Mooney John Pte 4457971
Personnel Entry
Name Mooney John (known as Jack)
Army number 4457971
Rank Pte
Decorations None beyond Service Awards, as far as is known.
Date of birth
Age 26 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry, T, no enlistment date but likely to have been in Summer/Autumn 1939. Posted to the 12th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Transferred to the Black Watch 1/2/1940, and posted to the 1st Tyneside Scottish. Served with the B.E.F. in France. Reported missing (a report to this effect appeared in the Auckland Chronicle on 18/7/1940). Later notified as having been taken Prisoner of War. DIED whilst a Prisoner of War 16/4/45, Authority: PoW/9 and Serial No. 82.
Company/Battery
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role
Joined Brigade
Promotions
Wounded
Prisoner of War Yes - Camp Number 344, Prisoner number 15946.
Died/Killed in action Died 16-Apr-1945. Cause of death not yet known. Buried in Grave 3.A.15. Durnbach War Cemetery.
Home address Research suggests Pte Mooney was born in Gateshead in 1919. Father, James W. Mooney, mother Ellen (nee Butcher) and that he was a resident of West Auckland, County Durham at the time of his death. His parents were listed in the Auckland Chronicle as Mr and Mrs Gilbey of Front Street, West Auckland. His natural father was in the Navy in the First World War and died of wounds received. It is possible, therefore, that the Gilbeys were his adoptive parents.
Source table 1TS
It is understood that Local Historian Kevin Richardson is researching Private Mooney's background. It is possible that the cause of his death is set out in the German PoW Camp records held by the Red Cross but, we understand, the Red Cross is refusing to either search the archives or permit them to be searched at present. It is hoped that this situation can be remedied.
