Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1889 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/869, the
eldest son of John & Lily Mason (nee Morris).

1901 Census - Glebelands Road, Ashton Upon Mersey.    Son - aged: 9 - born:
Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.    Head of household - John Mason -
Married - aged: 37 - occ: Coachman (Domestic) - born: Timperley.    Also -
Lily Mason - Wife - aged: 37 - born: Edge Hill, Liverpool.

1911 Census - 64 Dane Road, Sale.   Son - aged: 19 - occ: Apprentice
Dynamo's, Lancashire Motors - born: Upper Brook Street, Manchester.   Head
of household - John Mason - Married - aged: 46 - occ: Coachman (Domestic) -
born: Timperley.    Also - Lily Mason - Wife - aged: 46 - born: Edge Hill,
Liverpool.  Plus 1 boarder.

Listed variously as John Mason & John Sinclair Mason on the Sale Town &
Church Memorial..

JOHN SINCLAIR MASON   St. Martin's PC
John Sinclair was born in the first half of 1892 at Upper Brook Street,
Manchester. He was the only child of John Mason, a coachman originally from
Timperley, and his wife Lily, née Morris. The family originally lived on
Glebelands Road, Ashton-upon-Mersey, before moving later to 64, Dane Road.
After leaving school John then gained an apprenticeship at Lancashire
Dynamo. This was a relatively new company, in Trafford Park, that started
by making variable speed electric drives for machine tools. By 1914 they
had 1,000 employees and had also expanded into making equipment for
colliery winding and for equalizing tramway loads. John looked to have a
secure career ahead in a good company.

However when war was declared he was amongst the first to enlist, joining
up at Sale in August 1914. He found himself in The Royal Scots Fusiliers, a
lowland regiment that recruited usually from Ayrshire. Having a finite
number of recruits, they had, as had other similar regiments, gone to the
large cities and their environs in order to find more manpower.

After training he crossed to France with their 8th Battalion on the 25th of
September 1915. Following a brief period in France the battalion was then
posted on to Salonika by November 1915. At some point in 1916 or early 1917
John left Salonika, although his battalion stayed there. This could imply
that he may have been wounded, or just as likely, contracted malaria, which
was rife there. He returned in due course to France and Flanders. By 1917
he had also been promoted to Sergeant and was now serving with the 6th,7th,
Battalion of the regiment, getting ready for the upcoming battle at Ypres.

Death reported in the 27/08/1917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Pension Records - Awarded a weekly pension of 4/- w.e.f. the 9th February
1918.  His dependant is his mother - Lily Mason until her death, after
which  his father is listed.