John Bleakley Livesey
John Bleakley Livesey was born in Doncaster on 25 March 1919 to David Thomas Livesey and Ellen (nee Bleakley) who had married on 27 October 1917 in Stand Independent Church, Bury, Manchester. His father, a gas engineer, was from 37 Jubilee Road, Doncaster and his mother was of Hurstlea, Radcliffe, Manchester. The family later lived at 20 St Wilfrid's Road, Doncaster. John, known as Jack, attended Doncaster
Grammar School, and then as a Hastings Scholar attended Oxford University at Queen's College where he stayed one year, gaining a Second
Class Honours in Mathematical Moderations in 1939. He was a member of the Eglesfield Players and rowed in the 2nd Boat in Torpids.
He joined the Royal Artillery in September 1939 but was not actually called for service until March 1940. In the interval he spent some months with a Municipal Surveyor on Air Raid Precautions work. The London Gazette records that on 24 August 1940 cadet John Bleakley Livesey, service number 145745, of Coast Artillery School was to become a 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery. After initial training he was for three years engaged on Coastal Defence in Gibraltar. On 31st March 1943 he was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) retaining the same rank of sub Lieutenant.
In January 1943, the 14th Foresters went to join the 7th Armoured Brigade refitting in Persia and Iraq Command. In the summer of 1943, the battalion returned to North Africa to join the 18th Infantry Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division. In February 1944, the brigade sailed to Italy and took part in the Anzio campaign (February–May 1944) under the command of the 1st Infantry Division. After the fall of Rome the 14th Battalion along with the Sherwood's 2nd and 5th Battalions continued the difficult fight up the length of Italy. For a time Lt J B Livesey held the rank of Temporary Captain. In August, the brigade returned to the 1st Armoured Division and by September of 1944 the Sherwood's were fighting in northern Italy on the Coriano Ridge part of the German fortification called the Gothic Line.
The citation for DSO of Temporary Major W H A Becke tells part of the action: 'On the night of 5/6th September 1944, during an attack on San Savino, Italy, Major Becke was leading his company in advance from the cemetery to the church under considerable enemy fire. On reaching the church he sent a section under the command of Lt B A Hardy to enter some houses behind it whilst he, armed with a Thompson Sub Machine Carbine, entered the church by the main door. He was wounded in the head by a grenade thrown from within the building by one of the enemy who numbered approximately 50. He left the church to re-load and then re-entered killing at least four enemy and receiving further wounds to the shoulder and arm. He left the church again and went to the aid of a section under the command of Lt J B Livesey who had entered houses at the rear of the church and was being machine-gunned, Major Becke went to a window at the back of the church and fired his TSMG through the window to cover a further assault on the main door by Lt Livesey who was killed....."
John Bleakley Livesey was 25 years old and now lies in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery.
Grammar School, and then as a Hastings Scholar attended Oxford University at Queen's College where he stayed one year, gaining a Second
Class Honours in Mathematical Moderations in 1939. He was a member of the Eglesfield Players and rowed in the 2nd Boat in Torpids.
He joined the Royal Artillery in September 1939 but was not actually called for service until March 1940. In the interval he spent some months with a Municipal Surveyor on Air Raid Precautions work. The London Gazette records that on 24 August 1940 cadet John Bleakley Livesey, service number 145745, of Coast Artillery School was to become a 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery. After initial training he was for three years engaged on Coastal Defence in Gibraltar. On 31st March 1943 he was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) retaining the same rank of sub Lieutenant.
In January 1943, the 14th Foresters went to join the 7th Armoured Brigade refitting in Persia and Iraq Command. In the summer of 1943, the battalion returned to North Africa to join the 18th Infantry Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division. In February 1944, the brigade sailed to Italy and took part in the Anzio campaign (February–May 1944) under the command of the 1st Infantry Division. After the fall of Rome the 14th Battalion along with the Sherwood's 2nd and 5th Battalions continued the difficult fight up the length of Italy. For a time Lt J B Livesey held the rank of Temporary Captain. In August, the brigade returned to the 1st Armoured Division and by September of 1944 the Sherwood's were fighting in northern Italy on the Coriano Ridge part of the German fortification called the Gothic Line.
The citation for DSO of Temporary Major W H A Becke tells part of the action: 'On the night of 5/6th September 1944, during an attack on San Savino, Italy, Major Becke was leading his company in advance from the cemetery to the church under considerable enemy fire. On reaching the church he sent a section under the command of Lt B A Hardy to enter some houses behind it whilst he, armed with a Thompson Sub Machine Carbine, entered the church by the main door. He was wounded in the head by a grenade thrown from within the building by one of the enemy who numbered approximately 50. He left the church to re-load and then re-entered killing at least four enemy and receiving further wounds to the shoulder and arm. He left the church again and went to the aid of a section under the command of Lt J B Livesey who had entered houses at the rear of the church and was being machine-gunned, Major Becke went to a window at the back of the church and fired his TSMG through the window to cover a further assault on the main door by Lt Livesey who was killed....."
John Bleakley Livesey was 25 years old and now lies in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery.
Lt J B Livesey in Royal Artillery uniform
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As a boy, 2nd left
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Early photograph of grave with temporary cross
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(photographs kindly supplied by Alison Livesey)
