John Clarence Ingram was born on the 6th April 1889 to George William and Christiana Ingram, in Barkingside, Ilford. Prior to enrolling at Ilford County High School, he attended Christchurch Primary school also in Ilford, whilst living in Hillside. He was admitted into Ilford County High School on 1st July 1901, at the age of 12 though he remained at school only until the 24th August 1903 at only 14. The school register records that John left the school on 24th August 1903 to take up a post in ‘Business.
John Ingram enlisted with the army on the 8th March 1915, aged 25. He achieved the rank of Bombardier whilst serving for the 111th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Although John had only enlisted in 1915, he was soon involved in one of the most brutal battles of the war, near the town of Ypres. He was reported as wounded in the spring of 1915, but recovered and continued to fight at the front.
Unfortunately, John Ingram died on the 28th July 1917, aged 28. This was just 3 days prior to the battle of Passchendaele, the Third Battle of Ypres, and so he likely perished during preparations and as a result of artillery bombardment. As so many others are, Ingram is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, just outside of Ypres, Belgium.
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.