Rifleman John Byron Sexton, killed in action in France, was born at Lumsden on March 2nd, 1892, and educated in the public school there. His parents, Mr and Mrs S. Sexton, are widely known. Up to the time of his enlistment Rifleman Sexton worked as a carpenter. He joined the first battalion of the N.Z. Rifle Brigade in April, 1915. He was a member of the Lumsden Loyal Lodge of Oddfellows, M.U. For a time he was in the employ of Messrs Broad, Small and Co., Invercargill, but afterwards returned to Lumsden and served his apprenticeship as a carpenter. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship he worked for a time with Mr M. Hewat, builder, Invercargill, and then went to Dunedin, where his parents reside, and while there was employed on a number of boats which were being fitted as transports. He then went to Oamaru, and it was in Oamaru that he enlisted with four of his companions. Rifleman Sexton took part in the fight against the Senussi in Egypt on Christmas Day, 1915, and forwarded to his parents some of the enemy's bullets as mementos of that day. Of a very cheerful disposition, Rifleman Sexton was widely known and popular throughout the province. His name appears on the Roll of Honour of the Southland branch of the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union. -Southland Times, 3/10/1916.
John Sexton died on the second day of the Rifles' part in the Battle of the Somme. It was a difficult day in which tanks were used for the first time, with mixed success. The hoped-for advance was not completed on September 15 and a further advance was attempted on the 16th. John Sexton did not survive that day.
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.
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