Documents relating to John Mason [1868-1915]

Company Sergeant Major John Mason was killed when hit in the neck by shrapnel

Letter from Private George Owen of Knotts Road, Lydgate, who assisted in the burial of Company Sergeant Major John Mason:

I and another chap took a blanket into the firing line and brought him back for burial. We carried him about a mile behind the firing line to a little cemetery. Before we buried him, Harold [Lieutenant Harold Smith] sent down to tell me that he wished Mason to be buried in the officers' cemetery at Lancashire landing, a distance of 3½ miles. Three of us carried his body down on a stretcher and laid him to rest amongst the officers

Memorial service at Todmorden Unitarian Church for Sergeant Major John Mason last Sunday. The church bells were muffled all day and in the evening a memorial service was held. He was Grand Master of the Humility Lodge of Odd Fellows and a former Provincial Grand Master of the order. During the South African War he was for a time in charge of the Boer prisoners at Tintown near Ladysmith

Letters from several of his officers praising him, including an extract from his Commanding Officer's report on the operation from August 7th to 9th:

He frequently rallied the men when they appeared shaky and prevented them from panic. He was afterwards killed

A portrait of the late Sergeant Major John Mason was unveiled at the Unitarian Sunday School, Todmorden. He was secretary and teacher at the school for 25 years.

He was a member of the Order of Oddfellows.

He volunteered to fight in the South African War.

His officers in Gallipoli thought so highly of him that they insisted that he be buried in the burial ground reserved for officers

Sergeant Major John Mason died on the 7th of August at Gallipoli.

Lived at 767 Burnley Road, Cornholme.

He had 27 years service with the Volunteers and Territorials

Having lost his partner in the business, the late Sergeant Major John Mason who was killed in Gallipoli, Mr Samuel Howorth, printer, of the firm Messrs. Mason & Howorth of Hall Street, Todmorden has decided to sell the business and move to Manchester.

He and Mr Mason purchased the printing business from the late Mr Thomas Dawson about ten years ago