Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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12/28264   Lance Corporal John Shiels
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 20/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 13/06/1897
Died: 18/05/1918 (Prisoner of War)
Age: 20
Summary      
John Shiels was the eldest child of Samuel and Maggie Shiels. He was born on 13th June 1897. They were farmers and lived in Mullagh, Maghera. John Shiels enlisted in Maghera. Lance Corporal Shiels was captured and became a prisoner of war. Lance Corporal Shiels died of wounds in Lazarett, Darmstadt, Germany as a P.O.W. on Saturday 18th May 1918.
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Cemetery Details
Cemetery: Niederzwehren Cemetery
  Kassel, Hessen
Grave Ref: Grave I-D-8
CWGC Casualty 904271
Summary      
The city of Kassel lies in the centre of Germany approx 165kms south of Hannover. From the A49 Kassel to Gudensberg motorway take exit 6 (Ausfahrt 6) KASSEL-NIEDERZWEHREN. This merges onto the FRANKFURTERSTRASSE. Continue for approx 1km, then turn right (CWGC sign) onto the DITTERHAUSERSTRASSE. Continue for approx 400m and turn right (CWGC sign). Continue for a further 800m (back under the motorway) and then turn left (CWGC sign) onto AM KEILSBERG. Continue up the hill for approx 1km and the cemetery can be found on the right.
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1911 Census lists Shiels family 1911 census lists John as age 13 living with the family at house 7 in Mullagh, Maghera, Londonderry
2 ICRC P.O.W. records Details of Lance Corporal John Shiels
3 National Archives UK Medal card of Lance Corporal John Shiels can be purchased here
4 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Lance Corporal John Shiels's grave can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023