WW1 PROJECT

Introduction
The original idea for a World War One project was discussed by the Luddenden Conservation Society in 2014. The project has been focused on commemorating each of the 45 men from WW1 named on the Luddenden & Midgley War Memorial, which was unveiled on Sunday 23 April 1923.

This publication documents the Luddenden & Midgley WW1 Commemoration Project through to the final event on Sunday 30 April 2023.

The community history project forms the Society’s commemoration of the centenary of the First World War in Luddenden & Midgley.

The WW1 Commemoration Project has commemorated each man on the 100th anniversary of his death and has finished on 30 April 2023 with the publication of a book telling the story.

Gravestones in the Cemetery File:Annex-A.pdf

Unveiling Programme File:Annex-B.pdf

Unveiling Souvenir

Rolls of Honour File:Annex-D.pdf

Private Thomas Greenwood aged 31

This article from the Halifax Courier of 28 August 1915 provides the story of Private Thomas Greenwood: PTE T Greenwood, of Luddenden The family of Pte. Thos. Greenwood, 6513, 2 nd West Riding Regiment, 21 Goit Side, Luddenden, are still without official news as to his fate. Nothing of him has been heard since Aug. 24, last year. On that date he was in a skirmish, headed by Col. Gibbs, and accompanied by his brother-in-law, Pte. Albert Gibson. When Gibson was invalided home, he said the last he saw of Greenwood was when he ran to the assistance of the Col. Gibson was called to a side attack, and when it was over, the Col. and a number of others had been taken prisoners. It was hoped Greenwood was of their number, and when the Colonel was sufficiently recovered from wounds to answer letters, he was written to. He replied that he remembered Greenwood well, but knew nothing of his movements after he had carried him (the Colonel) to a temporary hospital. Other inquiries have been without avail. After repeated War Office inquiries, Mrs. Greenwood received, July 16, this letter: - “It is my painful duty to inform you, that a report has this day been received from the War Office, unofficially reporting the death of No. 6513, Pte. Thos. Greenwood, 2 nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, which occurred in hospital, Mons, on Aug. 24, 1914. He was buried in Garden No.217, Chemin de Epirette, Hornn, Mons. I am to express to you the sympathy and regret of the Army Council at your loss. It is impossible to obtain confirmation of the report, but it is feared that it is probably true. Should any further information be received it will at once be communicated to you.” Greenwood, aged 32, was the eldest son of Mr H.D. Greenwood, Lane Ends, Midgley, well known for many public works. As a boy Greenwood was a leader in sports and pranks. Fleet of foot, he had few equals in racing as his agility was surprising. He enlisted, 14 years ago, in the 2 nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, and was sent to India, returning in December 1908. After leaving the army, on reserve, he settled in Midgley, and was steward of the Working Men’s Club. This war beginning, he was re-called and left Halifax Barracks with a contingent in August 1914. Mrs. Greenwood, left with three children, is naturally anxious to have the mystery cleared. Private Greenwood is now buried in HAUTRAGE MILITARY CEMETERY, Saint-Ghislain, Hainaut, Belgium. Plot II. Row A. Grave 3. He is commemorated on the Luddenden Working Men’s Club Roll of Honour as well as on the Luddenden and Midgley War Memorial.

Private Cyril Wormald Thomas aged 18

Cyril Wormald Thomas was born in January 1899. In the 1901 Census, the family are at The Granby Arms on High Street, his father John Henry was both an overlooker and a Publican. In the 1911 census, the family is at 1 Applehouse Terrace with his father John Henry, a Combing Overlooker, aged 45 and a widower, and Betty Uttley, 77, a widowed aunt. The notice in the Halifax Courier dated 25th September 1915 is as follows Private Cyril Thomas Mr J H Thomas, landlord of the Travellers’ Rest Inn, Luddenden, received the sad news on Wednesday morning that his son Cyril had died in the Corporation Hospital at Middlesbrough. Deceased, who was only 18 years of age, was sent away with others to Marton Hall, Middlesbrough where he contracted enteric fever, from which he died on Tuesday. The authorities have refused to allow the remains to be brought to Luddenden, as the disease is infectious. The funeral is taking place this afternoon in Middlesbrough. Mr Richard Patchett, Luddenden, will carry out the funeral arrangements. Enteric Fever is better known today as Typhoid.

Private Richard Henry Hallas aged 35

Richard Henry Hallas was born in Paddock, Huddersfield on 20 March 1880 to Henry Hallas born in Ripponden and Mary Emma (nee Atkinson) born in Leeds. In 1891, aged 11 and living in Luddenden he was a woollen operative, and associated with Luddenden Church & School; a member of the School Pierrot Troupe. In 1901 he was 21 and a joiner with Mr Noble in Halifax and living at Bank Terrace with his parents (his father a Leather Currier) and 8 siblings. He was a member of the Halifax Light Opera Society. On 24 May 1904, in his early 20’s he left his eight siblings and sailed off from Liverpool on the Dominion to make a new life in Canada, registered as a labourer / joiner and arriving in Montreal. In Canada, he was working in Toronto and was a member of the Mendelssohn Choir. He enlisted and served as a Private with the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He was sent to France in August 1915 after coming to England to complete his training. He died from wounds in the abdomen on 24th November 1915 His parents were then living at East View, New Road. He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord) in France.

Private James C Morris Breeze aged 30

James has been difficult to locate as the family did not live in the village for very long. James was born in Abergavenny and was one of nine children. His parents were John Breeze and Sarah Ann Morris both from Shropshire. In 1901 the family was living in Wavertree, Liverpool. I cannot find them on the 1911 Census. James had joined the navy in 1903 and was based at Davenport, but only lasted a couple of years before he was discharged. Two of his brothers, Arthur and John also served in the army during the War. Arthur was a regular soldier and was killed on 5 October 1914. This was James’ cue to join up which he did in October 1914. His brother John lost a leg, but survived. He married Annie Smith at St Mary’s in 1916 and later moved to Triangle. We can find his mother Sarah Ann living on Duke Street on the 1915 electoral register. She also moved away from Luddenden to live in Triangle (1918) and she died in 1937. In the Halifax Courier on 1 July 1916, it said the following:

Private Percy Odell aged 20

Percy Odell lived at 2 Halifax Lane with his mother Mary Hannah and sister Beatrice. His father George and brother Albert had had both died some years previously. He worked as a mill hand at Clay and Co, Luddenden Foot, and enlisted in October 1915. He was one of the 57,000 casualties on day one of the Battle of the Somme and died the following day. He is buried in the Bertrancourt cemetery in France. In the Halifax Courier on 15 July 1916, there was the following obituary:

Rifleman Edwin Ackroyd aged 20

Edwin Ackroyd was born in Barrow-in-Furness in 1886. His family moved to Luddenden and in the 1901 census, they are living on Applehouse Terrace. By the time of his enlistment in 1915 was living at 17 Halifax Lane and working at Watson’s Mill in Sowerby Bridge. Following basic training with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps was sent to France. In September 1916, during the terrible chaos of the Battle of the Somme, he was severely wounded and lost his life. Like so many other brave men from the conflict he has no known grave, but he is remembered on the Thiepval Monument on the Somme as well as in Luddenden. His brother Matthew also gave his life in April 1917.

Gunner John Joseph Corboy aged 27

John Joseph Corboy was the son of Maurice and Margaret Corboy, both originally from Ireland, and who by 1911 were living at Solomon Hill with seven children (his brothers James, then aged 32 and a third brother, William aged 16 both also served in the war, but survived). At age 18, in 1904, John was working as a textile labourer at Crossley Carpets at Dean Mill. Sometime later, he left home and enlisted in Halifax and in 1911 he was a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, so he was a regular soldier. His war records did not survive, but we know he died on 15th December 1916 at the end of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried at Becourt Military Cemetery just outside the town of Albert. The scroll which accompanied the medal sent to his family is as follows:

Private Harold Greenwood aged 24

Harold was the only child of Fred and Mary Greenwood. He was born in Ovenden, but by 1911, the family was in Luddenden living at 5 Ive House. Father Fred (45, a stone bearer), mother Mary (48, woollen weaver) and Harold aged 17 working as a woollen piecer. His Father Fred was in the Pioneer Corps, but was discharged on April 18th 1918, so at the time of Harold’s death, mother Mary would have been on her own with both her men fighting in France. Harold’s parents were living on Old Lea Bank, Halifax in 1939. The following appeared in the Halifax Courier on 31 March 1917: PTE. HAROLD GREENWOOD. News has been received of the death of Pte. Harold Greenwood (24) of Ivy House, Luddenden, who was killed in Mesopotamia on March 14. The deceased soldier, who was in the Black Watch, joined up in October, 1915, and went abroad a month later. Before entering the Army he was employed by Messrs. Ratcliffe Bros., Mytholmroyd. His name is on the roll of honour at Luddenden Church. He was a cornet player in Sowerby Brass Band and was much respected by all who knew him. His father, Pte. Fred Greenwood joined the Pioneers some time ago, and is now at the front. Much sympathy will be extended to Mrs. Greenwood for Harold was her only child. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Privates Matthew Ackroyd aged 21 and Tom Summerscales aged 25

Matthew Ackroyd was born in Barrow in Furness. He worked at Maude’s Clog Factory and lived with his parents at 17 Halifax Lane. His older brother Edwin had lost his life in September 1916. He like fellow villager Tom Summerscales was in the 27th Northumberland Fusiliers (aka Tyneside Irish). He died on the first day of the Battle of Arras. He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France as well as in Ireland’s Memorial Records. Mathew was reported missing in April but his death was not confirmed until June 1917. ---------------- Tom Summerscales worked as a blanket finisher, farm labourer and then as a driver for Greenwoods, cabinet makers in Halifax and had attended Warley Congregational Sunday School, living with his parents and 4 siblings at North Clough Head then Raw End. He married Eliza Jane Broadbent of South Ive House at St Mary’s Church in May 1915 and they had a son, John. Their home was at Lower Stubbings. Like Matthew Ackroyd, he was a Private in the 27th Northumberland Fusiliers (aka Tyneside Irish). He had gone to France in October 1916 and two of his brothers were also serving. He died on the first day of the battle of Arras, when it was snowing, but very good progress was being made. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France as well as in Ireland’s Memorial Records. He is also commemorated on the window inside St Mary’s Church. ---------------- They are two of five men remembered on our memorial that died in April and early May. All are commemorated on the Arras memorial.

Private Herbert Murgatroyd aged 25

Herbert Murgatroyd was a Private in the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own). He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. Before he enlisted in Halifax, Herbert lived with his parents (his father Eli being a Worsted Overlooker) and two sisters, Edith and Liza, at 3 Bethel Terrace and he worked as a clerk at Brookes of Lightcliffe, Stone Merchants. He had attended Luddenden Wesleyan Church and Sunday School and is commemorated on the Ebenezer Chapel Roll of Honour, on Halifax Lane. Herbert was killed at the First Battle of Bullecourt, where his regiment was supporting an Australian attack on the German trenches of the Hindenberg Line. This was one of the first attacks with tanks rather than artillery bombardment, but was not successful, and in the one day, over 1,000 Australians were captured by the Germans, the largest number in one skirmish during the whole war. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial.

Private Willie Mitchell aged 29

Willie Mitchell was a Private in the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment and had enlisted in Derby. Like many of those who fought in the Battle of Arras (April to June 1917) he has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. He’s also commemorated on the church window, the St James’s Chapel Roll of Honour and the Working Mens’ Club Roll of Honour (now in the Lord Nelson Inn). Willie was born in 1888 in Ovenden. His mother Grace Brooksbank, (nee Mitchell) was living at 1 Bank Bottom, now known as Spring Bank in 1911 with her other son Leonard Brooksbank who was also killed during the war. She passed away in December 1917, the same year as her two sons. The War Diaries from the 9th Battalion West Riding show that on April 25th enemy shell barrages began at 3.37 in the morning and that there were many attempts to move forwards, making ground but then retiring. By 8am (quote) “dawn was breaking after our 4 th attempt was tried and the Co thought that any further attempt would be useless … Our casualties were heavy 4 officers wounded and 3 missing and 210 other ranks. Later that day, the Battalion came out of the trenches at night and proceeded to Arras” He was one of five men remembered on our memorial that had died in April/ May and commemorated on the Arras memorial.

Private John Murgatroyd aged 29

John Murgatroyd was a Private in the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment and had enlisted in November 1914, being sent to France in January 1917. Like many of those who fought in the Battle of Arras (April to June 1917) he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. He’s also commemorated on the window inside St Mary’s Church. John started his life with his parents John William (a bootmaker) and Sarah in Providence Place, but by 1901 his mother had died and he was with his father, aunt Betty Townsend and older brother Arnold at Bethel Terrace. By 1911 they were at 57 High Street Fold and he was also working as a boot repairer. From the War Diaries of the 4th Battalion, we know that on the 2nd of May the Battalion moved into line north of Ecoust ready for the second Battle of Bullecourt. At 3.45 on the 3rd , they attacked the Hindenberg Line, but were forced back with “very heavy casualties – 7 killed, 154 wounded and 72 missing”. John was one of the missing. David Millichope in his book Halifax in the Great War notes that “On the 3rd May they were ordered to attack a second time. This time the Battalion was involved more directly in the assault, but “was hung up by the thick wire entanglements which were insufficiently cut”. The results were depressingly predictable. On 26th May the Courier published the highest number of casualties of the war yet seen in a single week” John is one of five men commemorated on our memorial who died in the space of a few weeks in April and early May 1917, all in the same attacks and all commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Private Charlie Dewhirst aged 22.

Charlie Dewhirst was one of ten children of Henry and Eliza Dewhirst. The family lived at 19 Pall Mall and Sunny Brink in Mytholmroyd before moving to 4 Lane Ends, Midgley where Charlie attended Midgley United Methodist Chapel and Sunday School. Aged 16 in 1911 he worked as a worsted weaver. He enlisted in the army at Hebden Bridge in October 1915 and joined the Yorkshire Dragoons, a territorial unit. He went to France in December 1916 and was then transferred into the York and Lancaster Regiment. On 28th May 1917 he was wounded in the back and left leg. Although fatally wounded he was able to send a message home via the chaplain attending him. He died in No 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remi Siding, a group of four Casualty Clearing Stations in Belgium with around 4,000 beds and 400 staff. Charlie is buried in the nearby Lijssenthoek British Military Cemetery, the cemetery contains almost 11,000 graves. He is remembered locally at Mytholmroyd Mount Zion Chapel and Mytholmroyd UDC Rolls of Honour in St Michael’s Church Hall

Lt Richard Bracken Farrer aged 37

Richard Bracken Farrer was born on the 12th April 1880 at “Woodlands”, Midgley, Yorkshire, Richard was the youngest son of Lt Colonel Arthur Farrer and Edith Annie Bracken. Richard had an elder brother, Arthur and two younger sisters, Edith and Hilda. In the 1891 census Richard and brother Arthur are at boarding school in Nottingham, Richard was also a boarder in 1899 at Rossall Boarding School, Lancashire before attending Oxford in 1903. After Oxford, Richard as well as being a Director of the families paper business, Jonathan Bracken & Sons Ltd, trained to be a Solicitor. When war broke in 1914 Richard enlisted at the Inns of Court Officers Training Corp in the September of 1914. Upon completion of his training, he was assigned to B Company of the 5th Bn Leicestershire Regiment. 2nd Lt Farrer sailed to France with the Battalion, landing at Le Harve on February 28th 1915. He was back in London in the July, where he married Alicia Bray Webb at St Matthews Church, West Kensington on July 22nd 1915. Richard’s return to his unit was however brief, on September 13th a German bombardment killed 11 and wounded 39 of the unit, Richard was evacuated with shrapnel wounds. It would be nearly two years before Richard rejoined his unit on 25th May 1917. When he did, fate dealt the harshest realities of war upon him. June 1917, two days of training in readiness for an inevitable offensive, on June 6th , the Battalion moved into the front line trenches West of Lens, Northern France, to make their final preparations. June 8th 1917 at 8:30pm the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, The Tigers, went over the top, their objective was to take Hill 65. C Company, attacking on the right, led by Captain Moore went very well. B Company, attacking on the left, led by Capt Wynn was halted by withering German machine gun fire, Capt Wynn and 2nd Lt Richard Farrer were killed. The Battalion suffered total casualties of 5 Officers and 91 other ranks. The Battalion Commander speaking of Richard said, ’As you know, he was in my company; we came out here together, and he helped me through many trying times. He was very much loved by his men and by everyone, and died gallantly leading his men in face of very heavy machine gun fire. I feel his loss very much indeed; he was always such a thorough man and did his work so well’. Richard is Buried at Bulley Grenay, his grave is tendered by the War Graves Commission. His name is also recorded on the Roll of Honour at Rossall Boarding School, Lancashire and on the stained glass window of St Mary’s, the Church where he was christened.

Private Karl Chapman aged 20

Karl Chapman was born in 1896. In 1911, Karl lived at 2 Old Lane with his mother Ruth and father Edmund (both in their sixties) and was working (aged 14) as a Worsted Doffer. He was one of 9 children. In 1901 the family was at Halifax Lane Fold and 1881 on Church Hill. Karl attended both St James and Midgley Sunday Schools and had moved to Dove’s Rest, Midgley by 1916. He signed up in Hebden Bridge in January 1916 for the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and was sent to Salonika (now Thessalonika) in November 1916 with the East Yorks Regiment. The poor conditions during the Salonica campaign meant that hundreds of men died of dysentery including Karl. He’s buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece and is commemorated on both the St James (Luddenden Methodist) Roll of Honour (now kept at Zion Chapel at Odgen) and the Providence (Midgley) Roll of Honour (now housed in the Midgley Community Rooms).

Private Thomas Henry Sutcliffe aged 36

Thomas Henry Sutcliffe was born 9 September 1881. His mother Mary (nee Thomas) died that same year aged 38. His father Benjamin died in 1884. He was brought up by his grandmother Sarah (or Sally) Thomas and aunt Sarah Thomas who both lived to ripe old ages – Sally to 80 and Sarah to 74 (and never married). In 1891 they lived at Towngate and in 1911 lived at Springfield, with head of household Sarah, Woollen Weaver. Thomas was a blanket finisher, aged 30, and all the rest of the family were also in the woollen industry. Thomas attended Midgley United Methodist Church and Sunday School and then worked as a railway porter and for L Harwood and Sons, Brearley. He went to France for reserve 7th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in January 1917, died of wounds on 17 September 1917 and is buried in Favreuil British Cemetery. Back row: John Robert, Emma, Thomas Henry Front row: Sarah, Susannah

Private Clarence Hebblethwaite Holt aged 35 and Private John Patrick Kelly aged 25

Private Clarence Hebblethwaite Holt was born in Leeds in 1883. The family moved around quite a lot, so in 1891 he’s living in Liverpool and by 1901 he’s at 22 Providence Place with his mother and three sisters. He was married at St Mary’s in 1907 to Fanny Smith at which time he was living on Apple house Terrace. In 1911 his mother and his four sisters and two brothers are living on Brook Terrace. The family moved later to Carr Villas. Clarence was a member of St Mary’s Church Choir. He moved to Longsight, Manchester, working as the manager of H. Griffiths and Co, printers. He had three children. He enlisted in July 1916 and was in France from March 1917 with the Manchester Regiment as a stretcher bearer. He was killed on 9th October during the first battle of Passchendale. He has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, WestVlaanderen in Belgium.

John Kelly was born in Liverpool, son of Joseph and Anne who were from Ireland. He had two sisters and one brother. The family moved to Luddenden in the early 1900’s and in 1911 they were living at 9 Providence Place. His sister who must have been listed as next of kin was living on Delph Hill Lane at the time of John’s death. He signed up for the 4th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons Regiment on 14th August 1914 only a week after the war started and went to France in April 1915. He was killed when moving forward with a machine gun team supporting attacking infantry at the Battle of Passchendale. He has no know grave but is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. Before the war he had worked at Crossleys Carpets in Halifax and RT Riley & Sons at Peel House Mills. James Cavanagh mentioned in the press cutting lived at Ellen Royd, Luddendenfoot in 1901 before marrying John’s sister Annie Kelly in 1912. The couple lived at 27 Duke Street in 1911. James died 14 June 1917, he is not on the Midgley and Luddenden War Memorial nor the Luddendenfoot memorial, though his younger brother Willie is listed on the latter. He is on the Luddendenfoot Working Men’s Club Roll of Honour (which is now lost).

Private Albert Ogden aged 24 In 1911,

Private Albert Ogden lived at 4 North Ive House with his parents Joseph and Mary Ellen Ogden, he had three brothers and one sister. His younger brother Jesse was also a casualty of the war and died in 1919. He was a wool spinner and worked for RT Riley & Sons at Peel House Mills. His parents were still living in the village in 1930’s, the electoral register for 1939 shows them living at 18 Applehouse Terrace with their son Allen now aged 40. He signed up for the Scottish Horse in 1916 when he was living at 2 Buttress Lane. He later transferred to the 15th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was sent to France in July 1917 and the following is an extract from the war diaries (Third Battle of Ypres, Battle of Passchendaele) 12.30 am on October 26 th – All companies report in assembly area. Watches are synchronized. The attack carried out with companies in waves in depth. Casualties were few until reached the clearing to the north of the chateau where machine gun fire was encountered from the chateau causing considerable casualties including all C Corps officers. About 8 am the enemy were seen massing for a counter attack. And at 8.15 the counter attack was easily repulsed by machine gun, Lewis gun and rifle fire. 10.30 – communication with our right could not be established. 10.45 the position became critical owing to enemy advancing and encircling our right flank. Owing to the conditions of mud, all Lewis guns and brigade machine guns and all but very few rifles had become out of action. Casualties became heavy and a withdrawal was endeavoured. Shelling was very intense and the conditions indescribable men sinking waist deep in the going. He was killed in action and is among the 35,000 with no known grave who are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. He is also commemorated in the church window.

Chaplain Wilfred John Harding aged 31

Wilfred Harding was born in Battersea, London on 2nd December 1885 and was educated at St Paul's School, Hammersmith and Christ's College Cambridge. He was Curate at St Mary’s Luddenden from 1912 to 1914 and enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps on 17th October 1914. For a short while in the early 1900’s he was based in Luddenden. He married Mary Riley of Luddenden in May 1916. She was the daughter of RT Riley of Thorn Bank, a local mill owner. He was gazetted Chaplain to HM Forces on 29th May 1917 and was Captain Chaplain attached to the Drake Battalion Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was killed in action at Passchendaele while stretcher-bearing during heavy fighting on 31st October 1917 He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. He was awarded the Military Cross on 18 January 1918 for “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty; continual tending of the wounded during four days’ operations and repeatedly crossing No Man’s Land under heavy fire to carry them to the front line” The Lieutenant-Commander of the Drake Battalion wrote: The work for which [he] was awarded the MC was as follows: Stretcher-bearers had each case to carry over 2 miles over the most impossible ground before reaching a road or ambulance. [He] insisted on going into "No Man's Land" with the stretcher-bearers in search of wounded men under the most intense fire and in broad daylight, when he was exposed without cover of any kind, regardless of his own safety so long as he could be a comfort or of use to any of the wounded. Everyone was loud in his praises. It was just behind the line, while returning, that he was killed. No man could have done his duty more nobly than he has done since joining this battalion. He was always with the men, early and late, and in front of the forward posts. He was a great favourite among all ranks, always cheerful and self-denying under all conditions, and his devotion to duty was an example to us all. No M.C. was ever more thoroughly earned. The Senior Chaplain of the Division wrote: For over two years, Capt. Harding had been a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps at the base, but his heart was at the front, for he followed the Drake Battn. to which he was attached, all through their wanderings into the trenches and back again. On his own initiative, he got a little 'dug-out' made in the 'Red Line' and set it apart as a church and reading-room, in memory of gallant comrades. When the Brigade moved, and sections of the men were set apart as stretcher-bearers, during a 'push' he immediately joined one of the squads, and whilst engaged in this work, a shell pitched amidst his squad and killed him. He was a general favourite and a splendid example. Such a capable, brave and experienced Chaplain is hard to replace. All who knew him found in him the man and padre. His body is buried near the spot where he laid down his life whilst serving his comrades.

Private Leonard Brooksbank aged 27

Leonard Brooksbank was born in September 1889 in Ovenden and lived with his widowed mother Grace. By 1901 they had moved to Illingworth along with two Mitchell children (his half brother and sister) including Willie who gave his life in April 1917. In 1911 they were at 1 Bank Bottom (now called Spring Bank, High Street). Aged 21 he was, like Edith and Willie, a Blanket weaver. He joined the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment and went to France in April 1915. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial in France and also in St Mary’s Churchyard, where his mother is buried. She died aged 63, two weeks later on 8th December. She had been living at Spring Bank. The War Diaries of the 2/4 DoW Regiment say the following: “The Division moved on 25 th November to relieve the 40 th Division in the line. The 186 th Brigade who had been “standing by” for 24 hours, marched off from Bertincourt about 1pm. The Battalion moved off from billets at 1.45pm and marched via Hermes ... to the Canal. Teas were served before crossing the Canal and the Field Kitchens sent back. Captain Fletcher who had gone on to receive instructions met the Battalion …. and by him the battalion was guided, moving west of Graincourt to Anneux Chapel .... This was about 8pm. Owing to intermittent shelling the Battalion was well deployed in Artillery formation, but even so, did not escape a few casualties, owing to the unfortunate delay that took place.”

Private Michael Roach aged 25

Michael Roach was born in 1892 in Liverpool. His mother, Ellen had two other sons, John (b.1894) and Francis (b.1901) and 2 daughters Ellen (b.1897) and Jane (b.1899). In the 1911 Census, the family was living in West Derby, Liverpool. Michael was a Private 8974 in the 12th Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. He joined up on 4th April 1915. He was at some point living at 32 Chapel Street with his mother Ellen. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial which stands on an elevated terrace in Louverval Military Cemetery in Louveral, France. It commemorates more than 7,000 servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai whose graves are not known. The Battle of Cambrai started on 20 November with 476 tanks going into battle. It finished on 3 December with the Germans capturing La Vaquerie and the allies retreating over the next four days, giving up the gains from the first days. The following is an extract from the War Diaries of the 12TH Kings Liverpool Regiment: “St Waast 30 November 1917 to 2 December 1917 – About 7.30 am the enemy attacked in masses under cover of a heavy shelling barrage and heavy machine gun fire from a large number of low-flying aeroplanes. These aeroplanes also dropped a number of High Explosive and Smoke Bombs. The enemy was seen to have penetrated the line on our Right, so that it became necessary for the Battalion to retire in order to avoid being cut off. During the heavy Machine Gun fire from hostile planes on the Battery positions the “SOS” signal was not responded to. A considerable amount of confusion was inevitable. Parties were organised from time to time to defend positions, but they were continually out-flanked. The remnants of the Battalion were attached to other units as nearly all the officers had become casualties. The Brigade still held La Vaquerie which was handed over on relief. Our casualties were 9 Officers missing, 2 officers wounded, 229 other ranks missing and 55 other ranks wounded”. Michael had a brother John who died on 18th April 1918. His mother Ellen was still living at 32 Chapel Street in 1939.

Private Gladstone Crowther aged 32

Gladstone Crowther was born in 1885 in Boothtown to Annie (born Retford) and Bright Crowther (born Northowram) who was a Clogger. By 1901 they were living in Illingworth and Gladstone (16) was working as a warehouse boy in a woollen mill. In 1911 he was living in Mixenden and was a Blanket Finisher. The next year on 27 May he married Ruth Nattrass. Living at 6 Peel House Gate he signed up in Halifax on 17 November 1916. He was only 5ft 3 ½ tall with a 36 inch chest. After training in Wallsend he was sent to France on 21 August 1917 with the 2/6th Battalion Prince of Wales (North Staffs) Regiment. He was gassed at the Battle of Cambrai and died two days later. The 2/6th Battalion War Diaries say the following: “Heudicourt / Cambrai Front –November – (27 th ) The Battalion holds itself in readiness to move forward at an hour’s notice. The Battalion moves by march to trenches by Flesquires relieving the 3 rd Coldstream Guards. (28 th ) The Battalion takes over the front line system in Bourlon Wood relieving the Welsh Guards. (29 th ) Our position heavily shelled by the enemy – casualties 1 & 9: 13 and 29. (30 th ) The Battalion again heavily shelled especially D company whose casualties were very heavy. Casualties 2 & 10, 39 & 257 In this bombardment the enemy used shrapnel and mustard gas shells and despite heavy casualties the Battalion still holds the line” His effects were sent to his widow, Ruth, and consisted of “letters, photos, pipe, metal watch (broken), arm badge, purse, wallet”. She was awarded a pension of 13/9 a week which would be worth £43.73 in 2017 money. She put the following notice in the Courier on 2 March 1918. He is on the Luddenden Working Men’s Club Roll of Honour and in the illuminated Town Hall Books of Remembrance.

Private Rufus Yates aged 20

Rufus Yates lived at Paradise, Midgley in both the 1901 and 1911census, with his parents Harry, a Woollen Weftman and Grace and older brother Fred, a Woollen Spinner. He was aged 13 and a Presser for Ready Made Clothing. He later became a Railway Clerk at Eastwood station. He was shot in the head by a sniper and is buried in the Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich, Nord, France, where his headstone bears the inscription “In God’s Keeping He is safe”. He’s also commemorated on the St James Roll of Honour. His story is best told from the Hebden Bridge Times:

Gunner Arthur Wilcock aged 25

Arthur Wilcock was born in 1893 and christened at St Mary’s on 9th April of that year. In the 1901 census, he was the youngest of six children of Mark, aged 49 a stonemason and Annie aged 48. They were all living at 28 Duke Street. By 1911, three of the children had moved out and Arthur was working as a joiner. He signed up into the Royal Garrison Artillery in July 1916 and was sent to France in February 1917. In June that year he was invalided back to England but returned again in August 1917. His story can best be told from the obituary in the Courier: On the gravestone in the cemetery in Belgium, his mother had put “Some day I hope to clasp his hand in the better land – his mother”. His father had died in 1915.

Private Michael Kennedy aged 36

Michael Joseph Kennedy was born in 1879 in Halifax. His parents were James and Ellen Kennedy, both from Ireland. In 1891 the family was living on Garden Street, Northowram, three girls and two boys. Michael went to work for Crossley Carpets shortly after his tenth birthday! By 1911, his mother Ellen is widowed, living at 5 Halifax Lane Fold with son Thomas, two daughters Rosie and Susan and grandson James William. Both Thomas and James William fought in the war. In the 1901 census, Michael is in the 4th Yorkshire Regiment posted at Sheffield Barracks. I cannot find any link to him being in South Africa nor at Ladysmith as reported in the newspaper, so this might not be true. His service record suggest he signed up with 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment in 1900 but was discharged in 1906. Ladysmith was November 1899 to February 1900. He rejoined the Army in 1916, aged 35, this time in the Durham Light Infantry, but had a few issues! In his service records it notes that he went AWOL three times. The second time he was found guilty of losing his kit. The third time, losing his kit again, he was docked 21 days’ pay. Initially serving in France, he had a spell in Italy (November 1917 until early 1918), then returned to the Somme area of France. The Hebden Bridge Times reported the following: He was defending the line during the German Spring Offensive north of Amiens in The Somme. He was wounded and sent to the No 29 Casualty Clearing Station at Gezaincourt where he died. He is buried at Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension.

Private Frank Hewitt aged 24

Frank Hewitt was born in 1894. The Family lived at 8 Chapel Street, Frank had 5 elder sisters including his twin. In 1911, the family were living at 19 Halifax Lane. Frank had been a grocer’s apprentice for the Coop before he signed up. We have little detail on his time in the Army. We know that he joined the Duke of Wellington Regiment but his war records have not survived. He died at the Casualty Clearing Station after being gassed and he is buried in Lijssentthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He is commemorated on the St James memorial and on the Halifax Civic Memorial as well as in the churchyard.

Private John Edward Roach aged 22

John Edward Roach was born in Bradford on 27th March 1896. In the 1901 census, Father John, born in Manchester, and Mother Mary Elizabeth, born in Bradford, both aged 27 were living at 4 Paper Hall Square in Bradford. By 1911 he was no longer with his parents, who now had another son Philip (b.1906) and were living at Wilfred St, Bradford. John Edward would have only been 15 years old, so where was he? Well he was at a Roman Catholic Reformatory School in East Yorkshire so he must have got himself into a bit of trouble. It’s not clear when he moved to Luddenden, but it is thought that he enlisted in 1914, as the few surviving records of his time in the military show that he served in the Balkans in October 1915. So he would only have lived in Luddenden for a couple of years at the most. The Hebden Bridge Times 10 May 1918 states “Official news has been received that Pte Alfred Lee of Thompson’s Buildings L’foot and Pte Jack Roache, Halifax Lane, Luddenden, both in the Duke of Wellington Regiment have been killed in action. They were both on the roll of honour at St Walburga’s Church, L’foot” The War Diaries for the 2nd Duke of Wellingtons in April 1918 are also brief: April 1 st – Battalion holding the Army Lines in support. Enemy shelling heavily April 2 nd – Battalion still holding Army Lines. Situation quiet April 3 rd – Relieved and moved back to Intermediate Line on Eastern outskirts of St Laurent au Blangy (near Arras). 2 companies in trenches and 2HQ and 2 companies in cellars in village. April 4 th – Nothing to report April 5 th – Battalion moved up the line to Broken Hill to River Scarpe to relieve 2 nd Seaforth Highlanders and Somerset LI April 6 th – Battalion holding the line. Nothing to report. The writer of these diaries clearly thought that casualties didn’t require anything more that “Nothing to report” His service records no longer exist, but he was awarded both the Victory Medal and the 15 Star, with a note that he served in the Balkans late in 1915. John is buried in Etaples Military Cemetary, Pas de Calais, France.

Private Angus Robinson aged 18.

Angus was born in Hull in 1899 to Angus and Sarah Ann. By 1911 they had moved to 22 Thorney Lane, Midgley. He was then at school and his father was a Wool Comber. His three older siblings were also in Worsted. He also worked for Murgatroyd’s before he was conscripted into the Duke of Wellington’s in August 1917. By April 1917 he had transferred to the 11th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion diaries report that on 12th April “Heavy fighting commenced about 10 am. The 93rd Brigade reported that they were heavily engaged, it was evident that an attack on a very large scale was developing and that the flanks were exposed. Orders were given to withdraw and later since touch with flank units could not be established to withdraw further. The enemy pressed closely and though not successful in disorganising the operation, succeeded in cutting off one or two parties to such an extent that their only escape was to a flank where they eventually attached themselves to other units.” The remnants withdrew to a line east of the village of Merris and the next day gained support from the 1st Australian division. Angus is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainault, Belgium. This memorial commemorates more than 11,000 UK and South African forces who have no known grave. He is named on the Luddenden & Midgley war memorial and a relative has identified that a number of Angus’s family are in the photo taken at the unveiling of the memorial in April 1923. These include his father and mother and three siblings. He is also commemorated on the Ebenezer Roll of Honour (Halifax Lane).

Lance Bombardier John Bolton aged 33

John was the son of Thomas Mitchell Bolton and Jane Bolton of Brearley and was born on 1885. By 1911 he was living at Wheatley Royd and working on his father’s farm. In 1913 he married Annie (nee Bloomer), a teacher, of Lane House. When he signed up in 1916 they were living at Lane House, with two small children, and he was earning a living as a market gardener and cattle dealer. His wife later moved to Buttress. He is buried in Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, Nord, France. He’s also commemorated in the churchyard and in the church window.

Gunner George Broadbent aged 24

George was born in Holmfirth. In the 1911Census he was living with his Father Luke and Mother Sarah Jane at 2 Scotland, Midgley. Luke was a delver in a stone quarry, as was their eldest son, John. George was aged 17 and a Woollen Mule Piecer. His service records still exist but his story is best told by an extract from the Hebden Bridge Times. He is buried in Jonchery-Sur-Vesle British Cemetary, Marne, France, and commemorated on the Providence (Midgley) Roll of Honour that’s now in the Midgley Community Room.

Private Sam Binns aged 33

Sam was born in July 1884. In the 1891 census, he was at 10 Solomon Hill. In 1901 he was with his father, Charles Patrick, a Plasterer / whitewasher labourer, and mother Sarah Binns, at 2 Old Riding Head. He was working as a Paper Finisher. In March 1904 he was signed up for 6 years army service. He was 5ft 2 ¾ in tall, 34 in chest, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. It seems that somehow he bought himself out within days. In 1907 he married Millicent Currie and by 1911 they were living at 3 Upper Green Royd, Mount Tabor and he was a labourer in a stone quarry. Both were 27 years old and they’d already had at least three children. Private Sam Binns fell at Pourrey Wood near Rheims in France. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne. Sam’s story is best told by an extract from the Hebden Bridge Times.

Private Clifford Campbell aged 18 and Bombardier William Henry Wormald aged 21

Clifford Campbell was born on 3rd Sept 1899 in Mirfield. The family relocated shortly after his birth and in the 1901 census the Campbells are living at 7 Duke Street. His mother died in 1906. His father Charles remarried and in the 1911 census, the family are still on Duke Street, Clifford with his 2 brothers Colin and Herbert and a sister Nellie. Clifford worked for R T Riley and Co at Peel House Mills. His father Charles, much later in life, ran the Fish and Chip shop on Luddenden High Street just across the road from the Granby Pub, now Granby House. His elder brother Colin would also likely have served in the war. We know he survived as he was married in 1922 at St Mary’s. Clifford was conscripted on 8th September 1917, five days after his 18th Birthday. He became Private Clifford Campbell 53888 of the 2nd/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. He was reported missing in Action on 31 July 1918, 4 days before his 19th birthday. His Battalion had been engaged in action for a couple of weeks around Bois de Pourey to the West of Reims in the Champagne region of France. The War diaries show that the West Yorkshires were fighting alongside French, Italian and American troops and the hills around Bois de Pourey are dotted with the military cemeteries from all of these nations, indicating the ferocity of the fighting. There are no references to Clifford himself in the war diaries, but they do show that the West Yorkshire Regiment were involved in a period of heavy fighting throughout July. A map in the diaries show all the troop positions in mid July, the West Yorkshires were only a small number of the amassed troops, with only 60 men. The troops would fight in the front line for a few days before going back to the support trenches to rest. The Germans had planes in the air so even these manoeuvres weren’t without threat. The dairies report that on the 30th July (the day before Clifford’s death) the battalion had managed to move from the wagon line to the front line without casualties from air attack. There are some dispatches that have survived in the diaries from a Lt Walker of the West Yorkshire Regiment, which gives a flavour of what Clifford was experiencing. Having advanced from the front line Lt Walker was stuck in a shell hole in no man’s land. He sends a runner back to report his situation to HQ ‘Am occupying 2 shell holes South East of Chaumezy only 6 men of ours left and 8 men and one officer of the Devon’s. I’m in touch with Hampshire’s on the right (150 yards) but nobody on the left. What am I to do? Holding on and consolidating' 4 hours later, another report back to HQ. They are still stuck in a shell hole but now Lt Walker is wounded, still awaiting instructions and surrounded by snipers. I don’t know whether Lt Walker survived. Clifford is buried alongside 244 comrades at the Chambrecy British Cemetery close to where he fell. Half of the graves are of unknown soldiers. Gill and Phil Radford were driving through France a few years ago and took the opportunity to visit his grave. He’s surrounded by his fellow West Yorkshire regiment pals and the Devon’s and the Hampshire’s mentioned in the War diaries. Of the 60 West Yorkshire Regiment soldiers that fought in this engagement, 31 are known to be buried here, another 5 in the nearby cemetery at Courmas, all of these 36 men died in the last few days of July. The cemetery is in the rolling hills where they fought, now surrounded by cereal fields, vineyards and the remnants of the forest that once covered these slopes. You walk amongst the gravestones, in the sunshine with the smell of herbs hanging in the air. It was so very difficult to imagine the horror of July 1918. ----------------------- William Henry Wormald was born on 26 August 1896 and was christened at St Mary’s on 1 November. In the 1901 census, the family is living at School House where his father William Henry Wormald was the School Teacher. In the 1911 census, he was living with his brother Patchett Wormald at 3 Thorn View, Luddenden. His parents William Henry and Anne (nee Patchet) both died a few years earlier. He attended St Mary’s Church and Sunday School. He was educated at Hebden Bridge secondary school and before he joined up he was a Sunday school teacher at St Mary’s, as was his father, and well liked. He served as a Lance Bombardier and signaller, with A Battery 256th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. A letter from the Chaplain states that he died of his wounds from a gas shell. The letter that his brother Patchet Wormald received from William Edleston shows the appreciation in which he was held. Another brother, John Frederick, also served in France, coming over with the Canadian troops. William was buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France on 2 August. He was awarded both the British and Victory medals and is remembered on the memorial at Hebden Bridge School.

Private Willie Uttley aged 33

Willie Uttley was born in 1885 to James and Eliza Uttley. He was one of five children, he had an older brother Sam and three sisters Sarah, Annie and Alice. In 1911, the family was living in one of the houses behind Broadfold Hall. All the family worked in Oats Royd Mill apart from older brother Sam, occupation Tailor and who lived in the house next to the Woodman inn in Booth. And Willie who is a quarryman for Wilson and Haigh at Mount Tabor. Willie’s mother Eliza died a year before Willie in 1917 aged 66. One of his school friends was Issac Rayner who is also commemorated on the Luddenden and Midgley War Memorial. Issac and Willie were three years apart in age, and lived 2 doors down from each other. Willie and his brother Sam both joined up in 1916. His brother Sam survived the war, joining the Royal Flying Corps (later to become the RAF) but we have no records of where he served apart from one mention in the Halifax Courier of him being stationed in Sheffield in 1918. Sam returned to Booth after the war to continue his profession as a tailor and lived the rest of his life in Booth. He died in 1944 and is buried in the Methodist chapel graveyard at Goitside alongside his family. Willie was conscripted to the Durham Light Infantry in March 1916 and went to France in July 1917. At some stage he was transferred to the Labour Corps probably because of his age and as a quarryman he would have been used to digging and eventually to the 13th East Lancashire Regiment. The war diaries for the 13th East Lancashire regiment show that he was involved in action near the village of Vieux Berquin, close to the Belgian border. His unit had been involved in an advance into enemy territory, they were digging in to their new position when an artillery shell exploded nearby, killing Willie. Here is the Halifax Courier report; He is one of almost 1500 British Troops buried at the Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension on the edge of the village and as its name suggests it is next to the village cemetery. The village is very close to the Belgium border. Ypres is only a few miles to the North East and the coast at Dunkirk to the North. It is a very flat landscape and nothing like his childhood home. Fifty of the graves in the cemetery are from May 1940, the time of the evacuation from Dunkirk. The majority of the rest are from July and August 1918, with lots of Australian graves amongst the British troops. Willie was one of ten soldiers buried at Ottersteene who fell on the 23rd Aug, five being from his own regiment. He is remembered on the Booth Chapel memorial.

Private Harry Oates aged 19

Harry was born on 7th July 1899 at 26 Booth Terrace. In the 1911 census the family is living at 23 Apple House Terrace. His mother Harriett who originally came from Mosborough in Derbyshire is listed as a Char woman, she is married to Herbert Goodall, there are 5 children, Harry and John William Oates and siblings Albert, Annie and Eliza Goodall. Harry’s Mother lived at this address until her death in 1945. Before the war Harry worked for the local Coal merchant, Thomas Kershaw. Harry was conscripted into The East Yorkshire Regiment in January 1918. The war records for Private Harry Oates 38918 are one of many lost in the Blitz but the war diaries for the regiment do still exist. These show the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment were stationed in the Somme to the south east of Cambrai near the village of Equancourt. The Regiment having lost a lot of men, had received 116 reinforcements on the 16th Sept, Harry was one of these reinforcements. On the 18th September at 5:30am (having moved forward from a holding position overnight), Harry’s regiment left the relative safety of their trench and advanced towards 2 German positions know as Meunier Trench and Meunier Support. This was the start of the engagement now known as the Battle of Ephey where the British 4 th Army attacked and capture a number of outposts in front of the German Hindenberg Line. The war diaries record that during this day, they took both these positions, captured 400 prisoners, numerous machine guns, 5 field guns plus ammunition wagons and 24 horses all (according to the diary) with very little opposition. But the tally of dead and injured for the day was not as insignificant as the diaries suggest: Officers: 2 killed, 3 wounded, 1 missing Others: 11 killed, 68 wounded, 38 missing Harry was one of those men who died, it was only his second day of active service. Harry is buried at the Targelle Ravine Cemetery at Villers-Guislain close to where he fell. There are 114 graves here, all from a nine day period.

Private David Victor Jackson aged 23

David was born in Luddenden in 1895 and was the only child of James and Elizabeth Jackson. In 1911 the family is living at 23 Thorney Lane Midgley. David aged 15 is working as an under clerk. By 1914 he was a clerk at a Solicitors in Halifax Messes Godfrey, Rhodes and Evans David’s war records are not available, but he was in the Highland Light infantry (Glasgow Highlanders). We know that he had been injured twice already, with shrapnel wounds to his thigh in September 1917 fighting to the south West of Ypres (and after which he was shipped backed to Newport for treatment) and again in June 1918 where he received a minor head wound at Poperinge on the outskirst of Ypres. By the end of August, the Regiment was moved south and they spend a couple of weeks training at Beaudricourt to the West of Arras. Then on the 19th and 20th of September they move into positions at Equancourt in the Somme. Fellow villager Harry Oates set out from Equancourt on the day that he died, the 18th September, two days before David arrived. On the 23 rd Sept the Glasgow Highlanders move to the front line at Villers-Guislain, into the new positions gained by Harry’s regiment on the previous days during the Battle of Ephey. The war diaries show that they wait here for a few days before the next big engagement which started on the 29th. This was the battle of Saint Quentin Canal, a quickly planned attack building on the success of the Battle of Ephey. Success not so much in the amount of territory gained, but more a feeling that the level of defense from the enemy was diminishing. The main battle of Saint Quentin canal was about 8 miles to the south of Villers Guislain, but this was still a very active day of fighting for the regiment. There were in position early in the morning and after a short artillery barrage moved forward from their trenches at 5:54 am. It is a day of attack and counter attack with the Glasgow Highlanders making territory before being forced to withdraw and then advancing again. It was a foggy morning and the diaries state that ‘the fog kept getting thicker all the time which lessened the casualties but made keeping in touch and direction difficult.’ At 10:40am having made good progress and establishing a new front line, the enemy counter attacked. By 11am, a combination of ferocious machine gun fire and constant shelling of the new front line meant that a withdrawal had to be made. The diaries say that ‘all advanced parties were withdrawn to the old front line and every available man stood in line expecting attack. The enemy however did not attempt to exploit his success’ the following morning the regiment, realising that the enemy had withdrawn, moved to retake their forward position. In fact patrols on the night of the 30th realised that the enemy had retreated to the far bank of the Saint Quentin Canal, blowing the bridges up behind them. This was a gain of nearly 2 miles of territory for the allies in a period of less than 2 weeks. But this progress created a lot of casualties, the Glasgow Highlanders had 9 officers and 350 other ranks dead or wounded on the day, with 36 of the wounded being recovered from no man’s land under the cover of darkness. We know that David received shrapnel wounds to his chest and died at 8:30am on the 30th September in Casualty Clearing Station number 43 at Beaulencourt which is about 20 miles behind the front line. David was buried by the clearing station’s Methodist Chaplain at the Thilloy Road Cemetry at Beaulencourt. The cemetery contains the graves of 12 other men from his regiment and 230 other soldiers who died from wounds suffered during this battle. If David had died on the battlefield on the 29th and not in hospital on the 30th Sept, he would have certainly shared his resting place at Villers Guislain with fellow villager Harry Oates who had died the previous week. The Hebden Bridge Times obituary tells us a little more about the man: David was most studious in his studies and held many certificates for commercial subjects won at Sowerby Bridge and Halifax Technical Schools. At Midgley where he will be missed most, he was a willing worker at the United Methodist church, was a member of the choir, and regular in his attendance at the young man’s class. By his passing the village has lost one of its brightest and most promising sons.

Private William Noel Ackerley aged 18

William was born in Liverpool in January 1900. His father and grandfather, both also named William were at that time farmers at Coopers Farm, Sandy Lane, Kirkby. It is unclear when or why the family moved to Luddenden, but we know by 1918 they were living at 8 Providence Place. William Noel had 5 sisters and 2 brothers. Both William Noel and his father were working at J Bracken and Sons Paper mill, which was just a few hundred yards upstream the memorial. Both father and son served in the war and both are commemorated on the plaque behind the war memorial. William Noel was called up on 15th February 1918, a few weeks after his 18th birthday. The address given at the time was 6 Skipton Road, Anfield, and he enlisted into the 4th Loyal North Lancashire regiment. Did he enlist in Liverpool to join up with his school chums? If he did, he may have been thwarted because by the time he entered active service he had been transferred to the 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment, Private 57867. After his 6 months basic training, he was posted to France in August 1918. His war records have not survived, but we can turn to the war diaries for information. The York and Lancasters and been fighting to the south of Ypres in July and August but by mid September, they had moved to the Somme. William was involved in the push north east from Saint Quentin up towards the west of Cambrai. The war diaries for October only contain the dispatches from HQ to the troops and none from the front line back to HQ, so they contain no casualty numbers or details of the fighting. They do show us that the regiment engaged the enemy on 7th October near Fontaine Uterte which is 7 miles north west of Saint Quentin and again on 16th October near Vaux Andigny another 10 miles to the north west. So the allies were making a lot of progress. On the 20th October the war diaries have a new command from HQ for the regiment to route march on the following day to St Souplet. On the 25th Oct the next orders arrive, to clear the village of Ors and to set up positions covering the bridges over the Sambre Oise canal. Night patrols set off to establish the position of the bridges as they were not marked on the map (presumably these had been built by the enemy?), these patrols had been given a day’s food ration. But mustn’t ‘become involved in any serious fighting but remain in position by day' that is the 26th October. One company was tasked to set up posts covering the bridges whilst another company ventured closer to the bridge: ‘all men will carry 2 bandoliers of small arms ammunition and a sufficient number of bombs and ground flares.’ It was during the setting up of these new positions that William Noel was killed. This was to be the final engagement of the war for the York and Lancasters. Their positions were relieved on the 28th October and the regiment sent on rest leave. William Noel Ackerley is one of nearly 600 soldiers buried at the Saint Souplet British Cemetery close to where he fell, including twelve soldiers from his regiment who also died during this final engagement.

Sergeant Issac Rayner aged 30

Isaac Rayner was born on 20 May 1888 to Thomas and Fanny Rayner. He had one younger sister Evelyn. The family lived for many years at Broadfold where his father was the Coachman for the Murgatroyd family. At the age of 13 Issac was working as a worsted spinner but by 1911 like his father, he is working with horses as a groom, for another textile mill owner in Tottington near Bury. His sister Evelyn was married at St Mary’s in July 1916 to Gilbert Murgatroyd of 27 Apple House Terrace. The couple moved to the Fylde coast after the war and shortly afterwards parents Thomas and Fanny also moved to the coast to be close to their daughter. Issac joined the Army Veterinary Corps as a private on 11th December 1915 service number SE/13287 and was posted to the Balkans shortly afterwards. We perhaps forget how dependant the army was on horses. The majority of heavy equipment was moved by teams of horses, a little by steam engines and some by the modern invention of the motor vehicle. So horses were a very valuable resource. It is estimated that during the war two and a half million horses were treated in veterinary hospitals in France with 2 million of those being returned to active duty. By the end of 1918, there were nearly 42,000 men serving in the Army Veterinary Corps. And in the Middle East where Isaac was stationed, not only did the corps look after horses, mules and donkies but they had specialist camel hospitals as well. Isaac’s first posting was to the Balkans. The fighting here was against the Bulgarians and took place in Greece, Albanian and Serbia. His war records are patchy, we know he was in Eygpt in 1918, but have no record of where he was between 1916 and 1918. Probably, he was part of Allenby’s Army that fought against the Ottoman Empire. If so he would have been in Palestine during these years. By the latter part of 1918 he was serving in Egypt and was promoted to acting Sergeant. The end of the fighting came a little sooner here than it did in Western Europe with an Armistice being agreed on 30th October 1918, but this came too late for Isaac who was already ill. He died on 23rd December of malaria and pneumonia in a field hospital in Deir El Belah a town now in the Gaza strip in Palestine, a few miles north of the present day border with Egypt. He is buried at the War cemetery here, alongside 724 other allied soldiers.

