Family :

Education & Career :

De Aston School, University of London

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

12 - 15 September 1914. Following the defeat and retreat from the Marne, the German army stood and defended the next defensible river, the Aisne. This offered significant defensive potential on the high bluffs overlooking the river but the BEF succeeded in pushing back the Germans. The first examples of trench warfare emerged on the Aisne as trenches became necessary to offer protection from concentrated artillery barrages.

Detail :

2nd Lt John Sydney PAULSON of 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers died of wounds 17/9/1914 aged 25. Son of Mr H.J. and Mrs Paulson of 49 Tawney St Boston Lincolnshire. Born at Kirton, Boston From the Battalion War Diary: "The battalion moved through the back gardens of the houses of Ste. Marguerite and then entered the wood East of the village. The undergrowth in it was very thick and the ground swampy, so that progress was slow. After the battalion had advanced about three-quarters of a mile, the Germans became aware of its presence and opened fire. As it was getting late and the wood was becoming almost impenetrable, Major Griffin decided to deploy in the open. A party of 'B' Company under Lt J.S. Paulson, tried to charge the enemy lines across a turnip field, but was stopped by rifle and machine-gun fire from entrenched position south of Chivres Village and from the western slopes of Chives spur, and had to rush to cover behind a bank. All but three men were hit. Paulson was severely wounded and although he was gallantly brought in by Company Quartermaster Sergeant Martin and Company Sergeant Major (later Captain) C. Gregory, died that night". John Paulson was educated at the De Aston School Market Rasen Lincolnshire and the following obituary appears in the school journal for the Christmas term 1914: "It is with the profoundest regret that we record the death of Second Lieutenant J.S. Paulson, who lost his life in the battle of the Aisne.

John S. Paulson was born 31st October 1889. He entered De Aston on 21st April 1904, and left at Midsummer, 1907. He passed the London Matriculation Examination in June 1907, and carried off the De Aston School leaving Scholarship, which he held for three years at the University of London. There he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree, taking a third class in Chemistry. He served four years with the London University Officers' Training Corps, rising to the rank of Cadet Sergeant. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant (Special Reserve) in August, 1911. On leaving the University, Paulson took up at Easter, 1912, a position as Assistant Master at Orme Boys' School, Newcastle-under-Lyne, where he remained until Midsummer, 1914. His departure was much regretted, but he had accepted the offer of another post in Northwich Grammar School. He left, however, for the front on the 22nd August, and on the 23rd marched to the fighting area to enter into action immediately, taking part in two engagements on that day. He passed safely through the Battle of Mons and of the Marne. During the Battle of the Aisne his Brigade was told off to take the village of Bucy-le-Long, then in the possession of the Germans. They crossed the river on a single plank under heavy shrapnel fire. It was during this crossing that Lieutenant Paulson was hit. The following is the report sent by the Chaplain. "Lieutenant Paulson was wounded by shrapnel all down one side of his body and died three hours later. Three attempts were made by men of his Regiment to rescue him when hit. Two men were killed and two wounded in these attempts. The body of Lieut. Paulson lies in the Churchyard of St. Marguerite, west of Bucy-le-long, immediately inside the gate of the cemetery, on the right side." Lieut. Paulson died on 13th September 1914. In concluding, we wish to express our deep sympathy with his family in their deep loss. England demands sacrifices and they, as well as his old schoolfellows who mourn his death, may find comfort in the thought that though he gave his life, he gave it for his country, and that his sacrifice is not in vain."

His portrait image can be found as part of the Imperial War Museum collection (HU 116725)

Masonic :

John was listed as a 24 year old Schoolmaster, resident at Woolstanton at the time of his initiation, just prior to the war in 1914. He advanced no further than that of Fellowcraft, denied his third step owing to the outbreak and his involvement in the early battles.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley