Private. 2/6th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. Service number 6/4910.
Robert was the son of Tom Duxbury and Sarah Ann Duxbury née Fox.
Early life:
Tom Duxbury married Sarah Hannah Fox in the last quarter of 1894. Their marriage was registered at Keighley. Their son Robert was born in 1896 and registered at Keighley in the last quarter of that year. At the time they were either living at 15, Princess Street off Clyde Street, or Whitley Street which was quite close by, running between Mornington Road and Park Road.
Tom’s father Robert was a greengrocer and their shop may have been at the end of the terrace, facing on to Clyde Street. These houses were back to back properties and Princess and Rutland streets were later demolished. The site is where the Rutland Flats are nowadays. Later, other streets were also demolished and replaced with new houses. Raven, Rook and Lark Streets appear to still retain their original back to back housing, which gives the visitor a rough idea of how Princess Street might have appeared.
Whitley Street has also changed quite a bit and we have been able to locate the position of number six, where they were living for quite a long time. For a while, we understand it was the offices of Magnet Joinery and numbers 2, 4 and 6 were merged into one property which is what exists today.
In the 1901 census, Maud aged ten and Robert aged four were recorded at their grandparent’s house of 15, Princess Street whilst Tom and Sarah were living at 6, Whitley Street with their children Flora aged one and Annie aged six weeks. Also with them was Harriet Eddison, a boarder aged 17. Number 6, Whitley Street may still exist today, although it appears as if numbers 2, 4 and 6 have all been merged into one property. In the 1901 census, both grandfather Robert and father Tom were working as greengrocers, probably at the same shop.
Credit: Graham Smeaton.
In the 1911 census, Tom aged 39 and Sarah aged 38 were living at 6, Whitley Street. Tom was a firelighter manufacturer and they had been married for 14 years and produced eight children, one of whom had died.
Robert was aged 15 and a firelighter manufacturer’s labourer (working for his father) Flora was aged 11, Annie was aged eight, Harry was aged seven, John was aged four and the youngest, Alice was aged three.
Note:
According to a 1917 newspaper report, their business was named the Magnet Firelighter Company and it is worth noting that Tom Duxbury founded Magnet Joinery in 1918, which is still based near Bingley. This information is on the Magnet Joinery website here: (Apparently the company was named after their horse, Magnet.)
War service:
An incomplete Army service record exists for Robert and from it we find he attested with the 2/6th Battalion West Riding Regiment at Bingley on the 12th of December 1915. This was for ‘Short Service’ which was for the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve. His service number was 4910 and he began training with the 3/6th Battalion of the West Riding Regiment. He gave his address as 6, Whitey Street, Bingley and his age as 19 years and 8 months. His trade was given as timber merchant. He was 5 feet 6 inches in height with a 35 inch chest, He weighed 139 lbs. He was of fair development with good vision and he had a varicocele on the left side. and his next of kin was his father Tom.
His enlistment was approved at Halifax on 6th March 1916 when he was called up under the Derby Scheme. He was in training in the United Kingdom until the 4th of February 1917 when he embarked for France, arriving the next day.
Robert was killed on the 2nd of March 1917, about a month after arriving in France.
Unusually, Robert was mentioned by name in the battalion war diary. Usually only officers were named whereas enlisted men, referred to as ‘other ranks’ were usually just listed as numbers of casualties.
Note: names of places and trenches are in capital letters, map references are a combination of letter and numbers and refer to the Army trench mapping system of the time eg: L.21.b
War diary WO-95/3087/1/1:
BEAUMONT HAMEL.
POINT 88. 26th February 1917. 3.30 pm:
Battalion proceeded via Y RAVINE to ARTILLERY LANE, R.I.C. central, where H.Q. And ‘D’ Company were quartered. ‘A’ & ‘B’ Companies proceeded to occupy front line trenches BEAUREGARD ALLEY from L.33.a to L.28.c. ‘C’ Company was in Support in SAFETY TRENCH, L.33.a & c.
ARTILLERY LANE.
27th February 1917. 12.30 pm.
H.Q. moved up from R.1.C. central to SAFETY TRENCH L.33.a.
Whilst ‘A’ & ‘B’ Companies advanced and occupied ORCHARD ALLEY L.21.a & b., & ‘D’ Company moved up into support in GUDGEON TRENCH L.21 C., C. Company moved from SAFETY TRENCH to BEAUREGARD DOVECOTE 2.28.C., A Company sent out 1 Patrol from ORCHARD ALLEY into SUNKEN ROAD L.15.c & d.
SAFETY TRENCH. 1st March 1917. 6 am.
Battalion were relieved by 20th Manchester Regiment, and marched to BEAUMONT HAMEL to occupy Dug-outs on HAWTHORN RIDGE Q.10.b.
HAWTHORN RIDGE. 3rd March 1917. 10 am.
