Private. 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Regimental number 4351236.
Early life:
Wilfred’s parents were Herbert and Lily Green, who had been married around 1902.
He was born on the 3rd of October 1905, registered in Keighley and he was almost certainly born at 19, Barrett Street at Park Wood Bottom.
Wilfred was baptised at St. Andrew’s Parish Church on the 5th of November in the same year.
In the 1911 census he was aged five and still living at 19, Barrett Street with his parents Herbert a worsted warehouseman aged 36 and his mother Lily aged 33. He had two brothers who were Alfred Mason Green aged seven and Percy Green aged six. Also living here during the census was Margaret Read Ferguson, a 21 year old boarder who was employed as a worsted drawer at a textile mill.
None of their three sons were old enough to have served during the First World War period. Alfred was the eldest and he was still only 15 years old at the end of 1918.
By 1921 Wilfred was aged 15 years and 8 months and was a ‘jobber’ at Heaton’s worsted mill which was at Low Mills in Keighley. It’s likely given his age, that he was working directly under a department overlooker and was keeping the textile machines running with minor repairs and supplying yarn, cones etc and generally helping out.
Low Mill still exists as a building and run alongside Low Mill Road by Keighley Railway Station. The Mills can also be accessed from the car park by Gresley Road. John P. Heaton and Company had been established since 1875 and were manufacturers of Mohair, Alpaca, Camel Hair, worsted yarns, tops and noils.
Wilfred’s family were also still living at 19, Barrett Street and were his parents Herbert aged 46, employed as a spinning mill warehouseman for J. Hird and Sons worsted spinners at Acres Mill in Keighley and mother Lily aged 43 on home duties and his brother Alfred Mason who was now aged 18 and employed as a machine tool fitter’s apprentice at Dean, Smith and Grace, also based on Low Mill Road under the bridge and close to Parkwood Street.
Wilfred was aged 25 and a labourer living at 19, Barrett Street in Keighley when he married Norah Newton at St. James’ Church, Cross Roads. Norah was aged 26 and a spinster of 2, Myrtle Cottages at Cross Roads. They were married on 25th July 1931.
They were living at 5, Myrtle Terrace in Haworth, probably shortly after they were married. They were certainly there from 1936 to 1939 inclusive when they moved to 18, East Terrace, Cross Roads in 1940.
Wilfred and Norah were living with her 58 year old widowed mother Minnie Newton, a widow aged 58 on home duties who was living at 18, East Terrace in Cross Roads during the 1939 Register. Wilfred was aged 34 and a Gill box minder in wool combing, Norah was aged 34 and a wool piece mender. One other person’s record is redacted for this address.
War service:
Wilfred was in the Army from around February 1942 and would have been aged about 36 when he enlisted. He was serving with the 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment when he was killed in action on the 17th of August 1944, just over two months after D Day on the 6th of June that year.
After his death he was initially buried at Grand-Aunay British Cemetery in France. On the 30th of December 1946, along with a number of other graves, he was moved to Bayeux War Cemetery in grave 9, row E of plot XIX.
The Keighley News 9th September 1944:
KILLED IN ACTION
Keighley Men Make Supreme Sacrifice
Official intimation has been received that Private Wilfred Green has been killed in action. Aged 38, he had been in the Army two and a-half years, and before that was employed by Merralls, of Haworth. He was a bellringer at Keighley Parish Church. He was the son of the late Mr. Herbert and Mrs. Green. of 19, Barret Street, Keighley, and his wife lives at Cross Roads.
After Wilfred’s death Norah remained at 18, East Terrace until at least 1957 (according to the electoral rolls.)
Norah did not remarry and lived at Haworth until her death. She was a resident of Woodlands House nursing home at Bridgehouse Lane in Haworth where she died on the 29th of January 1991 aged 86.
She left an amount not exceeding £115000.
Wilfred is named on his gravestone at Bayeux War Cemetery in France and also on the St. James’ Church WW2 Roll of Service at Cross Roads. He is also named on the bronze Borough of Keighley WW2 roll of honour board which is on display in the foyer of Keighley Library.
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1911 England Census.
1921 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
1939 England and Wales Register.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
World War II Army Casualty Lists, 1939-1945.
Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945.
Cross Roads WW2 Roll of Service, St. James’ Church.
