Sergeant. 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. No. 200453.
Previous number issued on enlistment was 1995, before the change to six figure numbers.
Served prior to the war as a Private with the 6th Battalion West Riding (Territorials) No. 1799.
Early life:
Joe’s parents were John Henry Bancroft and Agnes Ann Bancroft née Green, who had been married in the first quarter of 1890 when John would have been 24 and Agnes would have been 17 or 18.
A year later in the 1891 census (taken on 5th April) they were living at 8, Coppy Row in Oakworth (just around the corner from the Golden Fleece Inn). John was employed as a worsted weaver and Agnes was a worsted drawer.
Joe was born at 8, Coppy Row in Oakworth late 1892 and his birth was registered at Keighley in the last quarter of the year.
The family were at Coppy row for about four years until 1895, when they moved to 14, Ickornshaw at Cowling, near Skipton.
By the 1901 census John Henry aged 35 and Agnes Ann aged 29, were still living at Ickornshaw and now had seven children who were Sam aged nine, Joe aged eight, Emma aged six, Fred aged four, John aged three, Wille aged one and the youngest was Mary Ann aged just three months. John was still employed as a worsted weaver. The nearby Ickornshaw Mill appears to have been just cotton, but the other mills in the village of Cowling were all Cotton and Worsted and they were, Carr Mill, Acre Mill, Royd Mill and Croft Mill and they were all in operation at this time and all within easy walking distance for John Henry.
By 1911 they had all moved to Silsden where they were living at 11, Walker’s Place. The family was John Henry who was now aged 45 and a cotton, woollen & shoddy weaver. Agnes Ann was aged 39 and they’d been married for 21 years and had 13(!) children, four of whom had died. The children still alive were Sam aged 19 and a dyer’s labourer in warp dyeing; Joe aged 18, a mechanic at a bobbin factory; Emma aged 16, a weaver of cotton and worsted; Fred aged 14 and a dyer’s labour; John aged 13, a labourer at a bobbin factory. The younger children at school were Willie aged 11, Mary Ann aged ten and Michael aged five. The youngest in the family was Clara aged just five months. It’s likely that many of them were employed at Beck’s Mill and the nearby Dyeworks which was very close to Walker’s Place.
Territorial service:
On 6th June 1908, Joe enlisted for four years service at Keighley with the 6th Battalion West Riding Regiment (Territorials.) He was aged 18. His details were: Height, 5 feet 4 inches; Chest, 34 inches; ‘Good’ vision and of a ‘Fair’ physical development. His Regimental number was 1799.
Joe was with them for quite a while and attended annual summer camps at the following places:
Redcar between 26th July and 3rd August 1908; Marske, between 25th July 1909 and 8th August 1909; Peel on the Isle of Man, between 24th July and 31st July 1910; Ripon, between 6th August and 13th August 1911.
Joe re-engaged for one year on 18th June 1912 and attended the Flamborough between 28th July and 11th August 1912.
He re-engaged again on 16th June 1913 and attended camp at Aberystwyth, between 27th August and 3rd September 1913.
There is a mentioned of a camp at Marske between 26th July and 3rd August 1914, but there is a line struck through it and we suspect this was cancelled due to the growing threat of war and because Joe’s engagement with the 6th Battalion was terminated on 17th June 1914, having served with them for six years as a Private. (This is just the standard termination of engagement.)
War service:
He was attested for four years of Territorial Service on 14th August 1914 and he was enlisted with the 4th Battalion, West Riding Regiment on the same date, so he was serving very shortly after the outbreak of war. His new regimental number was 1995. He also signed the Territorial Force Agreement paper to serve overseas on the 23rd September 1914.
He’d grown quite a bit more and his details were: Height, 5 feet 10 inches; Chest, 40 inches and his physical development was good. His father John Henry Bancroft was his next of kin, home address at 11, Walker’s Place, Silsden.
After 244 days of service at home, he embarked with the 1/4th Battalion West Riding Regiment on S.S. Invicta at Folkestone on 14th April 1915. Whilst at the 49th K.R. Division Base Depot, he was awarded 14 days field punishment number one for ‘Neglecting to obey an order given by an NCO.’ The unit proceeded to the front on 29th January 1916.
