WILSDEN SOLDIERS IN THE GREAT WAR (S-W)

Ernest Sanderson

Ernest was the third of five children of Mary and Joseph Sanderson, a woodman. He was born on Christmas Day 1886 in Congleton, Cheshire, and had siblings Eliza, Annie, Arthur and Ethel.

In 1911 Ernest was boarding with two spinster sisters at 3 Wellington Street, Wilsden and he was a printer.

He married Annie Houlton in her home village of North Kelsey, Lincolnshire in August 1915. They had a son, Jack who was only five months old when Ernest enlisted, in December 1916. They were living at Cragg House Wilsden.

In May 1917 he was sent to France and two months later he was gassed but was fortunate that it was only light and he returned to his unit after five days.

SURVIVED

Ernest went back to printing. A second child Jean was born in 1929 and by 1939 the family was living in Chesterfield with Ernest managing a commercial printworks

(Service Rec)

By 1911 the family had moved to Colne and their father, Tom, was working as a carter for a hay and straw merchants. Frank was a warehouse boy in a cotton works. His five year old brother (Fred) had been born in Wilsden.

Both Frank and his father served in WW1.

SURVIVED

After the war they returned to live with the rest of the family who were now living at 125 Main Street, Wilsden.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Photo Jean Waite via Ancestry

Tom was born in 1876 at Black Dyke Lane, Thornton, the youngest of three sons of Elizabeth and Joseph Sanderson. The eldest, Arthur was half-brother to the two younger boys, who followed their father into working as stone quarrymen (probably at Egypt quarry).

Tom married Evelyn Ingham and they had six children (born between 1898 and 1915), Frank, Lily, Fred, William (Willie), and Joseph (Joe) and Elizabeth. By 1911 the family lived in Colne where Tom worked as a carter for a hay and straw merchants.

Their eldest son, Frank, also served in WW1 and survived.

SURVIVED

Tom and Frank returned to live in Wilsden at 125 Main Street with the rest of the family. The three youngest boys all served in the Second World War, Joe was killed in a road traffic accident whilst on active service.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Harry Amos Saxton

Harry was born in Wilsden in 1885, the youngest of four children (older siblings were Arthur, George and Annie) of Sarah and John Hebden Saxton, a farm labourer.

At the time he joined up, Harry was boarding with a family in Ryecroft and working as a waggoner for a corn miller.

He married Elizabeth Alice Eales in June 1916 at Ingrow whilst on home leave.

SURVIVED

After the war Harry and Elizabeth lived at 5/7 Mill Hill Top. They had one son, Jack, born in 1921. Elizabeth died five years later but Harry continued to live there for at least another ten years.

(Harden Parish Council)

Edward Scaife

Edward was born on 30 January 1895 in Denholme, son of Alice and Isaiah Scaife. They moved to Wilsden before his two younger sisters Ada and Mary were born and by 1911 lived at 109 Albion Fold where they continued to live throughout the war.

Edward enlisted into the RAMC in November 1915. He had been a weaving overlooker prior to enlistment.

The Field Ambulances were mobile front line medical units each with ten officers and 224 men who did not bear arms. They were responsible for the various points in the casualty evacuation chain from the front line back to Main Dressing Stations,

Edward served on the Salonika Front and by the end of the war he could speak fluent Serbian and Bulgarian

SURVIVED

Edward went back to his job as a weaving overlooker.

In November 1920, he married Margaret (Maggie) Armstrong at St Matthews Church. They had one daughter, Irene and lived at Harden Lane

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

(Service Rec)

Harold Gregory Sharp

3^rd/4^th West Riding Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Harold was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire in 1887, the son of Isabella (nee Gregory) and Isaac Sharp, a school master (later the secretary for the Society of Friends). Harold had an older brother, Arthur, and an older sister, Ethel.

In 1901 he was a boarder at the Society of Friends School in Ackworth near Pontefract but by 1911 he was living back with his parents at Leytonstone and was an actuarial clerk for Friends Provident Assurance. He spent a lot of time between London and Bradford working for the society

Harold came from a Quaker household and so the family had strongly pacifist views. He enlisted at the end of October 1914 and became a Lance Corporal in the RAMC (they did not bear arms). His brother Arthur held even stronger views and was imprisoned during WW1 for his refusal to enlist.

Despite Harold’s pacifism, in October 1915 he accepted a commission as captain in the RFA.

He married Wilsdener Hilda Clapham, an insurance clerk, in 1917 whilst on home leave.

Hilda was the middle one of five daughters of Arthur Clapham, worsted spinning mill owner, who lived at Laurel Bank.

SURVIVED

At the end of the war, Harold’s address was Laurel Bank, Wilsden, where Hilda was living with her family for the duration of the war. They eventually settled in Edinburgh where Harold continued to be an actuary. They never had children.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

William married Alice Hannah Hainsworth in December 1908, in Girlington They initially lived in Rawdon where the oldest of their five children, Hilda, Marion, Lucy, John and Edwin, was born.

SURVIVED

By 1918, Alice and the children had moved to Wilsden and when William was demobilised his address was 26 Main Street where they lived until 1936 when they moved to Sandy Lane. William moved into supplying hospital contracts for textile goods.

Both of their sons, John and Edwin, served in WW2, in the Army and RAF respectively, and both were killed.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Thomas Valentine Shepherd

Thomas was the youngest son of Matilda and Walter Shepherd, a woolsorter (later a plasterer). He was born in Bradford on 14 February 1891 and had an older brother, Albert.

Thomas was called up from his job as a woolcomber in 1918 and whilst he was still training in England, he married Amelia Illingworth, (sister of Willie Illingworth who had been killed in action in April the previous year) on 24 August 1918 at Wilsden Independent Chapel. Given his late call up he probably served in the Labour Corps until well into 1919/1920

SURVIVED

In 1919 their son Albert was born, they had another child, Doreen in 1927. They lived for a few years at 22 Main Street together with Thomas’ parents Walter and Matilda, but by 1924 they had moved into a home of their own at 1 the Square, Wilsden Hill.

After the war Thomas was a card jobber, still working in woolcombing.

Albert jnr served in the RASC in WW2 and survived.

(Wilsden Independent Chapel Baptisms Reg)

Arthur Shinn

Arthur was born in Cullingworth on 29 December 1895 the third of four children of Clara and William Shinn, a carter for Bingley Urban District Council. His three siblings were Ernest, Gertrude and Herbert.

Arthur became a tannery worker at George Towler & Sons Leather works in Cullingworth. He joined up at the commencement of war in August 1914.

Arthur married Millie Minn (who at this time was living with her parents at 2 Spring Hill, Wilsden) in York in 1915, whilst he was on home leave.

He was wounded twice, by shrapnel in his right hand and leg, then in Spring 1918 he was taken prisoner of war.

Millie’s younger brother, Charlie Minn, had also enlisted and in October 1918 he died of wounds in France.

Arthur’s younger brother Herbert was wounded but survived.

SURVIVED

After Arthur was repatriated he returned to Wilsden. He and Minnie lived at 16 Victoria Street for a few years, then they went to live in Cullingworth again.

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 20.7.17/24.5.18)

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

James Harrison Singleton

Harrison was born in 1897, at Daisy Hill in Allerton. He was the younger son of Clara and Benjamin Singleton, a stonemason, having an older brother William and two younger sisters, Miriam and Annie. By 1911 the family had moved to 32, Main Street, Wilsden. Benjamin had become a comber in a worsted spinning mill and Harrison had joined him as a spinner.

Harrison enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers in Keighley.