The following officers reported for duty and were taken on the strength of the battalion:– Lieutenant K. Ackroyd. 2nd Lieutenant. A. F. Melton. 2nd Lieutenant. C. Scott. 2nd Lieutenant. F. S. Shackleton.
Our Casualties while in trenches from 26/2/17 to 1/3/17, when we advanced to SUNKEN ROAD in L.15.c & d. Were: –
Killed and Died of wounds (6): i.e.
4910 Private Duxbury, R.
4777 Private Clarke, E.
300086 Private Walker, J.
5009 Private Emsley, J. F.
8572 Private Peace, S.
2809 Private Mitchell, A.
Wounded: 13.
2 pm.:
Battalion proceeded into Billets at ENGLEBELMER, marching via AUCHON VILLERS, and preceded by billeting party.
Note:
Because Robert’s post was hit by a shell, it’s likely that heis remains were placed in a communal grave with the other men killed at that time. Their grave may have been subsequently lost, leading to them all being named on the Thiepval Memorial for the missing.
His death was reported in the Keighley News and Bingley Chronicle.
The Keighley News. Saturday 10th March 1917, page 3:
BINGLEY. THREE SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION.
The parents of Private Robert Duxbury (20), of Whitley Street, Bingley, were informed yesterday morning that he had been killed in action in France last week. The following is a letter referring to his death, from Captain N. C. Prince: “It is with great regret I inform you that your son was killed in action on March 1. We were holding the line when a shell burst in the post your son was holding, and he was killed instantaneously. Your son has been with my company a year, and has been a splendid soldier the whole time he has been with us, always cheerful and willing. Personally, I feel the loss very much, and his comrades also feel the loss of such a good friend. Please accept my sincerest sympathy.” Private Duxbury joined the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment about a year ago, and was formerly employed as a foreman by his father, Mr. T. Duxbury, at the works of the Magnet Firelighter Company, Whitley Street. Bingley.
His mother Sarah received his personal effects on 28th August 1918 which were his Cap Badge, Letters, Photos, 2 cigarette cases.
On the 3rd of May 1919 his mother completed and returned the relatives form which stated they were: Father Tom Duxbury. Mother Sarah Hannah Duxbury, brothers Harry Lewis aged 14, John aged 12 and George Alfred aged 8. His sister were Flora aged 19, Annie aged 18 and Alice aged 10, all of 6, Whitley Street. Also listed was Mary Ann Duxbury, grandmother also living at 6, Whitley Street.
Robert’s medal were the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, issued for his war service.
Remembrance:
Robert has no known grave and is named on Panel six of the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Locally, he is named on the Bingley War Memorial in Myrtle Park, which contains the names of 243 local men and was unveiled in September 1924.
Post war:
Robert had made a will and this paid out a sum of £67 12s 6d to his mother Sarah Ann Duxbury on 11th May 1917.
Robert’s mother Sarah Ann received Robert’s remaining Army pay of £2 12s 3d on 28th August 1917 and a further War Gratuity payment of £3 paid to her on 9th October 1919.
Sarah also received a Dependant’s pension of 7 shillings per week, beginning on 1st January 1918, which was for life.
In the 1921 census, the family were all living at 6, Whitley Street in Bingley and were:
Tom, aged 49 and a General dealer and employer; Sarah Hannah, aged 49 and on home duties; Flora, aged 21 and Manageress of the Magnet Firelighter Company; Annie, aged 20 and a clerk at the Magnet Firelighter Company, Harry Lewis, aged 16 and a Motor driver at the Magnet Firelighter Company. The three youngest children were John aged 14, Alice aged 12 and George Alfred aged 10 who were all attending school. The last person in the census was grandmother and widow Mary Ann aged 72 and a home help.
Sarah Hannah died in 1923 aged 51, with her death registered at Keighley in the second quarter of the year.
Tom was 55 when he remarried in 1926, to Ellen Hargreaves aged 37 and their marriage was registered at Keighley in the second quarter of the year.
In the 1939 Register, Tom and Ellen were living at High Point, Street Lane at East Morton. Tom was a Chairman of a joinery manufacturer (Magnet Joinery) They had two children living with them who were Philip aged 11 and Andrew aged 9, both attending school. Presumably these were the children from Tom and Ellen’s marriage. Also living here was a domestic servant called Ivy Court (later Wilson) aged 23. Tom also served as a Special Constable during the war.
Tom Duxbury died in 1948 at the age of 76, registered in the Worth Valley.
Tom’s probate record shows he died on the 6th of February and on the 15th of May, he left £56,783 9s 5d to his wife Ellen Duxbury and his son John, company director.
Ellen died on the 7th of November 1968 and her probate record shows she left the sum of £39,956.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1891 England Census.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
National Archives. War diary WO-95/3087/1/1.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
1921 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
1939 England and Wales Register
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Bingley War Memorial photo by Andy Wade.
Whitey Street Photo courtesy of Graham Smeaton’s collection.
