John Hill was born in Mossley, Lancashire, on 25th March 1891, and his parents were John and Jane Hill. John Hill (Sr.) was born on the Isle of Grain, Kent and on his son’s birth certificate his occupation is recorded as a General Labourer. Their address was 23 Vernon Street, Mossley. John Hill (Jr.) appears to be their first child and was 2 weeks old when the census was taken on 5/6 April.

The census taken on 31 March 1901 shows that John Hill and his family were living on Manchester Road, Mossley. John Hill (Sr.) was a Gas Worker, and Jane was by then the mother of 5 children, John aged 10, Alice 7, Gwendolyn 4, William 3, and Albert, 11 months.

In the 1911 census, John Hill (Sr.) is identified as a Corporation Gas Worker and was living with his wife and family at 202 Manchester Road, Roaches, Mossley. Their daughter Alice Hill died at the age of 9 on 27th May 1903, and his son John was now married. There were more children in the Hill household, those remaining at home were Gwendolyn aged 14, William 12, Albert 10, Maud 8, Ada 5, Nellie 3, and Norman aged 8 months.

John Hill (Jr.) married Annie Day on 16th October 1910 at St. John Baptist Church, Roughtown, Mossley. He is listed on the 1911 census as a Bricklayers Labourer, and was living with his wife at 6 Croft Street, Mossley. John and Annie had four children, Annie (b.1911), John (b.1913), Emily (b.1915) and Nelly (b.1917). From his obituary published in 1917, we know that prior to joining the army John was a Yardman at the Corporation Gas Works. 

Nikki Hill