In 1918, his battalion was posted to Mesopotamia (now Iraq). There were no roads, transport was by boats along the rivers.

The Turks signed the armistice on 1 November 1918. Harrison died from pneumonia just four days later.

DIED 5.11.18 aged 21

Harrison’s elder brother William, who also served in WW1, lived at Chapel Row. He and his wife, Annie, called their son William Harrison Singleton and he was born in July 1917 whilst Harrison was on active service. Like his uncle, he was known by his middle name, Harrison.

(Wilsden War Memorial)

William Hey Singleton

William was the eldest child of Clara and Benjamin Singleton, a stone mason. He was born in 1895 and, like all his younger siblings (Harrison, Miriam, Nathan and Annie) he was born at Daisy Hill. By 1911 the family had moved to 32 Main Street, Wilsden and William was working for a spring-maker.

He married Annie Kingston in March 1917, by which time he was a woolcomber, and they lived at 16 Chapel Row. They had a son whom they called William Harrison. He was known by his middle name after his uncle who had died in 1918 in Mesopotamia serving in the army.

SURVIVED

After the war William and Annie lived at 5 Cranford Place and had another two children, Violet and Margaret.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

His mother died before he was four years old and his father re-married. Benjamin had two younger half-siblings, Ellen and Frank.

In 1891 the family lived at 1 South View, Wilsden. Benjamin became a warp twister like his father. He married Mary in 1903 and they lived at 15 Dewhirst Street, they had one child who died in infancy.

SURVIVED

After the war Benjamin and Mary lived at 6 Club Row for a few years before they moved to the Lilycroft area of Bradford.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Clifford Smith

Clifford was born on 19 Dec 1896 in Wilsden, the only child of Rhoda and Walter Smith a worsted mill hand.

By 1911 his father, Walter, had died and Clifford and his mother were living with her sister and nephews (Wilfrid and James Tankard who would also serve in WW1) at 7 Wellington Street.

Clifford married Frances Tatham in early 1916. They had a daughter Mollie born later the same year.

Clifford enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in June 1916. Until his enlistment he had been working as a shipping clerk.

SURVIVED

Clifford was an assurance agent after the war. He and his family lived at 163 Main Street for many years.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

(Wilsden Independent Chapel Baptism Reg)

Fred Smith

Fred was born in 1896 in Laverton near Worcester, the son of Rose and Fred Smith a farm labourer. The family spent only a short time in the Cotswolds before returning to Bradford where the other children, eldest Myrtle and three youngest sons Comal, Joseph and Stanley were born. They lived in Allerton and then moved to 13 School Terrace, Crack Lane, Wilsden. Before enlisting, Fred worked as a window dresser for Goodsons, gas mantle manufacturers, at the bottom of Darley Street, Bradford.

His brother Joseph also served in WW1.

Fred’s battalion took part in a general attack on 2 September 1918 from Thiepval to Guillemont. The men were exhausted from working ceaselessly for the previous six days moving supplies and ammunition and the attack failed.

Fred was killed on the second day of the attack.

DIED 3.9.18 aged 22

(Wilsden War Memorial)

Harling Smith

Harling was born in Wilsden in 1900, the second of five children of Elizabeth and Roland (Roly) Smith who was a mason’s labourer (later he was well known as Wilsden’s chimney sweep).

In 1901 Harling and his parents and older sister, Nora, were living at 14 Anderson Street. By 1911 he had three younger siblings, Hephzibah, Clara and Albert and they had moved along the street to number 17

SURVIVED

In September 1923 Harling married Sarah Bartle at the Central Wesleyan Chapel, Wilsden and they lived at 11 Victoria Street, moving soon afterwards to 2 Royd Street. Harling died in 1929.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

SURVIVED

By the end of the war John’s father and his family had moved to New Laithe Farm.

(Harecroft Chapel Roll of honour)

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

By 1911 the family lived at 13 School Terrace Crack Lane.

Both Joseph and his older brother Fred served in WW1.

SURVIVED

Joseph returned to Wilsden after the war and lived with his parents at 13 School Terrace until about 1925

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Gertrude was born on 26 February 1880 at Stillington, near York, the fifth of seven children (Arthur, William, Walter, Edith, Gertrude, Mabel and Percy) of Grace and Robert Souter, a grocer and draper. Educated at York Girls High School and trained at Brentwood Infirmary, Isleworth 1901-1904. Her District nursing training was done in Bolton and in 1910 she became a District Nurse in Cullingworth. By 1915 she was living at 30 Main Street, Wilsden.

In May 1916 Gertrude signed up for military nursing with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in India.

She married George Edward Fant (whose career had been in the Royal Navy) in November 1919 and they had a son, John. Gertrude returned to District Nursing in Wilsden and by 1939 they were living at 136 Main Street

Frank served in WW1 but there are too may Frank Spencers to identify his records.

SURVIVED

A political consequence of WW1 was that men who had served in the military and women over thirty were given the vote. In 1918 two new names joined those of Martha Ann and Wilfred on the electoral roll as voters, Lily Leach (nee Dixon, Wilfred’s wife) and Frank Spencer who had a Naval & Military vote.

The most likely explanation is that Frank worked as a farm labourer at Allan House Farm. He moved on after three years, the Leach family remained there.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

He worked as a worsted spinner and, later, as a woolsorter.

SURVIVED

After the war Jonas returned to 105 Harecroft and he lived in Harecroft for the rest of his life.

Jonas married Sarah Ellen Wilkinson at the end of 1918 and they had two children, Hilda and Margaret.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

(Harecroft Chapel Roll of honour)

Their mother was widowed before Lewis was two years old and in 1911 she was living with her children at 3 Victoria Street, Wilsden.

Both Lewis and his brother Stanley served in WW1.

SURVIVED

When he was demobilised, Lewis married Naomi Caswell in 1919. They lived for a couple of years at 3 Dewhirst Street (Lewis’ brother and sister-in-law lived at no.4) then they moved to Heptonstall.

Naomi and Lewis had four children, Sarah, William, Ronnie and Lewis jnr.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Stanley Spencer

Stanley was born in Hainworth on 9 August 1894, the third of five children of Ada and William Spencer, a stone merchant.

Their father died before Stanley’s sixth birthday and Stanley and his siblings, Rose, Lizzie, Ethel and Lewis, and their mother went to live at 3 Victoria Street, Wilsden.

He married Annie Atkins in March 1914 and they lived at 4 Dewhirst Street.

Stanley enlisted in November 1916. Prior to this he had been a worsted spinning mule minder. His younger brother Lewis also served in WW1.

Stanley was injured in France the following November when a horse he was riding fell and rolled on top of him, but was soon back in the line.

SURVIVED

Annie and Stanley had a daughter, Phyllis, born 1920. They lived at Dewhirst Street for many years and Stanley continued to be a worsted spinner.

(Conservative Club Roll of honour)

(Service Rec)

Charles Spillard

Born Newington, in London on 4 Nov 1876, Charles was the second of four sons of Eliza and James Spillard a commercial traveller.

Charles’ siblings were Frank, Warwick and Fred.. When her husband died Eliza, their mother, made a living as a schoolmistress

On leaving school Charles became an engineer’s apprentice which resulted in a career working for the military as inspector of electrical machinery in the Royal Engineers.

He married Margaret Ann Bradbury, the daughter of the family with whom he boarded, in Middlesbrough in 1901 and they had four children, James, Charles Frederick, Ethel and Sydney. In 1911 Charles’ job had taken them via Gibraltar to Gosport in Hampshire where he was ‘engineer in charge of defence electric light machinery’ and instructor.

SURVIVED

Towards the end of the war, probably due to Charles’ wartime work, they came to Yorkshire and lived at 44 Lane Side until 1920. They finally settled in Sussex.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Norman Stead

then Labour Corps 368629

Norman was born at Moorhouse Moor on the Wilsden border of Allerton in 1898, the youngest child of Ruth and Emmott Stead, an oat bread maker. His three elder sisters were Emily, Ada and Lily.

By 1911 they were living at 10 Shay Gate and Ruth had been widowed. Prior to joining up in October 1916, Norman was an apprentice warp-twister for S H Rawnsley & Co at Albion Mill, Wilsden. In April 1917 he was wounded in the face by shrapnel and in the back by a bullet from a sniper.

SURVIVED

Immediately after the war, Norman was living with his parents at 2 Peel Street. He continued to be a warp twister. He married Alice Haigh in October 1923 and they had two daughters, Louie and Margaret.

Norman died in 1936

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 4.5.17)

Samuel Steel

Samuel was born at Farsley on 7 February 1889 son of Clara and Tom Holmes Steel, a hairdresser. Samuel had two brothers, Arthur and Tom jnr.

Their father died in 1907 and three years later, with Clara’s re-marriage, Samuel acquired four step-siblings.

Before enlistment, Samuel worked as a cashier and clerk in a stuff warehouse in Bradford.

In August 1916, he married Mary Ann Wade, the daughter of William Wade of Bank Top Farm, Wilsden (her brother William jnr also served in WW1)

SURVIVED

On demobilisation at the end of the war, Samuel returned to live for a short time with his wife and in-laws at Bank Top. Their daughter Mary was born at the end of 1919, by which time they were at 16 Shay Gate, and son John was born in 1922. They lived in Wilsden until 1926.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Harold Stringer

Harold was born at Bents Foot, Wilsden in May 1898, the son of Joseph Stringer, a machine painter, and Martha Stringer, a worsted machine minder. He was second of ten children; he had an older brother, Samuel, and younger siblings, Maggie, Edith, Mary, Amy, Hannah, Ann, Albert and Wilfred. The family later moved to 116 Main Street, Wilsden where they kept a tripe shop and this was where they were living when Harold enlisted in June 1916. Prior to this he had been employed as a mule spinner. His brother Samuel also served in WW1 as did his cousin William Jackson who lived with them.

Harold was reported missing in action on 17 September 1918. His body was never found and a year later he was declared dead.

DIED 17.9.18 aged 20

(Wilsden War Memorial)

SURVIVED

His brother Harold was killed in September 1918.

Sam returned to Wilsden after the war and continued to live with his family at 116 Main Street for another ten years. He lived in Allerton by 1939.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Nathan Sugden

then Labour Corps HS Employment 343609

Nathan was born in Wilsden in 1884 the only son of Mary and Joseph Sugden a weaving overlooker. He had two older sisters, Alice and Rachel.

He became a warp twister.

He was married to Emma Jane Fletcher at St Matthew’s Church in October 1909 and they lived at 186 Main St until after the war. His widowed father lived, with Nathan’s sister Rachel, next door at 188/190 where they had a confectionery shop and kept poultry. Daughters Leah and Mabel were born in the years just prior to the war.

Nathan attested in November 1915 and was called up the following June.

He wore glasses (which the army provided) and served in the RGA for six months then was transferred to the Labour Corps for home service.

SURVIVED

Their third daughter Alice was born in 1919. A couple of years later the family moved to 10 Queen Street.

(Service Rec)

Ben Sutcliffe

Ben was born in Bingley on 2 March 1894 son of Emma and John William Sutcliffe a tailor (later a postman). Ben had a younger sister, Sarah Alice.

He enlisted into the army, probably the RE and he married Maud Verity at St Matthew’s Church Wilsden, whilst on home leave in August 1917. She continued to live with her parents until after the war.

SURVIVED

When he had been demobilised, Ben lived at Lee Farm, Wilsden, with Maud’s family until 1923.

After the war Ben drove a road roller for Keighley Council. He and Maud had four children, Mary, Betty, William, and Jean

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

John Sutcliffe

John (known as Jack) was born on 15 May 1899 in Southowram, Halifax. His father, William Herbert, a bran finisher, died before his first birthday and in 1901 Jack and his mother Ellen were living with her mother and step-father. Ellen remarried in 1904 and had two more children, step-siblings to Jack.

Jack was called up in June 1917 a month after his eighteenth birthday. At that time he was living with his mother at 17 Dewhirst Street, Wilsden and he was a mule spinner. He served three months with his training battalion before being medically discharged due to a ‘wry’ neck which the medical officer thought was probably a congenital problem, an extra cervical rib, which caused him to hold his head on one side.

SURVIVED

After the war Jack married Bertha and they had four children. They lived at 1 Royd End for many years and Jack was a textile preparer.

(Pension Rec)

Ernest Swales

Ernest was born on 19 August 1885 in Wilsden, the second of four sons of Sarah and Jonas Swales, a dyer’s carter. His older brother was Arthur, the younger ones, Fred and Percy. By 1890 they were living at Daisy Hill and in that year their mother, Sarah, died, soon after Percy’s birth.

All the boys went into the woollen mills, Ernest becoming a carder.

In 1910 he married Mary Parry and they lived in Manningham. They had three children, Margaret, Ernest jnr and Arthur (who was born after the war).

Ernest enlisted soon after the outbreak of war on 13 September 1914.He had been working as a driver (horse and cart) in civilian life and he became a driver in the RFA. His battalion was sent to France in November 1915, three weeks after the birth of his second child.

SURVIVED

Ernest’s worst injury came in the aftermath of the war at the end of 1918 when his lower leg was fractured by a kick on the ankle by a horse.

Ernest and Mary lived in Girlington after the war.

(Service Rec)

John Redvers Walter Brooksbank Swales

Redvers was born at 2 King Street on 15 February 1900, the son of Mary and John Swales who ran a drapers and millinery shop. Redvers had two older siblings, Maud and Judson and a younger sister Verna.

By 1911 they had moved to Manningham and on leaving school Redvers became a clerk.

In June 1918 he enlisted into the RAF and trained as a wireless operator.

SURVIVED

Redvers married Gladys Verity in 1923. He was a builder and valuer.

James Tankard

James was the younger of two sons of Mary Ann and Joseph Tankard a painter and decorator. He was born in Wilsden on 9 Feb 1889 and had an older brother, Wilfrid.

James became a painter like his father.

In 1911 the family lived at 7 Wellington Street together with Mary Ann’s sister and her son, Clifford.

All three boys, James, his brother Wilfrid, and their cousin Clifford Smith served in WW1.

When he was called up in July 1918, James had been working as a foundry pressman and lived at 4 Anderson Street.

SURVIVED

Whilst still in the Army, after the war, James passed as a heavy lorry driver and was part of the Rhine Army of Occupation until demobilisation in April 1920. He returned home to Wilsden, now at 167 The Cross (off Main Street) and resumed his former occupation of painter and decorator.

James married Doris Ogelsby in Denholme in 1925 and they lived in Denholme

(Service Rec)

Wilfrid Tankard

Wilfrid was born on 28 September 1885 in Wilsden. He was the eldest son of painter and decorator Joseph Tankard and his wife Mary Ann and had a younger brother, James.

In 1911 the family lived at 7 Wellington Street together with Mary Ann’s sister and her son, Clifford.

Wilfrid initially became an engineer.

In October 1912 he married Clara Pickles. They had a son, Frank, born before the war and two daughters, Edith and Hilda, born after. They lived at 137 Main Street.

Both Wilfrid and his brother James, and their cousin Clifford Smith served in WW1. When he enlisted into the RFC in February 1917 Wilfrid was a grocer. The RFC drew on his previous engineering training and he was employed as a turner for Aerial Gunnery.

SURVIVED

Wilfrid returned to his wife and son at 137 Main Street after the war. Later, he was for some years the caretaker at Royd House and park where he and his family lived.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Varley Tatham

Born in Harecroft on 20 July 1876, Varley was the elder son of Mary and Henry Tatham, a weaver and cotton warp dresser respectively, he had a younger brother, George.

Varley became a tailor. In 1905, when he married Emily Miriam Clark, he was living at 7 Greenley Hill (where he and Miriam would live for the rest of his life). They had one son, Norman.

Varley enlisted in December 1915 and was given a medical discharge due to sickness in May 1918.

SURVIVED

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

William Thomas Tattersall

Born on 22 March 1896, William was the only child of Annie and William Tattersall, an insurance agent, of Lumb Lane, Bradford. When he left school he became an errand boy for a linoleum and carpets company. His link with Wilsden is that his Grandfather was born at a farm on Wilsden Hill.

DIED 22.3.18 aged 22

William is commemorated on the Pozieres memorial and on his grandfather’s grave at St Matthew’s graveyard, Laneside.

(St Matthew’s Gravestone)

Alfred was born on 7 August 1887, he was the middle one of three children of Selina and Thomas Henry Taylor, a tailor, and had an older sister, Betty, and a younger brother John.

The three siblings were all born and brought up in Cullingworth.

Alfred followed his father into tailoring.

He married Florence Hitchen at St Matthew’s church in April 1916 whilst home on leave.

SURVIVED

When Alfred was demobilised his address was 6 Crack Lane where Florence had been living with her father. They lived there for a couple of years then moved to Lancashire where their children James and Mary were born.

By 1939 Alfred and Florence were stewards at a club in Stocksbridge, Sheffield.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

(St Matthew’s Church marriage Reg)

In 1900 the family came to live in Wilsden at 9 Spring Terrace. By 1911 they had moved to Sandy Lane and Harry had started work in a textile mill.

SURVIVED

Harry married Annie Hemsley in 1917. During the war and until 1924 they lived with Annie’s parents at 3 Paradise View when the birth of their fourth child was probably the reason for finding a home of their own at 16 Chapel Row. In all they had five children, Jennie, Clifford, Marjorie, Norman and David.

Harry was a dairy farm worker after the war.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Thomas Taylor

Thomas was born in Walworth, London on 27 January 1877, the eldest child of Amelia and George Taylor, a chandelier burnisher, he had siblings Julia, William, Josephine, Alfred and Richard. Their father died around 1888.

Thomas joined the Royal Artillery as a regular soldier at the age of 19 in 1896 and served in Singapore, India, and Aden. He was promoted from gunner through to sergeant during his army service.

In 1907 he married Kate Ann Coakley in Great Yarmouth. They had four children, Thomas Christopher, twins Mildred and Josephine, and Henry.

In 1911 Thomas, Kate and their oldest son were living at Barry Island in Wales. Thomas was a sergeant instructor in 57 Coy RGA. He was posted to Gibraltar later that year, his family going with him, and he remained there when war broke out until he was posted to France in Spring 1918.

SURVIVED

In July 1919, still on active service, Thomas was mentioned in dispatches. He was discharged from the army in March 1920 due to length of service and they lived in Great Yarmouth initially but came to live in Wilsden at 6 King Street from 1922 until 1930. In 1939 the National Register shows Thomas and Kate living at 15 Windy Grove with their daughter Mildred. Thomas is described as of “no occupation, disabled in Great War”

(1939 National Register) (Pensions register)

Benjamin Tetley

Born on 28 September 1889 in Denholme, Benjamin (known as Ben) was one of seven children of Mary Jane and Sam Tetley, a stone mason, of Harecroft. His siblings were Mary Ann, Martha and Sarah (older), and Edgar, Lydia and Arthur (younger).

The family moved to Harecroft whilst Ben was still a baby. In 1911 the family lived at 160 Harecroft. Ben was a painter and paperhanger. His service records show that he had married Alice Heseltine and moved to 2 Allan Cottages in August 1915. He enlisted the following August.

His younger brother Edgar also served in the Army.

SURVIVED

Ben and Alice had four children, Samuel, Donald, Mary and Their eldest son, Samuel, joined his father as a painter and decorator but died as a P.O.W. during WW2.

(Service Rec)

(Harecroft Chapel Roll of honour)

Edgar Tetley

Edgar was born in Harecroft on 28 September 1894, the second youngest of seven children of Mary Jane and Sam Tetley, a stone mason. Edgar’s siblings were Mary Ann, Martha, Sarah, Benjamin, Lydia and Arthur.

In 1911 the family lived at 160 Harecroft.

His older brother Benjamin was also in the Army. Edgar joined up in November 1916 but prior to this he had been working for H. Jeffries & Son, tanners and curriers of Harden.

He got a gunshot wound to his arm in April 1917, passing through the muscle.

SURVIVED

He was still living at 160 Harecroft when he married Marion Aldersley in June 1921, by which time he was working as a mule spinner.

They had three children, Edna, John and Nancy

(Harecroft Chapel Roll of honour)

(Service Rec)

Greenwood Brooksbank Tetley

M.M.

Greenwood was born at Shay Gate, Wilsden in 1896, the eldest of four sons of Sarah and Joseph Tetley, a dray man and carrier. In 1901 the family was living at 203 Main Street, Wilsden. By 1911 they had moved to 2 Oak Street at Ling Bob and Greenwood was working as a mule spinner, but he was soon working for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company and living at Four Lane Ends.

He enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery as a gunner and was promoted to Driver. His award, in June 1918, of the Military Medal was reported in the Edinburgh Gazette on 2 September 1918.

His younger brother Willie was also serving in the Army.

SURVIVED

In June 1919, Greenwood, now working in a peacetime job but still employed as a driver, married Annie Foster and they lived in Girlington. They had nine children John, Marjorie, Joan and Hilda, twins Muriel and Renee, Willie, Kenneth and Kathleen.

Greenwood eventually became a motor lorry driver.

(Keighley News)

Hanson Tetley

Hanson was born in Wilsden on 23 July 1883, the eldest child of Mary Ann and Abraham Tetley, a gardener. His younger siblings were Edith, Eliza and Paulina. By 1901 the family had moved to Shipley and their father Abraham was a road worker for Shipley District Council.

Hanson became a lithographic artist for a firm of printers and on Boxing Day 1908 he married Isabella Lawson. They lived at Windhill.

In September 1918 Hanson enlisted in the RAF although he was a motor cyclist rather than flying or mending aeroplanes.

SURVIVED

After the war Hanson returned to live in Shipley with Isabella and continued in his former career as a lithographic artist.

Willie Tetley

Willie was born at 27 Dewhirst Street, Wilsden on 13 September 1899, the son of Sarah and Joseph Tetley, a dray man and carrier. By 1901 they were living at 201 Main Street. Willie had an older brother, Greenwood, and two younger ones, Harry and Joseph.

Willie joined up in October 1917 when he was 18 and was sent to France. He was wounded in the right knee in September 1918, and was sent back to hospital in England.

SURVIVED

Bramwell Thompson

Bramwell was born in Wilsden in 1896, the only child of Sarah and Thomas Thompson, a postman. In 1901 they were living at 132 Main Street where Sarah was running a grocery shop. By 1911 they had moved to 8 Mill Street, Cullingworth and Bramwell was a doffer in a worsted spinning mill.

Bramwell was killed during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto which was fought from 24 October to 3 November 1918 on the Italian Front. The Italian victory marked the end of the war on the Italian Front, secured the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and contributed to the end of the First World War just one week later.

DIED 27.10.18 aged 22

(Soldiers Died in Great War)

Thomas Thornton

Tom was born at 10 Club Row, Wilsden on 13 April 1898, the eldest of four sons (his brothers were George, Sam and Hugh) of Ruth and Samuel Thornton, a labourer in a stone quarry. In 1901 Tom and his parents were living at 9 Lister Villa but by 1911 they had moved to 194 Main St where they continued to live during and after the war.

Tom was taken Prisoner of War in Spring 1918.

SURVIVED but died in 1922

Tom’s younger brother Sam jnr also attempted to join up into the Scots Guards in the immediate post war years, claiming in 1920 to be nearly nineteen (he was actually sixteen as his birth certificate showed when checked by the army).

After the war Thomas Thornton of 194 Main Street, Wibsey (this is believed to be a mistake on the marriage register) married Elsie Wrigglesworth in August 1920 at Shelf, Halifax.

They lived for a couple of years at 2 Chapel Row, Wilsden.

Tom died in 1922, his health had probably been affected by his time as a PoW. His widow Elsie remarried at the end of the following year.

(Conservative Club Roll of honour) (POW recs)

Frank Tidswell

Frank was born 1897 in Wilsden, the son of Eva and Albert Tidswell, a worsted weaver and woolcomber respectively.

He had three younger siblings. Harry (who was just a year younger and who also served in the Great War), Nelly and Fred. In 1911 the family was living at 2 Moorside Road but Frank had moved to 12 Victoria Street when he enlisted in September 1916.

Frank married Ethel Ratcliffe at Girlington Road Methodist Chapel whilst he was on home leave in December 1916 just before he went out to France.

He was injured by a gun-shot wound to the left hand in October 1918 which took him back to hospital in England and out of the last month of the war.

SURVIVED

When Frank was discharged from the army in February 1919 he returned to Wilsden to live with Ethel at 9 Albert Street, where they lived for several years.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

(Conservative Club Roll of honour)

(Service rec)

Harry Tidswell

Harry was born on the last day of the old year in 1898 in Wilsden the second son of Eva and Albert Tidswell, a worsted weaver and woolcomber respectively. He had an older brother Frank (who also served in the army) and a younger sister and brother, Nelly and Fred. In 1911 the family was living at 2 Moorside Road but by 1918 they had moved to 27 Lister Villa.
Harry enlisted 2 March 1916 and was called up in February 1917 together with two more Wilsdeners, John Edmondson and Herbert Clark. They were sent to France in January 1918. Prior to enlistment Harry had been a card-jobber for Ambler & Sons at Prospect Mill. He was taken Prisoner of War on 22 March 1918 in ‘Operation Michael’ a huge German push launched the day before his capture.

Of the three friends who joined up together, only Harry survived.

SURVIVED

After the war Harry returned to his parents’ house at 27 Lister Villa and picked up his trade again as a card grinder in a woolcombing mill.

He married Ethel Greenhalgh a week before his 24^th birthday in December 1922. They had one daughter, Dorothy.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

(Conservative Club Roll of honour)

(Keighley News 30.4.18)

William Lancaster Tyson

Born in 1889 in Queensbury, William was the eldest of four children of Reginald Tyson, a stone quarryman and his wife Mary.

William’s younger siblings, Eleanor Jane, Evelyn and Reginald jnr were all born in Lancashire but the family had moved back to Bradford when William married Mary Jackson in July 1910.The couple went to live at Canary Street in Manningham and their children George and Evelyn were born.

William was a painter and paperhanger in Bradford prior to enlistment in September 1914.

In 1917, when he was injured with shrapnel in the leg, he was reported to be living at 18 Club Row.

In May 1918, the Keighley News reported that he was suffering from Trench fever and that his address was 13 Victoria Street, Wilsden.

SURVIVED

After the war William and Mary lived at 5 Lister Ville for over ten years

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Albert Varley

Born on 28 February 1876, Albert was the eldest son of Ellen Varley. He had four younger siblings (Vincent, Ada, Willie and Edward), and they and their mother lived at Kings Court, Ling Bob with his widowed grandfather.

Albert married Henrietta Abraham in the summer of 1898 and they had three children, George, Ellen and James.

When Albert volunteered in December 1916 (at the age of nearly 41) he and his family were living at 9 Cranford Place, Wilsden and until that time he had been a bricklayer’s labourer.

On 23^rd October 1918 Albert was gassed and wounded, which resulted in him being hospitalised until after the Armistice. He continued to serve in the Labour Corps until February 1919. His younger brother, Willie, and both of Henrietta’s younger brothers, Isaac and John, also served in WW1.

SURVIVED

After the war Albert was a builder’s labourer. He and Henrietta and their family lived at 9 Cranford Place until WW2

(Service Rec)

Fred Varley

Fred was born at West View Cottage, Bob Lane on 23 August 1888 the seventh of eight children of Ruth and Samuel Varley, a plasterer.

He had older siblings, Rhoda, Emma, Sarah, Martha, Miles and Hannah, and a younger sister, Agnes.

In October 1912 Fred married Louisa Pickles at Harecroft Chapel and they had two children, Evelyn and Samuel

Prior to enlistment Fred was a painter & paperhanger and lived at 6 Crack Lane

He attested in December 1915 and was called up in August 1916, being sent to France in January 1917. He was reported missing on 3 May 1917. Louisa received news that he had been taken Prisoner of War at the end of June. Fred was held at first in Germany and then transferred to Switzerland just after Christmas 1917. His left elbow had been badly damaged by a gun-shot wound.

SURVIVED

After the war Fred continued to be a painter and decorator in spite of his injured elbow.

He lived at West View, the cottage where he was born, for the whole of his life.

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 22.6.17)

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

(Service Rec)

John William Varley

John was born on 18 April 1897, the third child of Peace and Ezra Varley, they lived over the years at no 45 and no 51 West View, Main Street. John had three siblings: Lily, Ambler and Fred. Ezra was a stone quarryman but died in 1910.

John became a spinning overlooker working for Thomas Robinson, Holme Top Mills, Bradford. He joined up in June 1916 and was sent to France in the August.

A gunshot wound to right hand sent him back to hospital in England at the end of 1917.

SURVIVED

After the war, John lived with his parents at 45 West View until he married Emily Smith, in 1923.They had three children, Evelyn, Maurice and Lily. He continued to be a spinning overlooker. They lived at 24 Kingcliffe.

(Keighley News 3.11.17/Bradford Weekly Telegraph 18.1.18)

In September 1918, Rhodes married Florence Masters at Ingrow.

SURVIVED

In 1939 they lived near Lund Park in Keighley and had three children and Rhodes was a washing machine fitter.

Willie Varley

Willie was born on 15 January 1888, the fourth of five children (Albert, Vincent, Ada, Willie and Edward) of Emily Varley. The family lived with Emily’s widowed father at Kings Court, Ling Bob.

Willie became a police constable in Woodhouse neat Sheffield. He married widow, Violet Newton (nee Spence) at Otley in July 1914. She already had a two year old son, William Henry by her first husband, then she and Willie had a daughter, Doreen.

Willie enlisted at the end of May 1917 and was sent to France that September. Just over a fortnight later he was wounded by a gunshot wound in the right hand and was discharged from the army on medical grounds in June 1918.

His older brother Albert also served in WW1.

SURVIVED

After the war Willie and Violet and the children lived in Huddersfield. By 1939 Willie had become a theatre attendant, his damaged hand probably prevented his return to the police.

(Service Rec)

Fred Ambler Waddington

Fred Ambler Waddington was born on 30 May 1883, son of Mary and Ackroyd Waddington, both his parents were worsted weavers. Fred had two older sisters, Eva and Mary Ann.

After leaving school he became a machine fitter’s apprentice.

Fred married Mary Emma Horrox on Boxing Day 1903. Their daughter Lilian was born the following year, they were living at Dewhirst Street.

By 1911, Fred’s father had died and they lived with his widowed mother at 12 Victoria Street where they continued to live throughout WW1 and for some years after.

Fred joined the Royal Flying Corps on 1 July 1916 and was a general fitter for the aircraft.

SURVIVED

After the war, Fred was a motor driver.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Sam Norris Waddington

Born in 1898 in Allerton, Sam was the only child of Mary and Jonas Waddington, a hairdresser. His mother died whilst Sam was still a baby, so they lived with Jonas’ parents Joseph and Harriet Waddington and his sister, Dinah, at 278 Allerton Rd, Allerton. Harriet and Dinah ran a sweet shop there.

Sam married another Harriet and they lived at 14 Shay Gate, Wilsden. He married Harriet Whitaker immediately before he enlisted in October 1916, going to France in November 1917. He previously worked as a woolsorter for G.R. Herron and Son, Bradford.

DIED 29.9.18 aged 21

Sam’s wife Harriet never remarried. She lived for the rest of her life at 6 Crack Lane.

(Wilsden War Memorial)

Anderson Wade

Born on 22 July 1892 at Spring Hill, Anderson was the son of Clara and Overend Wade a butcher. He had two younger siblings, Reginald and Mary. In 1901 the family lived at 1 King Street (off Spring Hill), but by 1911 they had moved to 93 Main St.

Anderson enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, prior to that he had been an apprentice draper. His brother Reginald also served in WW1.

In January 1916 Anderson married Harriet Holmes at the Independent Chapel Wilsden. His address was Violet Cottage, Crack Lane and he was at that time a trooper in the Queens Own Yorkshire Dragoons. Their children Edith and John were born in 1917 & 1925.

SURVIVED

Anderson became a farmer after the war, initially at Bents Head Farm and then at Wilsden Hill Farm.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

John Wade

John was born on 16 November 1887 in Bradford, the second son of Margaret and William Wade, a saddler. He had an older brother, William jnr, and four younger sisters, Margaret jnr, Mary Ann, Gladys and Minnie.

When John left school he worked as grocer’s assistant before joining the army like his older brother.

In 1911 John was a Lance Corporal in 1^st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers and was serving in India.

John married Edith Spencer and they had a son, Frank.

At the outbreak of war John was either still in uniform or, if he had served his time, was on the reserve and he would have been immediately called up.

SURVIVED

John returned to Wilsden. He and Edith had two daughters, Betty and Elsie. His parents lived at Bank Top Farm, He and Edith lived at Bank Top Cottage, and his brother William (who also served in WW1) lived at Bramble Cottage next door. The three households continued to live there until 1930. In 1939 John was a labourer for a cardboard manufacturer and printer and they had moved to Hill Top Thornton.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

In 1894 Luther was married to Jane Hill and they lived at Hardhill Houses in Harden. Luther was a warp dresser and later a weaving overlooker. In 1911 they had five surviving children, Elsie, Alfred, Clifford, Willie and Denis and were still living in Harden but this time at Croft St.

Luther was the uncle of Anderson & Reginald Wade who both also served in WW1.

SURVIVED

After the war Luther continued to be a weaving overlooker

(Harden Parish Council)

Reginald Wade

Reginald was the son of Clara and Overend Wade, a butcher, and was born on 6 November 1898, the middle child of three (between Anderson and Mary). During the war the family lived at 11 Crack Lane.

His older brother Anderson enlisted early in the war and Reginald attested in March 1916, being called up when he was 18 in April 1917. He went to France in January 1918. Prior to enlistment Reginald was a clerk in the office of S H Rawnsley, Birkshead Mill.

Taken Prisoner of War on 22 March 1918, he was repatriated on Christmas Day 1918.

SURVIVED

He returned to work in the offices at Birkshead Mill and in 1927 married Florence Wood in Girlington. They lived at 20 Crooke Lane where daughter Marlene was born.

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 24.5.18/Keighler News 1.5.18)

Walter Harold Wade

Walter was born at 7 Anderson Street, Wilsden on 27 Sept 1889, son of Jabez Wade a warp dresser and his second wife, Sarah.

Walter He had three older half-sisters, Emily, Rhoda and Ann and a younger full sister, Laura.

Their father died in 1905 and by 1911 just Walter and Laura were living with their mother at 6 Queen Street. Walter’s occupation was woolcombing overlooker.

Walter married Emily Andrews just before he enlisted in July 1915 and they lived with her parents at 20 Thorn Bank, Crooke Lane. Their daughter Marjorie was born Oct 1918.

SURVIVED

Son, Wilfred, was born after the war. Walter and family moved back to his childhood home at 7 Anderson Street.

(Wilsden Indeoendent Chapel Bapt Reg)

William Wade

William was born in Manningham in 1885, the son of Margaret and William Wade, a saddler. He had a younger brother, John, and four younger sisters, Margaret, Mary Ann, Gladys and Minnie.

William signed up to the Army (6^th West Yorkshire Regt) in 1903 during the Boer war, aged 17, and was trained as a saddler. In 1909 he re-enlisted into the RFA and his home address was given as that of his parents at Bank Top Farm, He married Pollie Tallon in 1911 and they had two children, William and Marjorie. Pollie and the children lived at Bramble Cottage, Bank Top, next to the farm.

In 1914 at the outbreak of war he was still a regular soldier and was immediately made up to Staff Sgt Saddler in the RFA. He re-engaged for a further four years in May 1916 and was sent to France two months later. He was wounded in August 1917 but remained in service until he was finally discharged after the war.

SURVIVED

William and Pollie had another son, John jnr, after the war. They continued to live at Bramble Cottage, Bank Top. William’s brother John and John’s wife, Edith, lived at Bank Top Cottage and their parents William snr and Margaret lived at Bank Top Farm.

The Wade households occupied these three dwellings at Bank Top until about 1930

(Service Rec)

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 10.8.17)

William Ward

William was born in Wilsden in 1889 the son of Martha and Arthur Ward, a wool washer (later a coal agent). William had two older siblings, Frank and Annie. They lived in Wilsden at Lister Villa until 1903.

William married Nellie Butterfield in Great Horton two days before Christmas 1911, at this time he was living there and working as a stuff warehouseman. Their son Frank was born in 1914.

William had already been three years with the territorials, (part-time soldiering with two week long summer camps) and this meant that he was called up the day after war was declared. Within two months he had been promoted to corporal.

In April 1915 his battalion was sent to France. In July he requested to revert to Private again.

Remarkably William remained physically unscathed throughout the war, receiving treatment only for scabies and swollen glands.

SURVIVED

After the war Nellie and William had a daughter, Nellie jnr.

(Service Rec)

James Arnold Watmough

James was born at Sandy Lane in 1888, the son of Lockwood Watmough, a warp dresser. He had an older sister Mary Jane.

James’ mother died when he was an infant and in 1891 he was living at Sandy Lane with his grandmother together with his widowed father and various other members of their intergenerational household. Lockwood remarried in 1894 and lived with the two children of his first marriage, Mary Jane and James, and their two subsequent half-siblings at 44 Cottingley Road, just around the corner. James married Clara Gardner in June 1910. In 1911 they were living at 4 Royd End, but by 1917 they had moved to 20 Victoria Street and in 1918 they were at 1 Fir Street, Ling Bob. Their nephew, John Gardner also lived there with them until he was 18 and was called up.

The Keighley News 3 November 1917 reported “Mrs James A. Watmough, of 1, Fir Street, Wilsden, has received a letter from her husband… saying that he is in hospital abroad, having been gassed and his chest and legs severely burnt. He was in an attack in which the enemy used gas and liquid fire which he describes as horrible and hopes he never has to face it again. He was in hospital a few months ago with wounds in the leg through shrapnel. He joined the Army in May 1915 and spent six months in Malta and the last nine months in France. He was formerly employed as a painter by Walter Berryman, painter and decorator, Manningham.”

SURVIVED

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 15.6.17/18.1.18)

Thomas William Watson

Thomas was born on 31 August 1893 in Burley, Leeds, the second of seven children of Sarah Elizabeth and Benjamin Watson, a mechanic.

Their father died in 1907 and their mother remarried and had two more children. She also acquired four step-children from her second husband’s previous marriage.

In 1911 the family lived at West Bowling and there were fifteen people living in five rooms.

Thomas married Maud Alice Dufton in April 1914 at St Matthews Church and they lived at 4 Royd End. They had two children in the next couple of years, George and Thomas William jnr.

Thomas was a woolcomber at the time of his marriage but when he attested in May 1916 he was working as a fire man for a mill boiler. He was not called up until June 1918.

Having been assessed for his ability with steam engines he was assigned to the Road & Quarry Troops section of the RE and served in France.

In the immediate aftermath of the war, whilst still on active service, Thomas was a motor driver.

SURVIVED

He was demobilised to 15 Albert Street, where they lived for many years, and he resumed his former job as a woolcomber. He and Maud had three more children, Alice, Edward and Frank.

(Service Rec)

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Frank White

Frank was born in 1888, the eldest son of Mary and John Whitaker White, a warp dresser.

In 1891, when he was three years old, he and his parents lived at 2 Spring Terrace. They had moved to Birkshead by 1901 and his younger brother Joseph (known by his middle name, Henry) had been born. Their father had become the clerk at Birkshead worsted weaving mill and Frank had also started work there as a ‘weft boy’. Another brother, Reginald was born the following year (1902). They lived at 3 Birkshead for many years during and after the war.

Frank attested in November 1915 and was called up the following March. He married Emily Ackroyd (daughter of the village blacksmith) on 4 March 1916, five days before his call-up date. As it turned out, the Army decided that he was unfit for service and he was discharged at the end of April.

Frank’s younger brother Henry also served in WW1.

SURVIVED

Frank resumed his occupation as warp twister.

In 1919 he and Emily lived at 38 Main Street

(Pensions Rec)

Joseph Henry White

Henry was born on 22 January 1896 in Wilsden, the middle of three sons of Mary and John Whitaker White, clerk to Birkshead Mill.

In childhood he and his brothers, Frank and Reginald, lived at 3 Birkshead where his parents would continue to live for many years after the war.

Henry became a mechanic. He enlisted into the RAF in June 1918 and was employed as a turner

He was married to Ada Ann Ellison at beginning of 1918. Their son Gilbert Ellison White was born in December 1918. Ada continued to live with her parents at 110 Main Street whilst Henry was away on active service. Her brother, Frank, and Henry’s older brother, also called Frank, both served in WW1

SURVIVED

Henry was demobilised in 1919, and he and Ada and Gilbert moved to 182 Main Street. A second son, John, was born in 1921.

The family emigrated to Rhode Island, USA in about 1924. Henry had travelled there looking for engineering work in 1922.

(Service Rec)

(Wilsden Independent Chapel Baptism Reg)

Baldwin Depledge Whitaker

Baldwin was born at Cottingley in 1890. His parents were Matilda and Abraham Whitaker, an engineer. Baldwin was the second oldest of eight children (the youngest, his only brother, James would serve in the Second World War and be killed in a military air accident just after).

In 1911 Matilda who had been widowed, was living with seven of her eight children at 2 Well Street. Baldwin was a blacksmith, shoeing horses.

Baldwin joined the Yorkshire Hussars in September 1914 and transferred to the RAVC in April 1915.

SURVIVED

On returning to Wilsden after the war, Baldwin lived with his sister Doris at 3 Anderson Street.

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Frank Whittaker

Frank (named Francis but always known as Frank) was born around 1879 in Wilsden, the eldest son of Ellen and James Whittaker a miner. He had a younger brother, John who was born at Spring Hill.

Frank had a troubled start in life, their father died in 1882 and by 1891 Frank was at the Certified Industrial School for Boys at Everton Terrace in Liverpool and listed as a ‘shoemaker’.

When, in 1895, he signed up to the West Riding Regt, He stated his previous occupation to have been ‘printer’. Three years later he transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regt. Frank served in Malta, Egypt, the East Indies and Sudan. In 1902 he married Lucy Tarlington in Bradford and completed his period of engagement in the army in 1907.

By 1911 he and Lucy were living at Grove House, Ravensthorpe near Dewsbury. He was a ‘caretaker and telephone clerk’ and she assisted him.

Having previously served, Frank was a reservist and would have been called up shortly after the start of the war. He was posted to Gallipoli, arriving 15^th July 1915. Within a month he was reported missing presumed dead and is commemorated on the Helles memorial

DIED 9.8.15 aged 34

(Soldiers Died in the Great War)

(Service Rec)

John William Whittaker

Born at Spring Hill, Wilsden in 1880, John was the youngest child of Ellen and James Whittaker, a miner and general labourer. He had an older brother, Frank, and three older half siblings from his father’s previous marriage.

Their father James died in November 1882 and Ellen married again, taking John and one of his half-sisters to live with them in Manningham.

John married Agnes Kearney at Bradford in 1902 and they had five daughters and two sons.

By 1911 John was in the Army and they were living near the Woolwich Depot of the Army Service Corps where John was working as groom, a ‘Strapper Private’ in the Remounts Section. At the start of WW1 there were only four of these depots, each with about 200 soldiers, to provision horses and mules to all other army units.

He was given a discharge on health grounds in March 1915 and became a telephone wireman.

SURVIVED

(Service Rec)

Charlie Widdop

Charlie was born at 4 Victoria Street, Wilsden in 1889, the son of William and Annie Widdop. He had an older sister, Mary, and three younger siblings; Harry, Clara and Fred. The family had moved to Haworth by 1911 and were workers in a worsted mill.

Charlie had already served with the Army in India for three years and re-joined at the outbreak of war.

His brother Harry also served in WW1.

Recuperating from an injury meant that Charlie was able to spend some time at home at Christmas 1914 but he was soon back in France and he was killed by shellfire in the early hours of 6 March, which also wounded another two soldiers

DIED 6.3.15 aged 25

(Men of Worth)

(Soldiers Died in Great War)

Harry Widdop

Harry was born in Wilsden in 1892, the third of five surviving children (Mary, Charlie, Harry, Clara and Fred) of Annie and William Widdop, a warp dresser.

In 1901 the family lived at 7 Queen Street, Wilsden. By 1911 they had moved to Haworth.

Harry worked as a warp twister, however he had previously served in the Royal Marines for a period prior to WW1. He attested on 28 August 1914 three weeks after war had been declared but was discharged seven weeks later as medically unfit to be a soldier due to problems with the cartilage in his knee.

SURVIVED

Harry’s older brother Charlie also served in WW1 but was killed in March 1915.

Harry never married and he died in Haworth at the end of 1930.

(Pensions Rec)

Bairstow Wigglesworth

Bairstow was born at Sandy Lane on 10 July 1884, the seventh of nine children of Elizabeth and Craven Wigglesworth, a yeast dealer. By 1891 the family was living at Dame Green (the site of which is now St Matthew’s Church). Bairstow started work as a milk dealer but soon became a stone mason.

He enlisted into the North Staffordshire Regt and served in Afghanistan. His younger brother Fred also served in WW1.

SURVIVED

Bairstow married Elizabeth Coates in March 1920, their son William was born in 1921 and they lived at Cragg House, Wilsden for ten years before moving to 3 Moorland View which Bairstow had helped to build, working for his uncle.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Fred Wigglesworth

Fred was born on 4 April 1890 at Dame Green in Wilsden (where St Matthew’s Church now stands), the second youngest of nine children of Elizabeth and Craven Wigglesworth, a yeast dealer.

He worked as a warp dresser at first but by the time he enlisted in February 1916 he was working with his father as a greengrocer.

Fred was sent to France with the RFC as a labourer and stationed near Rouen where he was wounded in the neck by shrapnel in July 1916. He was treated at a hospital in Paignton and then returned to France.

Fred’s older brother Bairstow also served in WW1.

SURVIVED

Fred married Alice Holmes just after the war in 1919 and they lived with her mother at 3 Victoria Street, Wilsden for a couple of years before they moved to 154 Main Street. Fred went on to work as a builder’s labourer.

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

(Bradford Weekly Telegraph 28.7.16/Keighley News 29.7.16)

Harold Wilkinson

then Labour Corps 226206

then Royal Army Service Corps/Motor Transport 419653

Harold was born in Northowram on 20 May 1894, the eldest of four surviving children of Emily and Joseph Bramwell Wilkinson, a weaver. Harold’s three younger siblings were Doris, Ernest and Emma.

By 1911 the family lived at 6 Club Row, Wilsden. They had moved to 8 Chapel Row by the time Harold was called up in October 1916. Prior to this he had been working as a warehouseman in a worsted mill. He was transferred from the HLI, with whom he had been posted to Wicklow Ireland, to the Labour Corps and then, in February 1918, to the ASC. At the end of the war he was selected for the Army of Occupation.

SURVIVED

On demobilisation in 1920 Harold returned to live with his parents who were now at 2 Royd Street. He went back to work for Parker & Leach but later became a building contractor’s labourer. He never married and after 1924 he moved away from Wilsden.

(Service Rec)

(1919 Naval & Military vote)

Ernest Wood

Ernest was born in Harecroft on 18 April 1890. He was the only child of fairly elderly parents, Emma and Joseph Wood, his father (who was a road surveyor) being 61 when he was born.

In 1911 Ernest was living with his parents at 14 Albert Street, Wilsden.

In August 1913 he married Beatrice Robertshaw at St Matthew’s Church, Wilsden, his father having died in the intervening two years.

The Keighley News 3 November 1917 reported “Pte. Ernest Wood, RAMC, of 6 Queen Street, Wilsden, is in hospital abroad, having been gassed on October 20 while in a dug-out near Ypres rendering first aid. In a letter to his wife he describes the gassing as a horrible sensation. He was in hospital early in the year and nearly lost his life through being left ill in a dressing station two or three days without either food or water, until help came. He volunteered for the Army in June 1915, and spent fifteen months at St Georges Hospital London. Then he volunteered for foreign service, and was sent to France, where he had been for about thirteen months. Previous to joining he worked for Messrs. A. Ambler & Sons as a drawing overlooker”.

Ernest’s brother in law John Robertshaw also served in WW1. He was killed in 1914.

SURVIVED

Ernest went back to his job as a wool drawing overlooker and continued to live at 6 Queen Street for the rest of his life. He and Beatrice had a daughter, Emma.

(Keighley News 3.11.17)

SURVIVED

In December 1921 Charles married Hannah Smith in West Bowling. By this time he was working as a civil servant.

They had two children, Donald and Malcolm. They were living in Wibsey by 1939

(1918 Naval & Military vote)

Joseph Herbert Wright M.C.

Herbert was born in Wilsden in 1884, the youngest child of Ann and David Wright of Ling Bob. He had three siblings, Pickles, Enoch and Mary. Enoch died in 1895 aged 24 and their father died two years later when Herbert was 13. Herbert and Mary continued to live with their widowed mother, who kept a grocers and drapers shop at 260 Ling Bob, while they studied to become elementary school teachers Eventually Mary gave up teaching to marry Wilsden’s G.P. Dr Marquis. Herbert took up a place teaching Science at Cinderford Higher Elementary School, a secondary school and centre for training elementary school teachers, which opened in 1910.

He joined up shortly after war was declared, as a Private and was promoted through the ranks to Captain. He was wounded in the Battle of the Somme, July 1916 and was awarded the Military Cross in January 1917.

On 7^th June 1917 Herbert was shot in the left eye.

Though almost certainly blinded in that eye, he recovered enough to be sent back to his battalion

He was killed in action at Velu Wood in the First Battle of Bapaume.

DIED 25.3.18 aged 33

(Wilsden War Memorial)

Samuel Wright

Sam was born in 1885 fourth of seven children of Ann and Edward Wright, a weaving overlooker. All the children (Louisa, Joseph, Mary, Sam, Harold, Jessie and Edward, were born in Wilsden.

Between 1898 and 1901 the family moved to West Bowling and Sam became an assistant overlooker however by 1915, when he attested, he was a musician.

In March 1916 Sam married Clara Kitchingman and they lived in Bowling.

He had attested at the end of 1915 but was not called up until March 1917. Initially in the Labour Corps, Sam was transferred to the West Riding Regt and was posted to France at the end of March 1917. His first daughter, Winifred was born in late summer 1917.

He was taken prisoner of war on 12 April 1918. During the attack in which he was captured he had been wounded in the face by a grenade and was blinded in both eyes. Due to his injuries Sam was repatriated early, on 17 August 1918, before the war had ended.

SURVIVED

Sam and Clara lived at Hallas Grange for eight years then they moved to Sunny Bank, 3 Crack Lane where Sam had a business in the basement repairing shoes and he also went to people’s homes to tune their pianos.

They had two more children, Kathleen and Joan.

Sam died in 1935.

(Wilsden Independent Chapel Baptism Reg)

(Service Rec)

Ernest Wynn

Ernest was born in Bradford on 15 July 1889 son of Hannah and James Wynn, a labourer for Bradford Corporation.

Ernest had three siblings. John, Ida and Ellen.

He was employed as a sheet metal worker and was living at Bowling at the time of his marriage to Wilsdener Clara Hutchinson at St Matthew’s Church in July 1912. They lived at 20 Spring Hill where their first child Frank was born.

They had moved to 5 Paradise View when Ernest attested in December 1915 but he was not called up until April 1918. He and Clara and Frank had moved to 6 Spring Hill by this time.

SURVIVED

Two more children were born after the war, Horace and Dorothy. The family lived at 6 Spring Hill for at least fifteen years. By 1939 they had moved to 21 Main Street and Ernest was school caretaker and a part time postman

(Service Rec)