Royal Engineers

Captain/Major

My great grandfather John Francis Dwyer grew up as an only child in Oldham with his father Henry, known as “Harry”, in the household of his Aunt Mary Ann. John’s father and aunt were Irish immigrants originally from County Carlow.

Prior to the war John worked as an iron turner. In 1911 he travelled to America and lived with his uncle in Rhode Island. Whilst he was there, he worked in the building trade and was later employed by his cousin who had an ice packing business. As the news of imminent war spread, John came home to Oldham and enlisted.

Army Career

John’s career in the British Army began with the Royal Field Artillery as a ‘driver’. Drivers were responsible for the horses of the horse-drawn artillery. They usually had a minimum of two horses each. John later transferred to the Royal Engineers, served in the trenches in France and was promoted to Lance Sergeant.

He also served in Belgium, as well as in Germany with the ‘British Army of the Rhine’.

Peacetime

Following the war John went back home to Oldham. He remained with the army whilst his civilian occupation was working as a plumber. In August 1918 John married Mary Cicely Kelty, a WWI VAD. Together they had six children.

John continued his career as a soldier and was promoted to ‘staff sergeant’. Following this promotion the family travelled to Armargh, Northern Ireland where he served for a time before relocating with his army superiors to Malta in 1928. The family remained in Malta for the next six years. John made numerous trips between Malta and England within that time, until the whole family moved back to England in 1934. The family’s temporary residence was at ‘Orford Barracks’ in Warrington. John also spent time at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.

The Norwegian Campaign

John led a contingent of men on the ill-fated Norwegian Expedition of 1940.

On his return from Norway, he was posted to Sierra Leone, where his service as Command Land Agent earned him a mention in dispatches. In 1944 he was posted to Scotland.

World War II

Ghurkha’s

John was recorded as a Captain of the British Army and Lieutenant Quartermaster of the Royal Engineers throughout WW2.

My late father recalls him talking about the Ghurkha’s who were under his command at this time. He spoke very highly of them, considering them to be some of the finest and bravest soldiers that he had ever commanded.

John retired in 1948 and was appointed to the ‘control commission’ in Germany as commandant of several displaced persons camps. On his return to Fulwood he became prominent in the affairs of his Regimental Association (Royal Engineers), of which he eventually became the President.

In January 1961, John Francis Dwyer passed away peacefully in his sleep and was buried with military honours at Preston Old Cemetery.