TISSIMAN, John

John was born on January the 12th 1888. He was baptised on the 22/08/1888 into the Anglican faith at Christ Church. The son of Peter (an ironmonger ) and Mary
Elizabeth Tissiman the family lived at 26 Victoria Road, Scarborough.

Still at the same address the 1891 census shows two daughters, both older than John, Edith K aged 6,Mary E Aged 5,then came John 3 and younger brother George R Aged 1. Also in the house was Edith Tissiman an aunt aged 55, living on her own means and Annie E Fordon aged 14 a general domestic servant.

In the census of 1901 George does not appear.There are however two more boys, Joseph aged 9 and Henry aged 8.

By the 1911 census both Peter and Mary had died. Mary in the first quarter of 1907 and Peter in the second quarter of 1909.

John at the time of the 1911 census was 23 years old and living at 21, Church Stairs Street. He is described as working as a “mechanical dentist”. He was living at the house of Mary Cuthbert aged 60, a char, and Richard Cuthbert aged 36 of “ no employment “.

In 1898 John had signed up with the 5th Yorkshire Regiment Territorial Force, for service in the U. K. His attestation papers show he was 19 years old and worked as a
dentist in Vernon Place. The number on the paper was 1701.

He had three different service Numbers altogether……..
Service record 1…………1701 Royal Engineers
Service record 2………….64 Yorkshire Regiment
Service record 3…………..463138 Royal Engineers

His military sheet gives us quite a lot of information although it was only required to be filled in from time to time. It tells us he was serving at home from 5/8/1914 to
16/4/1915 then in the expeditionary force to France from 17/4/1915 to 10/11/1917. Home again from 11/11/1917 to
30/9/1918.

It also tells us a Bounty was allowed under army orders on 20/9/19/1916 “ credited for present issue. Balance to be issued consequently as laid down by army orders”. The bounty was paid to men who had joined up pre war and who had been compelled to stay on and fight the war.

John was awarded the Military Medal. His award appeared in the London Gazette on 22/1/1917. He was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal again reported in the London Gazette on 4/3/1918. The citation read as follows.
463138 Cpl. J. Tissiman, M.M.
R.E. ( Scarborough) L G 4 Mar 1918

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When in charge of parties laying and maintaining telephone cables he carried out his duties with complete disregard of danger,continually going out and repairing lines under heavy fire.He set a splendid example of coolness and determination under heavy fire,which contributed materially to the successful maintenance of communication throughout the operations.

On the 11th of October John Tissiman became the holder of the Silver War Badge number B17627. The silver badge was given to service men and women honourably discharged because of wounds or illness. It was to be worn on civilian clothes (not uniform). As well as an honour it also served to show openly an honourable discharge and hopefully prevented the recipients being given a white feather. John’s
Award card tells us he was discharged on the 30th of September 1918. The cause of his discharge was Para (P) (1) Gas psng 32 XV1. Age on discharge 30 years . It also
confirmed that he had served abroad.

John Tissiman was awarded a pension of 24/- per week from 11/10 /1918 to be. Reviewed in 26 weeks.

John died on the 22nd of February 1921 aged 33 years.
He has a commonwealth war grave in Dean Road Cemetery
ref. G210. He is also remembered on Oliver’s Mount War
Memorial.

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