He was appointed Lance Corporal with pay on 22nd June 1916 and just a few weeks later to Corporal on 1st August 1916.
He was wounded on 3rd August 1916 with a shot wound to the right shoulder and admitted to the 1/3rd West Riding Field Ambulance Unit. From here he was moved to the 29th Casualty Clearing Station and then to 49 Division Rest Station on the 10th August. The next day he arrived at no. 1 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. After his full recovery he was sent to the 34th Infantry Base Depot on 5th September 1916. He rejoined his unit in the field on 1st October 1916.
WO-95/2799/2. War diary of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.
Thiepval Sub-sector. August 1st to August 16th, 1916.
Battalion holding trenches.
Trenches – daily patrols – large working parties supplied by Brigade for digging new parallels in front of sector – Battalion providing covering parties nightly – alternating 6 days in line, 6 days support with 5th Battalion.
Joe was shot in the shoulder on the 3rd of August, during this period.
The Keighley News, Saturday 12th August 1916, page 3:
SILSDEN. WOUNDED IN A NIGHT ATTACK.
News has been received that Corporal Joe Bancroft, of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. J. H. Bancroft, 11, Walker’s Pl Silsden, has been wounded, and is at present in hospital In a letter to his parents Corporal Bancroft states: “I have bad news for you this time, for I was hit last night with a piece of shell at the back of my shoulder. I do not think it is very bad. We were making a night attack, but the enemy found us before we took our positions up. I had just got back into our trench when a shell dropped amongst my half of the platoon. Only two of us were hit, so I think we got off fairly lucky.” In a letter received the day before he was wounded Corporal Bancroft says: “I have been promoted to a full corporal so you see I am not doing so very badly. I think the Silsden men so far have been fairly lucky in this advance. I hope no more casualties have come through.” There are other two brothers serving in France viz, Private Sam Bancroft (who, it has been reported, has been recommended for the D.C.M.), and Private Fred Bancroft. A fourth brother, Willie Bancroft, joined the colours, but be has returned home, as he is below military age. Joe and Sam served seven and eight years respectively in the Volunteers prior to the war, and all the brothers offered themselves for active service upon the outbreak of hostilities.
On 18th October 1916, shortly after returning to his unit Joe was promoted to Sergeant.
He was awarded the Military Medal on 12th March 1917. Unusually, the citation is available for why he received it.
The Keighley News, Saturday 17th February 1917, page 3:
MILITARY MEDAL WINNER.
News was received this week of another Silsden soldier who has received the Military Medal for meritorious conduct in the field, in the person of Sergeant Joe Bancroft, of the West Riding Regiment, and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bancroft, Walker’s Place, Silsden. Sergeant Bancroft is one of four brothers serving their King and country, three of whom are in France. He enlisted upon the outbreak of the war, having previously been in the Territorials for a number of years. He went out to France in April, 1915, where he had since been wounded and “gassed” during heavy fighting, in which he took part. His devotion to duty had been recognised by promotion to the rank of sergeant. A communication has been received from the Major General commanding the 49th Division, in which it stated that ‘Sergeant Bancroft distinguished himself in the field from January 18 to January 22 During that period he, along with a Halifax officer, were on night patrol duty when the officer was shot through the head and killed, and Sergeant Bancroft assisted in bringing him back to the trenches.’ Probably this is only one of several deeds performed by Sergeant Bancroft which have ultimately led up to him being awarded the coveted honour. In a recent letter to his parents he stated that he had been heartily congratulated by his Colonel and company. He is the fifth Silsden soldier to gain distinction on the battlefield, the others being Second-Lieutenant Harold Longbottom, Corporal R. H. Atkinson, Private W. Jarman, and Corporal W. Carter. Sergeant Bancroft is 23 years of age.
WO-95/2799/2. War diary of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.
Trenches, B1 Sub-sector. January 1917.
19th January.
Work done on all Company fronts. Chiefly pumping and clearing.
20th January.
Trenches very cold and under snow. Work done on all company fronts. Patrol out.
21st January.
