23-year-old Private Job William Mason, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, died of wounds on 22nd September 1916 at No. 1 South African General Hospital, Abbeville, France. The hospital had begun admitting patients on 17th July 1916, although it was staffed by temporary nursing staff from the adjacent No. 2 Stationary Hospital until the arrival on 4th August of a Matron and nurses from England. See the Scarlet Finders website for more information on the S.A.G. Hospital, Abbeville.
Job William Mason was born on 8th March 1894 and baptised at Knowle parish church on 4th April in the same year. His was the eldest of the five children (three sons, two daughters) of Barston-born father William, an agricultural labourer, and Mary. By 1901, the family had moved to Hartshill, Warwickshire. They were in Eastcote, Barston by 1911, although Job William was not living with the family. It is possible that he was away serving in the Army as his medal index card shows he first entered a theatre of war on 12th August 1914, suggesting he was a regular soldier.
It seems that Job William was known by his middle name – he is record on the 1901 census as William Mason, and he appears on the war memorial in St Swithin’s Church, Barston as William Job Mason. He is buried in the Abbeville Communal Extension Cemetery, and his gravestone includes an additional inscription – “Nothing in vain” – requested by his mother, Mary.
If you have any further information on the family, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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