John Patrick Boulton
John Boulton, by kind permission of the Boulton family
John Patrick Boulton was born on 29 May 1914 at 3 Furlong Parade in Burslem, Staffordshire. His father James Edmund Boulton, was born in Burslem in 1887 and worked as a self-employed shoe and boot maker from this address. James Edmund married Mary née McKeown in late 1911, and they began their family at 3 Furlong Parade. Their first child James was born 10 March 1913, followed by John Patrick, then Gerard was born on 23 July 1915, and their only daughter Mary was born in 1917. Bernard was born in 1919; Terence was born in 1923 though sadly died in 1924 and finally Joseph was born in 1926.
The 1921 census records John Patrick living with his family at their home on 3 Furlong Parade in Burslem, Staffordshire. Notably, his second youngest brother, was living in nearby Kidsgrove at 82 Long Row with his maternal Grandparents Patrick and Charlotte McKeown Patrick was a coal barge loader, who at that time was unemployed due to the coal strike. John Patricks mother, Mary McKeown was originally from Middletown in Warwickshire, but from an Irish family.
The 1939 register shows John Patrick as single, living at 1 Furlong Parade in Burslem with his widowed mother; his father had died in late 1938 aged just 51. Also living at this address were his brother James, who worked as a hairdresser; Gerard, who was a boot maker; his sister Mary was employed in the potteries as a pot caster; and his youngest brother Joseph who was still at school. His brother Bernard was attending St Mary’s Roman Catholic College (Oscott College) Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.
John Patrick married Elsie Machin in 1940 at Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Burslem. This postcard was sent by John to his wife in 1945.
John worked as an artist at Messrs Doulton & Co. ltd., a China and earthenware manufacturer on Nile Street in Burslem. In October 1940, the Royal Doulton pottery factory warehouse in Burslem was bombed, destroying the art director’s studio and a warehouse of finished goods.
John’s drawings completed while working at Royal Doulton, by kind permission of the Boulton family
In 1942, John Patrick enlisted in the Royal Artillery and later that year John and Elsie’s only son, also called John, was born. The family lived together at 10 Stanfield Road in Burslem.
John’s army service record book, by kind permission of the Boulton family
The Staffordshire Sentinel newspaper of Wednesday June 6 1945 reported on some tragic news. The article read
“Gunner killed in Accident. Mrs E. Boulton of 10 Stanfield Road Burslem has received news that her husband Gunner John Patrick Boulton, R.A. has been killed as a result of an accident in Germany. Gunner Boulton who was in his 31st year, was the son of Mrs Boulton and the late Mr J.E. Boulton of 1 Furlong Road Burslem and had been in the army for two and a half years. Before joining the forces he was employed as an artist at Messrs Doulton and Co Ltd China and earthenware manufacturers Burslem and leaves in addition to his wife and mother a two and a half years old son John”.
The war diary of the 94th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment reads that on May 7 1945, 324 Battery moved to Cuxhaven to take over that area and they concentrated in the area of Osterwanna and Nordledear until May 19 1945. The nature of the accident that claimed John Patrick Boulton’s life remains unclear, a cruel twist of fate so close to the war’s end. Administration of his estate valued at £218 19s 6d was granted to his widow, Elsie Boulton.
John is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery in Germany plot 10.J.9. His headstone originally had no inscription, but Gunner Boulton’s son John had an inscription added. It reads “Devoted husband of Elsie loving Dad of John aged 3 artist at Royal Doulton Burslem, Stoke on Trent”.
Boulton family on a visit to John’s grave, on what would have been his 100th birthday
John Patrick Boulton is also commemorated on the Royal Doulton memorial dedicated to the lives of pottery workers killed in both World Wars. In 2005 when the Nile Street Works closed, the memorial was went missing. Former Royal Doulton employee Mike Lightfoot has been working with the developers of the site to replace the memorial, due to be unveiled in late 2025.
Extract from local magazine Burslem Bulletin showing the original memorial and the individuals remembered on it. By kind permission of the Boulton family
In 2025, John Boulton Jr was able to visit Doncaster to view the restored memorial, and remember his father. He is pictured here with a photograph of his dad.
With thanks to the City of Doncaster Archives Heritage Doncaster ,Memorialising the 324 Battery, 94th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment .