John Sexton was born on 28 August 1884 in Newcastle West, Limerick, Ireland, the second of the eight children of John Sexton (1847-1925) and Mary Sexton née Flanagan (b.1858).
In the 1901 census he is a shown as aged 16 years, a Roman Catholic and a scholar who could read and write. He was living in a house in Ballyconway, Limerick, with his parents and his seven siblings. His father was a farmer and the whole family were Roman Catholic. All, apart from his youngest sister, were able to read and write. His seven siblings were: Mary Sexton, aged 26 years and a farmer's daughter; Catherine Sexton, (1886-1948) - a scholar; Patrick Sexton (1887-1974) - a scholar; William Sexton (1889-1915) - a scholar; Johanna Sexton, aged 9 years and a scholar; Margaret Sexton (1893-1976) - a scholar and Hannah Sexton, aged 3 years who could not read, together with his father's cousin, Kate Flanagan, aged 6 years who could not write.
He was appointed as a temporary Post Office sorter 27 January 1902 in the London Postal Service at the rate of 9 shillings per week. He was confirmed in this position on 1 March 1903.
He married Marie Louise Taylor (1883-1971) in the 3rd quarter of 1909 in the East Preston Registration District, West Sussex.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 26 years and a Post Office sorter, living in two rooms at 11 Wharncliffe Garden, London NW, with his wife and his sister, Margaret Sexton - a telephone operator employed by the National Telephone Company.
He was serving as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, 11th Division Postal Section, service number 59823, when he died suffering from influenza whilst on active service on 4 March 1919 and his body was , in the Valenciennes (St. Roch) Communal Cemetery, 52 Av. Saint-Roch, 59300 Valenciennes, France.
On 24 April 1919 his widow was sent his Royal Mail gratuity totalling £156-1s-4d for his 16 years of service as a sorter in the Post Office. She was also sent his £7-0s-0d army effects on 28 August 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'SEXTON, J.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them