Research Notes
Medal Rolls Index
Awarded Victory, British War and 15-Star Medals; to France 20 July 1915; accidentally killed.
He enlisted at Derby
Derbyshire Times 26 January 1918
CRICH SOLDIER KILLED
The sad news had been received by Mrs J. W. Byard, of Park Head, Crich, that her husband Driver Jno. Wm. Byard was accidentally killed in France. The following letter dated the 10th inst. was received from Capt. J. Strachen, R.E.
: – "Dear Mrs Byard, It is my sad duty to have to inform you of the death of your husband, Driver J. W. Byard He was engaged along with four others in collecting bricks from ruined buildings for the construction of stables for his horses, when part part of the wall of the building suddenly collapsed. He ran back to clear himself but tripped and fell. As he fell he was struck in the back by a part of the falling brickwork, which threw him to the ground with great force and must have killed him instantly because there were no signs of life left when his companions went to his rescue. The men who were working along with him took him on a stretcher to a field ambulance near by, but it was, unfortunately, no use. His body was brought back to camp and we buried him the next day, January 15th at the English Cemetery here. The Church of England Chaplain performed the service. The funeral was attended by the Drivers of the Mounted Section who have been his comrades for the past three and a half years and with whom he was most popular. They formed a firing party and the bugler blew "The Last Post" and so paid the last military respects to one who had served his country so well and given his life for the great cause for which we are fighting. Driver Byard was a splendid driver and a fine soldier, with a great sense of duty. He is greatly missed by all in this Company and especially by the men of the Mounted Section and myself, their officer. We all join in sending you and your family our most sincere sympathy in your very great loss." Driver Byard was the third son of Mr and Mrs Francis Byard of Park Head Crich, and would have been 24 years of age next July. He leaves a widow and two children. He joined the Army at the commencement of war and was previously employed as a miner at the Wingfield Manor Colliery.
| Name | BYARD John | Initials | J |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Rank | Driver |
| Regiment/Service | Royal Engineers |
| Unit | 94th Field Coy. |
| Age | 24 |
| Date of Death | 14/01/18 |
| Service No | 80092 |
| Additional Information | Husband of Mrs. M. Hannah Heappey, (formerly Byard), of Rock Terrace, Crick, Matlock, Derbyshire. |
| Casualty type | Commonwealth War Dead |
| Grave/Memorial Reference | II. F. 1. |
| Cemetery | METZ-EN-COUTURE COMMUNAL CEMETERY BRITISH EXTENSION |
1901 Census: Bole Hill, Wirksworth
| Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
| Francis | Byard | Head | 37 | Cottage gardener | Ashleyhay |
| Thirza Ann | wife | 29 | Dentshead, Yorks | ||
| Philip H | son | 10 | Wirksworth | ||
| Albert | son | 10 | Alftreton | ||
| John W | son | 6 | Alfreton | ||
| Thomas S | son | 4 | Wirksworth | ||
| Ann | Stafford | mother in law | 65 | Wirksworth |
1911 Census: Park Head, Crich
| Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
| Francis | Byard | Head | 47 | An invalid | Wirksworth |
| Thirza Ann | wife | 40 | Black Moss, Yorks | ||
| Philip Henry | son | 20 | Loader in the pit day shift | Wirksworth | |
| Albert | son | 17 | Corpral in the pit day shift | Wirksworth | |
| John William | son | 16 | Pony driver in the afternoons | Wirksworth | |
| Thomas Spencer | son | 14 | Pony driver in the day shifts | Wirksworth | |
| Girtrude | daughter | 9 | School | Wirksworth | |
| Thirza Ann | daughter | 4 | Wirksworth |
John William Byard married Hannah M BOWMER Q3 1914. After John was killedin 1918 she remarried Jesse Heappey Q4 1920.