Hard frost making routine work more acceptable and greatly facilitating the work of repairing the line.
Patrol out in no man’s land.
22nd January.
Second Lieutenant G. Rawnsley killed whilst on patrol. Battalion relieved by 5th West Riding Regiment in B1 Sub-sector.
Headquarters and A & B Companies proceeding to BERLES and C & D Companies to HUMBERCAMP.
This incident is when Joe earned his Military Medal and Second Lieutenant Rawnsley’s body was recovered by Joe’s patrol on 22nd January 1917. See citation above in KN 17 February 1917.
Second Lieutenant GERALD RAWNSLEY
4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Died 22 January 1917, aged 20 years old
Buried or commemorated at Berles Position Military Cemetery, grave 9 of row A. Pas de Calais, France.
He was the son of Mr. J. R. and Mrs. M. E. Rawnsley, of “Ashleigh,” Savile Rd., Halifax.
Their personal inscription on his headstone reads: DEEM NOT HIM DEAD WHOSE SOUL IS TRANSFERRED TO HEAVEN.
Joe was granted a fortnight’s leave from 21st November to 5th December 1917.
He was wounded in the head on the 18th March 1918 and was at a Field Ambulance Unit for a short while before re-joining his unit in the field on 20th March 1918.
WO-95/2799/4-1. War diary of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.
WESTHOEK DUGOUTS 18th March 1918:
The Battalion was relieved in the REUTEL SUB_SECTOR by the 1/5th York and Lancaster Regiment. Relief was complete about 9.50 pm. On the relief being completed the Battalion moved back to WESTHOEUK DUGOUTS and half to RAILWAY WOOD DUGOUTS and CAMBRIDGE HOUSE near WESTHOEK they had to pass through an area which the enemy was shelling with gas shells but casualties were negligible.
Appendix B. Casualties for March 1918:
Wounded in action. Sergeant Bancroft, J. C Company.
The Keighley News 30th March 1918 page 3:
SILSDEN AND DISTRICT.
Sergeant Joe Bancroft, West Riding Regiment, and, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H, Bancroft, Walker’s Place, Silsden, bas been wounded in the head. Sergeant Bancroft, who is one of four brothers serving, enlisted upon the outbreak of the war, and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field from January 18 to 22 last year. He has previously been wounded and “gassed.”
Joe was killed in action on 4th May 1918. He may have been buried by his comrades at the time, but his grave is not known and he is named at the Tyne Cot Cemetery on the Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.
WO-95/2799/4-1. War diary of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.
Headquarters VENAL BA925 3.
Situation now normal on VEIN front. Enemy put down heavy barrage on front line, supports and Battalion Headquarters but there was no sign pf an infantry attack. SOS was not sent up from VEIN front line so far as I have been able to find out, it was sent up by a platoon of COMPO Battalion on the right and by 148 Brigade. Guides have been delayed as orders could not be got through owing to barrage.
VEIN 1.10 pm.
R.E. Sugden, Lieutenant Colonel.
It’s possible that Joe Bancroft was killed in the barrage mentioned above and that his body not found afterwards, as he has no known grave.
Keighley News 8th June 1918:
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE CHURCH A service to the memory of a number of Silsden men who have been killed while serving their country was held in the Silsden Parish Church on Sunday morning. The Rev. E. E. Peters (Vicar) conducted the service, and in the course of the sermon said sixty-nine men had been killed in action or died of wounds, Amongst those who had recently fallen were Sergeant W. Newnes, who had now been presumed killed after being missing for over a year, Private Hardcastle, Sergeant Ernest Richard Hill, Signaller Harry Barrett, Second Lieutenant T. D. Stocks, Sergeant Rowland Hill, Private Orman Clarkson, Air-Mechanic Albert Bradley, Sergeant Joe Bancroft, M.M., and Private Sydney Plumb. On behalf of the church- people of Silsden the Vicar offered to the relatives of these men their deepest sympathy and their most sincere and heartfelt gratitude for what they had done for them. He hoped that as long as that church remained, and even if at any time a new church should be built, it would be the custom at least once a year to remember all the men who had fallen in the war. Whether those men died in action or at home in England, they all did their duty, and they had all left behind them honoured memories. He was impressed and touched beyond everything by the splendid courage which the women of test parish had shown in these awful times. It was an inspiration to the men, for they had shown themselves to be worthy mothers and wives of heroes. Should they betray, the trust of those who were gone, and make their deaths in vain? He trusted they would not.
