John Lavelle was the son of Charles Lavelle. He was born in Ballynakelly, Coalisland. The 1901 census records John’s mother had died some years earlier. His father was a farm labourer. Private John Lavelle was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry when he was killed in action in France on Saturday 25th September 1915.
Loos-en-Gohelle is a village 5 kilometres north-west of Lens, and Dud Corner Cemetery is located about 1 kilometre west of the village, to the north-east of the N943, the main Lens to Bethune road.
