John Crozier Needham

John Crozier Needham was born 11 August 1880 in Ardagh village in Co. Longford; John's father, Thomas, was a butler likely in Ardagh House, for the Fetherston family. It appears that the family had left Longford by 1901 and possibly emigrated.

John married Annie Madeline Moncton (Monkton?) on the 19 October 1905* and they had one daughter together, Annie Isabelle; he was working as a brass finisher at the time of his marriage and remained in that trade until he enlisted to serve in the Great War in August 1914.

Prior to reenlistment for war service, Trooper Needham had served ten years as a bandsman with the 17th York Rangers. He went on to serve six years with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. One interesting fact to note from his attestment, was that John was exceptionally tall for the era, standing at 6' 1" 1/8ths, whereas many other Longford men who served were around 5' 5" on average.

The circumstances of Needham's death are unclear; the circumstances of his casualty state:

"DIED"

He was found dead in his billet at Bourseville on the early morning of March 18th 1917. The body was removed to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, on the afternoon of the same day and a post-mortem examination was made. The diagnosis of the examination was: "Cause of death unknown as no pathological conditions sufficent to cause death were found"

However, The Toronto Star of the 17 April 1917 stated that Needham died of wounds.  

Link to CWGC entry; Civil Record of birth; link to Attestment form; Link to Canadian Virtual War memorial (includes photographs);