried at St Patrick's church on 27th May. His wife was buried in the same grave the previous day. I have no idea of the circumstances in which they died so closely together.
My grandfather, Robert Frederick Labrom and his brothers, William John Labrom and George Richard Henry Labrom appear on a plaque in St Patrick's Church, Newry. (My grandfather always spelled his surname Labron). All three were in the army in World War One and all three survived.