Current Information:

Born-St Pancras

Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium

On 2nd May, 1915, after being in action during the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge at the end of April, 1915, the 9th London battalion, then part of 13 Brigade, 5th Division moved into nearby support trenches for two days. John Venning was killed on 3rd May the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.