John Sexton was born on 28 August 1884 in Newcastle West, Limerick, Ireland, the second of the eight children of John Sexton (1847-1925) and Mary Sexton née Flanagan (b.1858).
In the 1901 census he is a shown as aged 16 years, a Roman Catholic and a scholar who could read and write. He was living in a house in Ballyconway, Limerick, with his parents and his seven siblings. His father was a farmer and the whole family were Roman Catholic. All, apart from his youngest sister, were able to read and write. His seven siblings were: Mary Sexton, aged 26 years and a farmer's daughter; Catherine Sexton, (1886-1948) - a scholar; Patrick Sexton (1887-1974) - a scholar; William Sexton (1889-1915) - a scholar; Johanna Sexton, aged 9 years and a scholar; Margaret Sexton (1893-1976) - a scholar and Hannah Sexton, aged 3 years who could not read, together with his father's cousin, Kate Flanagan, aged 6 years who could not write.
He was appointed as a temporary Post Office sorter 27 January 1902 in the London Postal Service at the rate of 9 shillings per week. He was confirmed in this position on 1 March 1903.
He married Marie Louise Taylor (1883-1971) in the 3rd quarter of 1909 in the East Preston Registration District, West Sussex.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 26 years and a Post Office sorter, living in two rooms at 11 Wharncliffe Garden, London NW, with his wife and his sister, Margaret Sexton - a telephone operator employed by the National Telephone Company.
He was serving as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, 11th Division Postal Section, service number 59823, when he died suffering from influenza whilst on active service on 4 March 1919 and his body was buried in Plot 2, Row C, Grave 19, in the Valenciennes (St. Roch) Communal Cemetery, 52 Av. Saint-Roch, 59300 Valenciennes, France.
On 24 April 1919 his widow was sent his Royal Mail gratuity totalling £156-1s-4d for his 16 years of service as a sorter in the Post Office. She was also sent his £7-0s-0d army effects on 28 August 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'SEXTON, J.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Live of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website, on the Royal British Legion's Every One Remembered website and on page 338 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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