11th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
04/08/1896
Died:
19/11/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
20
Summary
John Fry was the son of Robert and Sarah Fry. John Fry was born on 4th August 1896 in Belfast. Sarah was a seamstress. Robert was a linen lapper. The family moved to Upperlands, where they worked in Clark’s Linen Mill. John was an apprentice Linen Lapper. The family then emigrated to Canada. They were living in Kenaston, Saskatchewan. John travelled to England to enlist early in the war. Private John Fry was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, when he was wounded. Private John Fry died at Toxteth Military Hospital, Liverpool on 18th November 1916 of wounds received in action. He was 20 years old.
Further Information
John Fry was the son of Robert and Sarah Fry. Robert Fry married Sarah Dorman on 24th June 1889 in Belfast.
John Fry was born on 4th August 1896 in Belfast.
Family: Robert Fry, Sarah Fry, Robert Fry, Alfred Greene Fry (born 30th May 1894), John Fry (born 4th August 1896).
The 1901 census lists John as age 4 living with his mother and other relations at house 17 in May Street, Windsor Ward, Belfast. Sarah was a seamstress in Linen Warehouse. Robert Fry is not listed as living with the family.
The 1911 census lists John as age 14 living with the family at house 47 in Upperlands, Swatragh, County Londonderry. John and his brother were both apprentice Linen Lappers. His father was a linen lapper. They all worked at William Clark and Sons Linen Mill in Upperlands.
The family then emigrated to Canada.
They were living in Kenaston. Kenaston is a village in Saskatchewan. The Kenaston post office was established on January 1, 1906. Kenaston is located on Highway 11 or Louis Riel Trail at the junction of Highway 15 and is also near Highway 19. This is a scenic area of Saskatchewan situated within the rolling Allan Hills geographical feature. Kenaston is located between Danielson and Blackstrap provincial parks. The village population according to the municipality and 2006 census was 259 persons.
John travelled to England to enlist early in the war.
Private John Fry was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, when he was wounded.
Private John Fry died at Toxteth Military Hospital, Liverpool on 18th November 1916 of wounds received in action. He was 20 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 25th November 1916:
Private John Fry, Manchester Regiment, Upperlands, died of wounds
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th October 1918: (Robert Fry – brother of John Fry)
Corporal Robert G Fry, Canadian Army Medical Corps, paid a short visit to the district this week. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs William Clark and Sons, afterwards obtaining a situation on a large wholesale concern in Knaresborough. He returned to Upperlands and for some time filled the position of cashier in Messrs Clark’s firm. He took a deep interest in religious matters, and was a most energetic worker in Magherafelt Methodist Mission and on so many occasions occupied the pulpits in Magherafelt and Knockloughrim Methodist Church. An ardent Temperance reformer, he was lodge deputy of Culnady Good Templar lodge, and secretary in the South Derry District lodge. He was imbued with a strong desire for the ministry, and in the spring of 1912, he resigned his situation and emigrated to Canada, where he entered into training for the Presbyterian Church. From the outbreak of hostilities he held it to be his duty to help his country, and accordingly joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps (C.A.M.C.), with which he has been serving in France for three years. Two brothers in this country joined the British forces, one of them, Private John Fry, Manchester Regiment, having been killed.
In November 1918, his brother, Robert Fry, placed a memorial notice in a Belfast newspaper.
From the Belfast Telegraph dated 18 November, 1918:
FRY - In loving memory of my dear brother, 2112 Private John Fry, Manchester Regiment, died at Toxteth Military Hospital, Liverpool, on 18th November, 1916, of wounds received in action.
For them the task is done, the strife is stilled;
No more shall care disturb, nor zeal condemn;
And when the larger good has been fulfilled
In coming years we shall remember them.
ROBERT G. FRY (France).
Private John Fry is buried at Toxteth Park Cemetery, Liverpool, England.
The CWGC record Private John Fry as the son of Sarah Fry, of Kenaston, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the late Robert Fry. He is described as being a native of Belfast, Ireland.
