15247 Pte John Musk, 2nd Bn, Yorkshire Regiment

15247 Pte John Musk of the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment died on the 10th October 1915. He was 28 years old, the son of Mrs and the late Mr S J Musk, and the husband of Mabel Musk of Elma Avenue, Edinburgh Street, Hessle Road, Hull.

John Musk's number indicates that he joined the Yorkshire Regiment around the 7th October 1914 and he arrived in France on the 2nd October 1915. He'd therefore been overseas for just over a week when he died. Soldiers Died in The Great War does not indicate whether he died of wounds of was killed in action, simply stating "died". His medal index card has the word "Dead" written in red pen. No service record for John Musk appears to survive.

Private Musk is buried in St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, well away from any action and the scene of disembarkation for the majority of troops arriving in France. It also had a number of hospitals and it seems possible that John Musk died in one of those hospitals, perhaps succumbing to an accidental injury or dying of sickness before he ever got out of the town.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission