Andy Wade Able Seaman. H.M.S. Gloucester. Royal Navy Service Number: D/JX 176235 Early life: Eric Birtwhistle was born on the 31st of August 1919 in Keighley and the birth was registered there in the third quarter of that year. His parents were Benjamín Birtwhistle and Sarah Ann Birtwhistle née Storey, who were married at Bradford Cathedral (St. … Read more
Acting Able Seaman. M.V. San Arcadio. Royal Navy. Service Number: P/JX 289999 (Admin at H.M.S. President III.) Early life: Joseph was born on 26th of April 1914 and his birth was registered in the second quarter of the year at Stockton, Durham. His parents were Robert Askam and Anne Jane Askam née Winter who were … Read more
Corporal. Royal Air Force. Number 1092749. Early life: Jack was born at Cross Roads in 1922 with his birth registered at Keighley in the third quarter of the year. His parents were Maurice Taylor and Mary Gertrude Taylor née Dixon. They were married at St. James Church, Cross Roads cum Lees on 11th August 1918. … Read more
Lees, Cross Roads and Bocking war memorial Private. 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, Service no. 28872. Early life: Charles was born on July 25 in 1879. His parents were John and Mary Ann Robertshaw. He was baptised on August 31 in the same year at St Michael and All Angels Parish Church. They were living … Read more
Local war memorials page The Ancient Order of Foresters war memorial (Lost) We know this roll of honour existed but not what happened to it. We presume it went elsewhere when the Keighley Order either moved or closed down, but we have no further information about it. The Imperial War Museum holds very little information … Read more
Gunner. “A” Battery. 178th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Service Number 127166. Early life: Thomas was the only son of Thomas and Elizabeth Howland, who had been married in 1895. His father Thomas from the Isle of Man was previously married (in 1870) to Catherine Ann Martin also from the Isle of Man. They’d had at … Read more
This is one of a series of posts about local men named on the Keighley Union Workhouse roll of honour. Ernest Gill Terry was recorded living at Keighley Union Workhouse in the 1911 census. Private. Army Infantry. Royal Army Ordnance Depot Early life: Ernest Terry was born illegitimately on November 20, 1890. His parents Joseph … Read more
This is one of a series of posts about local men named on the Keighley Union Workhouse roll of honour. Joseph Crabtree was recorded living at Keighley Union Workhouse in the 1901 and 1911 census. Private. 2nd/5th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, Service number 14156. Early life: Joseph was born on December 9, 1886 and registered … Read more
Henry Stott. Pauper. Henry was aged twelve in the 1901 census and at Keighley Union Workhouse. No other person with this surname was at the workhouse at the time. He was described as a pauper and his birthplace was at Denholme. Despite searching in both areas, we found no mention of him in the 1891 … Read more
This is one of a series of posts about local men named on the Keighley Union Workhouse roll of honour. John was recorded in Keighley Union Workhouse in the 1911 census. He was the brother of James Henry Rush. Private. 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Service number 18459. Early life: John was born around … Read more