Topics > Tyne and Wear > North Tyneside > Whitley Bay > Whitley Bay at War > Whitley Bay WW1 Names > John Harrison Sellers (1897 - 1915)
John Harrison Sellers (1897 - 1915)
In loving memory of John Harrison Sellers, who lost his life during the Great War 1914-1918.
John Harrison Sellers was born in Lincolnshire on the 24th May 1897, to W. Arthur and Gertrude Helena Sellers. He was brought up in Cromer Gardens, Whitley Bay with his brother and sister, Dorothy Lilian and Warren. As a young man, he was a keen member of the Whitley and Monkseaton Bathing Club which was established around 1910.
He was educated at the Royal Grammar School and later studied at Durham University, Armstrong College which is now part of Newcastle University). By the age of 17, he passed his first year’s examination in the Naval Architecture Section. Soon before the breakout of the war, he began work as an engineer at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, a shipbuilding design company, based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear.
In August 1914, when the war began, Sellers continued his work at Swan Hunter, until the 13th May 1915, when he signed up for war at the age of 17. He was serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. In May of 1915, his Battalion ordered out at 6 a.m and marched to Ypres, in the Flanders province of Belgium. He was involved in a battle in which his regiment formed 3 lines, attacking the German army at Wittepoort Farm, near Ypres. It was in this battle he was unfortunately killed, whilst leading his platoon on the eve of his 18th birthday. His bravery was recognised with a commendation; he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Harrison Sellers was buried in Ypres, and his name is inscribed on the Cenotaph in Whitley Bay and also commemorated on the roll of honour at St John’s Methodist Church, Whitley Bay.
Page by Lucy Cotterill. I did this research for a history work assignment (year 8).
