Private, 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. Service number 35481. Early life: James was born in 1899, his birth was registered in the Pontefract district in the third quarter of that year. His parents were John William Laws a brewers labourer, and Eliza Laws. In the 1901 census he was just one year of age and living … Read more
Emily Wilson Voluntary Aid Detachment: Nursing, Member St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Early life: Emily Wilson was born on 4th November 1876 to parents Joseph and Martha Wilson née Barton. Joseph was a plasterer, originally from Dolphinholme in Lancashire, Martha was from Liverpool. They had married in Preston in 1866, when Mary already had a son … Read more
Private, 4th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own). Service no. 59030. Early life: Fred was born in Oxenhope on 25th December 1898 and his birth was registered in 1899 in Keighley. He was the son of Bertram George and Ada Frazer. In 1901 the family were living at Uppertown in Oxenhope and his … Read more
Private. Wellington Infantry Battalion. Service number 10/3379. Early life: Joseph was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire on 29th January 1888, the son of Elizabeth Hannah Robinson. His mother married Joseph Midgley on December 23, 1891 and Joseph took the surname Midgley, but retained his mother’s maiden name. We are not sure if his stepfather actually adopted … Read more
This is one of a series of posts about local men named on the Keighley Union Workhouse roll of honour. James was recorded in Keighley Union Workhouse in the 1911 census. He was the brother of John Rush. Acting Sergeant. 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers Service no. 9437, later 201798. Early life: James was … Read more
Lance Corporal. 21st Battalion, Prince of Wales’ Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment. Service number 26975. Early life: Charles was born at Silsden on 7th February 1895 and his birth was registered at Skipton. His parents were Frank Stirk Green and Mercy Green. In the 1901 census he was six years old and living at 72, Bolton … Read more
Oakworth men Lance Corporal Alan Heaton Hodgson Civilian life: Alan was born in 1924 and his birth was registered at Keighley in the last quarter of that year. His parents were John William (Jack) Hodgson and Maud Hodgson née Heaton, who had been married just three months earlier. His younger sister Freda was born in … Read more
Petty Officer, Mechanician 2nd Class Robert John Silcock Early life: Robert was born on 9th July 1914 in Wigan, one of two sons and four daughters of Peter and Emily May Silcock. His siblings were Margaret (born 1915 in Pemberton, Wigan), Gwen (born in 1917), Eva, (born 1920) Peter (born 1923) and Marion (born 1930). … Read more
Lees, Cross Roads and Bocking war memorial Private. 11th Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters.) Service no. 73372. Previously 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Service no. 20181. Early life: Richard was born in the early part of 1898 and his birth was registered in Liverpool in the first quarter of the year. His parents were … Read more
Stanbury and Oldfield Gunner. 77th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Service number 151582. James was born in Oxenhope in 1884, his birth was registered in Keighley in the first quarter of that year. His father was Joseph, his mother’s name is not known. By 1891 he was seven and living at 81, Stanbury with his … Read more