John Kirkham, known as Jack, was born in Goosnargh and baptised on 21 September 1890 at St. Eadmer, Bleasdale in the Forest of Bowland where both his parents were born. He was the third of six children of Henry Kirkham and Susannah Blackburn who married at St Eadmer on 7 January 1885.
Henry and Susannah lived in Bleasdale after their marriage. Henry was a farmer. Their first child, Richard Henry was born on 29 April 1885 and baptised at St Eadmer on 21 June. Their second child, Isabella, was born on 29 February 1888 after they had moved to Chipping and baptised on 20 May. Jack was aged 8 months when the Census was taken on 5 April 1891. The family were recorded at Barns Lane, Goosnargh and they were still living in Goosnargh when daughter Mary was born in 1895.
The Kirkham family had moved to Knowsley Farm, Lawsons Lane (now Lawsons Road), Thornton by the time of the next Census on 31 March 1901. Twins daughters were born on 27 August 1903. Millicent Alice survived infancy but sadly Winifred Grace died in her first year.
Whilst Susannah and her three surviving daughters were still at Knowsley Farm in 1911, Henry and their two sons were boarders elsewhere. Henry was at 1 Burnley Road, Cliviger, and was employed by the County Council as a road labourer. Richard was at 99 Victoria Street, Fleetwood and was a contractor's carter. Jack was a cowman at Butts Farm, Butts Road, Burn Naze.
Richard enlisted in the East Lancashire Regiment on 10 December 1915 but never saw service overseas. Jack's military service records have not survived. He joined the Royal Lancaster Regiment and was posted to Salonika where he died of pneumonia on 1 November 1918. He was aged 28 and unmarried.
Pte. John Kirkham, 35554, 2nd Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment is buried in Grave 716 at Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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