| John Lavelle was the son of Charles Lavelle. He was born in Ballynakelly, Coalisland.
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| He was born about 1890 according to the CWGC, 1886 according to the census. No GRONI record has been found to support either.
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| The 1901 census however records John as being 15 years old, giving a birth around 1896. John was working as a mill worker. His mother had died some years earlier. His father was a farm labourer.
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| Known family: Charles Lavelle, John Lavelle (born about 1886), Joseph Lavelle (born about 1887), Sarah Lavelle (born about 1889).
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| Charles Lavelle remarried on 19th November 1901 to Margaret Hughes. They had one son. Charles Lavelle was born on 30th June 1903.
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| John does not appear on the 1911 census. It is suspected he may have been working in Scotland by this time.
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| John Lavelle was working as a wire worker in Scotland at the outbreak of war, and had promptly volunteered.
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| Private Lavelle had been in France since April 1915.
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| 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.
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| From the Tyrone Courier dated 21st October 1915:
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| Private John Lavelle, Annagher, Coalisland, of the 2nd Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment was killed in action in France during the recent advance.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd October 1915: Private Lavelle, Coalisland
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| The relatives of Private John Lavelle, Annagher, Coalisland, who belonged to the 2nd Battalion The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, have been officially notified that he was killed in action in France during the recent advance. A letter from his sister, having been found on the dead soldier, has been returned to her by Sergeant W James of the same battalion, who wrote:-
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| ‘Enclosed find letter that was found on the body of one of our fallen comrades from which I gather he was a brother of yours. We have buried him in the British Cemetery just behind the lines. Allow me, on behalf of the lads in the trenches, extend our sympathy to you and the family of our comrade, who has fallen for a great cause.’
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| Private Lavelle had been a wire worker in Scotland at the outbreak of war, and had promptly volunteered. He had been in France since April last.
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| In his will, he left all to his sister Sarah, who was living in Annagher, Coalisland.
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| Last Will and Testament of John Lavelle:
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| 'In the event of my death, I give all my property and effects to my sister, Sarah Lavelle, Anagher, Coalisland, County Tyrone. Signed John Lavelle. No 12874. July 31, 1915. 10th Highland Light Infantry.'
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| Private John Lavelle has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France.
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| Private John Lavelle is commemorated on Dungannon War Memorial as being with West Surrey Regiment. A newspaper report from 1915 also gives his regiment as 2nd Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. However, no evidence has been found to suggest he was ever in this regiment.
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| The CWGC record Private John Lavelle as the son of Charles and Margaret Lavelle of Annagher, Coalisland, County Tyrone. There is no confirmation that his mother’s name was Margaret.
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