John Moodie
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the youngest son of Colin and Jane (also Jeanie) Moodie (née Dempster). His father Colin Moodie was born in Glasgow in about 1841 and his mother Jeanie Dempster also in Glasgow in about 1843. They were married in Calton, Glasgow, on 28 December 1860 and had 11 children three of whom died in infancy or childhood. Their surviving children were: Colin b. Glasgow 1863, James b. Glasgow 1865, Robert Cowan b. Glasgow 1867, William Gemmel b. Barony Lanarkshire 1870, Lily b. Falkirk Stirling 1873, Jeannie Dempster b. Falkirk abt. 1876, Rebecca b. Falkirk abt. 1879 and John b. Glasgow abt. 1884. Two of the three children who died young were probably Frances Cunningham b. Glasgow October 1861 and Margaret b. 1881. The family was recorded on the 1871, 1881 and 1891 Scottish census living in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, although three of the children were born in Falkirk between 1873 and 1879. In 1891, Colin Moodie snr, an iron moulder, and his wife Jeanie were living on Drygate Street, Glasgow. Seven of their eight children were in the home on the night of the census: Colin (27) a pattern maker (engineering), Robert (23) an iron moulder, William (20) an apprentice hydraulic engineer, Lily (17) a dressmaker, Jeannie (15) a book liner, and Rebecca (11) and John (7) who were scholars. The second son James was married and also living in Glasgow. Colin and Jeanie had moved to England by 1901 when they were living at 6 Thyra Grove, Beeston. Colin was still working as an iron moulder. With the exception of James who remained in Scotland, their seven other children also moved to England and were living with their parents: Colin, Robert who was a widower, Lily, Jeanie, who was now working as a dressmaker, Rebecca (no occupation given) and John a draughtsman and designer (lace trade). Also in the household was Robert's son, Colin Moodie (3 b. Beeston 1898). Robert remarried in 1907 (Beeston St John the Baptist, Ellen Redwood). Jeanie Moodie snr. died in 1905. Colin snr. was still living at 6 Thyra Grove in 1911 but only Colin, Lily and John were in the home on the night of the census. Colin snr. died on 22 March 1912. The probate record gave his address as Thyra Grove; administration of his effects was awarded to his unmarried daughter Lily. John later lived at 168 Station Road, Beeston.
'D' Coy, 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, formerly 51396 North Staffordshire Regiment John was killed in action on 11 October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and face 3C and 3D).
CWGC: 'Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Colin Moodie, of Beeston, Notts.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’ 30 & 31 October 1915: 'Moodie. Killed in action, October 11th, 1916, Private John Moodie, 168. Station-road, Beeston, youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs Colin Moodie. His heart was good, his spirit brave, his resting place a soldier’s grave. From his sisters and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his legatees were his brothers Colin, James, Robert and William and sisters Lily and Rebecca, the name of Jeannie being cancelled in November 1917. A second payment was made later to his brother Colin and one to his sister Jeannie Piggin (m. 1907 George Henry Piggin) WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards; named his sister, L [Lily] Moodie, residence Beeston.
