Parkwood area
Private. 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Service number 3/10908.
Early life:
William was born in Keighley on 19th July 1897. His parents were Graham and Jane Ann Mason (née Thirkill). Father’s occupation: Mechanic.
He was baptised on 14th August, at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Keighley. They were living at 6, Hill Street in Keighley.
In the 1901 Census he was aged three and living at 63, Sun Street in Keighley with his maternal grandparents William and Sarah Thirkill, one Uncle, one Aunt, Sister Harriet and brother Harry. His grandfather’s occupation was Railway goods labourer. William’s father Graham was absent from this address on the day of the census.
By the time of the 1911 census he was thirteen and living at 8, Brow Street, in the Parkwood area of Keighley with his parents, sister Harriet and brothers Harry, Edward and Herbert. Father’s occupation: Millwright. William’s occupation: Worsted yarn spinner.
War service:
In 1915, ‘Keighley’s Gallant Sons’ is published by the Bradford Daily Telegraph. It was a list of Keighley’s volunteers who joined the forces in 1914 and 1915, before conscription came in under the Military Service Act. William’s name is on it as [Mason, W. 8, Brow Street.]
We believe that William enlisted in the Army in late 1914, probably with the 3rd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment at Keighley, and then he travelled to Halifax to begin training. They moved to North Shields in May 1915 for duty with Tyne Garrison.
At some point he transferred to the 8th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. They had moved from Halifax to Witley in April 1915 and then mobilised, sailing on the SS Aquitania at Liverpool and heading for the Dardanelles.
On 7th August 1915, William landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli with his battalion. On 21st August William was killed in action in the Battle of Scimitar Hill advancing against the enemy at Anafarta. He was described as: ‘Death presumed on or since this date.’
8th Battalion West Riding Regiment war diary for Gallipoli:
August 21:
3:00 pm.
Attack on village of Anafarta. Two lines of trenches captured. Heavy losses, Capt. V.N. Kirr wounded.
[This was known as the Battle of Scimitar Hill and the last attempt by the British to advance at Suvla. British forces evacuated the peninsula on December 20, 1915. William Mason very probably died in this attack.]
Keighley News August 26, 1916 page 7:
Private William Mason (18), of the West Riding Regiment, whose home was in Brow Street, Keighley, has been missing since August 21, 1915. He took part in the operations in the Gallipoli Peninsula.
[His photograph appears in September 2, 1916, page 3]
On 14th March 1917, William’s father Graham Mason as his next-of-kin, received £3 5s. 2d. which was William’s back pay (after any deductions had been made.) On 26th September 1919, he received a £3 10s. 0d. war gratuity payment.
William Mason is remembered on the Helles memorial at Gallipoli.
He is remembered locally in Keighley’s Great War Roll of Honour book in Keighley Library.
He is also remembered locally on the Sun Street Methodist Chapel war memorial which is held by Cliffe Castle Museum.
William’s brother Harry Mason also served later in the war, in the Durham Light Infantry. He turned 19 whilst in service, giving him the vote before the age of 21 (under the Representation of the People Act 1918) Harry’s name is on the electoral roll in 1919 despite being only 20 years old at most. (This is the same Act of Parliament which gave women over 30 the vote.)
William Mason is one of the nine men of Brow Street/Feather Street/Belle Vue Terrace (It was centred on Feather Street) who were killed before December 1916. This was originally mentioned in the Keighley News in that month, after the death of Charles Lowndes and Joseph William Tatton.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : in Halifax. A depot/training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. Moved on mobilisation to Earsdon and on in May 1915 to North Shields for duty with Tyne Garrison.
8th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Halifax in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under command of 34th Brigade in 11th (Northern) Division. Moved to Belton Park (Grantham).
18 January 1915: transferred to 32nd Brigade in same Division. Moved to Witley in April 1915.
Sailed from Liverpool in July 1915 for Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay 7 August 1915. Moved to France in July 1916.
13 February 1918 : disbanded in France.
War gratuity calculation for a Private dying on 21/8/15 and next of kin receiving £3 10s, suggests an enlistment date of August 1914.
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
Keighley’s Gallant Sons.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
The photograph of William Mason appears by kind courtesy of his relative, Barry Mason.
