John Vallance (known as Jack) 1923-1945 age 21

Barnsley Chronicle 2nd June 1945
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1923 in Barnsley Q3 

Son of: Robert Harold Vallance (known as Harold) 1893-1969, died age 76, and Elizabeth Vallance nee Bennett. Harold served in World War One as a Driver with the Royal Engineers. His brother John Vallance was killed in the First World War and is named on St Edward's memorial plaque. Harold and Elizabeth married at St Edward's Church on 3rd April 1920 when Harold was a labourer living at 10 King Edward's Gardens, Barnsley. 

Barnsley Chronicle
4 Dec 1943

They had four children 

• John 1923
• Mary 1925
• Jean 1928
• Brenda 1930 

Military Service: Jack was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, 626 Field Squadron, Service number 142878126. 

Death: 9th May 1945 in Italy 
Buried: Udine War cemetery, Italy in grave II.B.11.

Find a grave link: here 
Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  
Further information from WW2talk.com here

Remembered: The Barnsley British Cooperative Society Memorial at Coop Funeralcare , Huddersfield Road, Barnsley, here. 

Notes: From the Barnsley Chronicle 2nd June 1945

Killed While Repairing Bridge

Tragic Death of Barnsley Sapper

The distressing news has reached Mr. and Mrs. H. Vallance of 21, Hawthorne Street, Barnsley that their 21 years old son Sapper Jack Vallance, R.E. was killed in Italy on May 9th, when a bridge at which Vallance and several comrades were working collapsed, killing nearly all their troop. A letter from Sppr. Vallance's officer, describing how the unfortunate incident occurred says: "It is with much regret that I must tell you of the grevious accident which has occurred, involving almost all the sappers in my troop. They were repairing a damaged bridge which was to be used to enable the 8th Army to enter Austria, when with no warning at all it collapsed, killing them instantly, except for two or three who managed to escape. 
We all consider that your son has died in action in the service of his country, just the same as if he had been killed in battle. 
He was buried with his comrades in N.E. Italy with a service which was attended by the officers and men of the Squadron." 
Sapper Vallance, an old St Mary's scholar, on leaving school worked for the late Mr Wilkinson, hairdresser of Dodworth Road, but previous to joining the Army in 1942, was employed by the B.B.C.S. in the flour department, Wellington street. He has been overseas since April 1943 and was formerly in the Co-op Co. H.G.


Research by KingstoneHistory