Royal Marine Light Infantry
John Ansloe Jordan was born at Bisley on 23 Janary 1897 and the son of Thomas and Christian Jordan, one of four children. His father was a shepherd and the 1911 Census records that he lived with his family at Nalour Farm, Bisley.
He enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Bristol on 18 January 1915, his occupation at that time being a gardener. From 18 January to 21 July 1915 he undertook his training at the Depot in Deal and was posted to the Portsmouth Battalion on 22 July 1915. He was to serve with this battalion until 1 January 1917.
On 28 August 1915 he arrived at Gallipoli, as part of a re-enforcement draft for the Portsmouth Battalion, serving as part of 2nd Royal Marine Division.
On 6 September he was slightly wounded and was part of the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsular on 8 January 1916. The battalion relocated to Egypt until 7 May 1916, when it set sail for France and joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 12 May 1916.
On 3 June 1916 he was wounded in France and it would appear that he was repatriated to the UK ten days later. Following recovery, he was posted to the dreadnought battleship HMS St Vincent on 1 January 1917.
He served on this ship until he died of influenza and pneumonia in hospital at South Queensferry, Scotland, at 5.30pm on 19 December 1918; he was 21 years old.
His mother was present at his death, her address being noted as Grove Villa, Bisley.
Researched by Graham Adams 24 October 2012