John Leslie Mably was born on 21st May 1899, the only son to Elizabeth Janie Mably. Elizabeth lived with her widowed mother and two older brothers, in the Cornish parish of St Minver.

There is scant information available for John’s short life. The 1911 census showed that he was still at school, and when war broke out, he enlisted in the Royal Engineers, although the date for this happened is unclear. Sapper Mably was assigned to the 69th Division Signal Company, but records do not confirm whether he served overseas or on home soil.

At some point later in the conflict, John was in Yorkshire, as he was admitted to the general hospital in Sheffield. Again, details are sketchy, and it is not possible to identify if he was based in the area, or medically evacuated there from overseas. Either way, it was in the hospital that he breathed his last, passing away on 15th August 1918, at the age of just 19 years old.

John Leslie Mably’s body was taken back to Cornwall for burial. He was laid to rest in the picturesque setting of St Michael’s Churchyard in the village of Rock.

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