Gunner John Ogden Horsfield aged 27

John Ogden Horsfield was born in 1892 to Alfred and Elizabeth Hanna Horsfield. He was one of four children, he had an older brother Ernest and two sisters Ruth and Janet. In 1911, the family was living at 19 Goitside, John is a grocer’s assistant, his father Alfred is working at Bracken’s Paper Mill, The two girls are both making clothes and his older brother Ernest is a police Constable in the Lancashire Constabulary working in Stretford, Manchester. John joined up on 11 January 1916 and was posted to France on 4th December as part of the Royal Garrison Artillery. In the early summer of 1917, he was with the 247th Siege Artillary. He received a gunshot wound to his stomach and was treated in a field hospital. He was posted home on 7 July 1917 and was given clerical work to do in Army barracks at Ripon and then Weymouth. He was discharged before the end of the war, on 10 April 1918 as no longer fit for active service. On returning home, he got married to Emily Uttley (who’s elder brother Willie had given his life in August 1918). The couple set up house in Thomas Street South in Kings Cross and John got a job as a Tramway Office Clerk. But they were only married for a few months before John contracted flu and died. His wife Emily gave birth to their son John in the summer. She never remarried and died in Halifax in 1961.

Private Jesse Ogden aged 22

Jesse Ogden was born on 10 May 1896 to Joseph and Mary Ellen Ogden and was christened at St Mary’s on 9 August of that year. He had one elder brother Albert who died at Passchendaele in October 1917 (also commemorated on the war memorial), a younger brother Allan and a sister Rhoda. The family lived a 4 North Ive House and Jesse’s father was a railway signalman. Both Albert and Jesse worked as Woollen piecers. Jesse’s parent were still living in the village in 1939 at 18 Applehouse Terrace with Allen now aged 40. Daughter Rhoda married Walter Wells of Thorney Lane in 1930 but they do not look to have had any children. The war records for Jesse have not survived so we do not know for sure when he joined up but there is one document, the army register of soldiers effects where we can trace him. This document not only has Jesse’s name on it but also that of his father Joseph. This document tells us that Jesse was in the 1/1st Yorkshire Dragoons, service number 175832. It tells us that he died on 3 March and that his father received a payment of £21, 17 shilling and 4 pence on 18 July 1919 which would have been his back pay and the war gratuity of £19 and 10 shillings. This amount of gratuity would suggest that he joined up in 1916. His medal roll shows that he was awarded the Victory medal and the British medal, but not the 1914-15 Star, so he could not have been in the army in 1915. The Yorkshire Dragoons were originally a Cavalry division, but the regiment was dismounted in February 1918 and became a cyclist division. The 1/1st Yorkshire Dragoons saw a lot of action during the war and Jesse may well have seen action at both The Battle of the Somme and the battle of Cambrai. After the Armistice, the War diaries for the 1/1st Yorkshire Dragoons show that they were posted to Cologne. They were guarding two bridge heads crossing the Rhine and also acted as Guards for the 2 Corps Headquarters. Jesse is one of two privates mentioned in the diaries as having died from influenza. Jesse was buried at The South Cologne War Cemetery and is one of over 2,500 allied soldiers to be buried here.

Private Alfred Holmes aged 30

Alfred was born on 11th August 1888 in Ovenden to William and Kezia Holmes. He was the third of 7 children, with brothers John, James and Harry and sisters Margaret, Mary and Eliza Jane. The family moved to Brown Hill Farm on Thorney Lane in the 1880’s and in the 1891 census his father William is listed as a Wool sorter and farmer. In 1911 Alfred is working as a Quarryman having formerly been a worsted doffer. Alfred’s three brothers would have all qualified for war service, but their service records haven’t survived. The Providence United Methodist Sunday School roll of honour that now resides in the Midgley Community room records that Alfred, James and Harry Holmes all enlisted. Alfred and James are also mention on the Roll of honour for the Luddenden Dean Wesleyan chapel. His brother James was injured around the same time as Alfred and their injuries were reported in the same edition of the Halifax Courier on 5th May 1917. Alfred, whose service records do survive, joined up on 11 December 1915 with the Northumberland Fusiliers. (service number 33463) and was posted to France on 11 May 1916. The injury that was reported in the Halifax Courier was received on the 22 April 1917 during the second battle of Arras. He was digging an advanced trench when he was hit by shrapnel which shattered the upper bone of his left arm. He was operated on in a field hospital and then again at the Westminster Hospital in London where his arm was held in place by a splint whilst it healed. This was followed by several months of recuperation at a hospital in East Grinstead. He was discharged from the Army in October 1917 with restricted movement of both his shoulder joint and elbow joint so could probably no longer use a rifle. Back at home, Albert moved in with his brother John at 4 Thorney Lane, where he worked as a Cattleman for the next 18 months, but he had by this time contracted TB and died on 17th March 1919. He does not appear to have a recognised war grave.

Pioneer William Ackerley aged 48

William Ackerley was born in Wrenbury in Cheshire around 1872 to William and Betsey. His father was a Cow Keeper. The family, 3 boys and one girl moved to Kirby, Liverpool in the 1880’s where they had a cattle farm. He married Ellen Dugdale in 1895 and the couple, still living in Liverpool, had by 1911 five daughters and three sons. William is working as a carter of mineral water, which I think my generation would describe as a pop man. His parents and siblings all stayed in Liverpool, but for some reason William’s branch of the family made the move to Luddenden sometime between 1911 and 1914. Here they lived at 8 Providence Place. Very little information survives from his time in the Army. We know that he joined up in 1915 as his medal index shows that he received the 1915 Star. He would have been 42 or 43 years old when he joined up, so like many of the young men who volunteered, he would have lied about his age. In 1915 the maximum recruit age was 38 increasing to 41 by the Military Service Act of 1916. He joined the Royal Engineers and was posted to the Western Front on 24 September 1915. He was transferred to the Labour Corps which was established in 1917 to help maintain trenches, roads and railway lines and also to help move supplies from the docks to the front line. The men in this corps often had trades like carpenters and bricklayers but also had people used to using pick axes and shovels. The foot soldiers in the corps were known as Pioneers, so Private William Ackerley became Pioneer William Ackerley. In total he spent nearly 4 years in France, being demobbed on 2 June 1919. He returned to Luddenden to work as a boiler stoker at Bracken and Sons Paper Mill. But he had already been diagnosed as having Liver Cancer and his health deteriorated over the next few months. He died at home 13 months after he was demobbed, at the family home 8 Providence Place with his wife Ellen by his side. He is buried in the graveyard behind St Mary’s Church.

Private Harry Patrick aged 39

Harry Patrick, the youngest of seven children was christened at Saint Mary’s as Henry Patrick on 21st February 1883 The christening was a job lot alongside his brother Herbert and sister Emma Jane, Harry was born on 22nd October of the previous year. His parents were John and Hannah Patrick. John and John’s father Samuel were joiners and cabinet makers and the Patrick family is living at Pepperhill in the first national census in 1841. In 1911, the family is living at Box House and Harry is listed as single, occupation Mason and Stone Heaver. His father John died in 1919 aged 74 and his mother in 1923 aged 80. Harry joined up on 24 June 1916 at the age of 34 and was sent to France in November as a member of the 37th Royal Garrison Artillery. His war records show that he was discharged after 6 months in France, his medical records say he had hemiplegia paralysis (a paralysis down one side of his body). The records also state that “the injury was not caused by service nor aggregated by service” so we can conclude that he had suffered from a stroke. He returned to the area and was living at 123 Parkinson Lane in Halifax, a property that his brother Wallace had moved to after in 1911. On 23 February 1922 he suffered a fatal brain Haemorrhage. He is not registered on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission.