Pvt
John McGrath
Military Details
Service Number: 3601815
Regiment & Unit / Ship
Army Catering Corps Border Regiment
Service Branch
Army
Enlistment Details
Date of Enlistment
1941
Residence at Enlistment
1 Ennerdale Rd , Cleator moor
Rank at Enlistment
Pte.
Service Number at Enlistment
3601815
Service History
Battalion War Diary Extract
John McGrath served in the army about 5 years, with over 3 years serving in Burma and the Far East. During this time in the Far East John's unit were involved in heavy fighting. For some of this time they were isolated and surrounded by the Japanese forces. They even had to resort to eating grass and any other edible vegetable matter for a time until they could be supplied by parachute drop
Personal Details
Date of Birth
14th November 1919
Place of Birth
Cleator Moor
Address
1 Ennerdale Rd, Cleator Moor
Residence (Roll of Honour)
1 Ennerdale Rd , Cleator Moor
Parents
Dennis & Margaret
Siblings
Gerard Dennis Elizabeth Agnes
Education and Occupation
School
St Patricks
Death and Memorial
Date of Death
1st May 1945
Age at Death
25
Circumstances of Death
After returning to the UK Private John McGrath was admitted to Hospital at Carlisle, having contracted Malaria while serving in the Far East . Unfortunately, John died of malaria on 1 May 1945. His funeral service took place at St Mary's R.C. Church, Cleator on 4 May 1945 and was conducted by Father F.K. McCann O.S.B. (Assistant Priest) while Father F.C. Clayton O.S.B. (Parish Priest) conducted John’s interment in the churchyard.
According to a report at the time in the local newspaper, ‘The Whitehaven News’, the organist at John’s funeral was Miss C. McNamee and his coffin was borne by a detachment from the Border Regiment.
Place of Death
Carlisle
Theater of Action
Far East
Notes
Denis McGrath (Senior) lost his life in a mining accident in June 1943, while two of his sons - Denis McGrath (Junior) and John McGrath paid the Ultimate Sacrifice while serving in the army during the war
Buried or Commemorated at
Cleator (St Marys) Churchyard
U.K.
Grave Position: Grotto Grounds
Private Memorial: St Marys RC WW2 Scroll
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