Keighley News 6th July 1918:
D.C.M. FOR A FALLEN SOLDIER
Mr. and Mr. Bancroft, of Silsden, have good reason to be proud of their soldier sons. Sergeant Joe Bancroft, of the West Riding Regiment, who was killed by a shell some weeks ago, has been awarded the D.C.M. for which he was recommended some time before his death. He had previously gained the Military Medal. His four brothers are serving with the colours. News has also been received that another son, Corporal Fred Bancroft, M.M., Labour Company, has been wounded in the hand and is now a patient in hospital in Norfolk He has also been awarded the Military Medal, and enlisted in January, 1916. Private Willie Bancroft, West Yorkshire Regiment, who is 19 years old and who enlisted when 15, is suffering from wounds, and is in hospital at Netley. Private John Bancroft, who is in the cavalry, is the other brother serving.
Joe’s Distinguished Conduct Medal was posthumously awarded and this was gazetted on 3rd October 1918.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal citation reads:
200453. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S (WEST RIDING REGIMENT)
Sjt. J. Bancroft, M.M., 1. Rid. R. (Keighley) (LC 3 Oct. 1918).
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After the enemy had been driven off with severe loss by the rifle fire of his company, Sjt. Bancroft the same afternoon and three times next day took out a patrol and went over 800 yards securing identifications from enemy dead, and bringing back valuable information regarding the enemy’s dispositions. He had only
recently been wounded, and set a splendid example of devotion to duty.
On 4th November 1918 a letter regarding the ownership of Joe’s two gallantry medals indicates that his father was to receive them on the understanding they were to be given to his younger brother Edward when he was of an age to appreciate their value. This suggests that Joe had written this in his soldier’s will.
Despite letters being exchanged to the effect, the two gallantry medals were not awarded in a ceremony but instead, were sent by registered post and Joe’s father John Henry signed for them on 16th December 1918.
Remembrance:
Joe has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Locally he is named on the Cowling War Memorial, the Silsden War Memorial and on Silsden St. James’s Church war memorial board and in the Silsden Roll of Honour book.
He is also named on Oakworth’s Great War Centenary roll of honour in Oakworth Community Hall.
Post war:
Joe’s parents John Henry and Agnes Ann Bancroft were living at 11, Walker’s Place, Silsden in the 1921 census.
Joe’s father John Henry was his next of kin and would have received Joe’s medals, which were the 1914-15 Star, British war Medal and Victory Medal. These would have arrived in either 1920 or 1921 along with a bronze war memorial plaque and King’s certificate inscribed with his name.
John Henry received Joe’s personal effects on 13th January 1919 which were: Wallet, Photos, Watch, Silver watch and silver chain.
A hand written note states that two pound notes and a 20 Franc note and 5 shillings, plus 2 French coins to the value of 2 Francs were missing. There is no record of a reply to this in his service records, but it was usual to remove and record money from a man’s personal effects and add the amount back into his Army pay account, for later disposal through the Soldier’s effects accounting process.
His father received a payment from Joe’s Army pay account of £27 12s 4d on 10th March 1920 and this appears to include the War gratuity payment of £20 10s 0d.
Joe’s mother Agnes Ann received a dependant’s pension of 3 shillings and 6 pence per week beginning on 12th November 1918 and this was increased to 5 shillings per week beginning on 13th December 1918. There is a note of a requested increase being refused, but there no date for this and no further details.
John Henry died at the age of 65, at Silsden on 20th August 1931.
Agnes Ann was still living at 11, Walker’s Place in Silsden in the 1939 register, with her children Tom, Clara and Elizabeth.
Agnes died at the age of 77 in 1950, with her death registered at Staincliffe.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920.
British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920.
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Solders Died in the Great War.
Craven’s Part in the Great War – Joseph Bancroft
The Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
1921 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
1939 England and Wales Register
