Fred Abell was born in 1882 in Wakefield, the son of William and Martha who in 1901 were living at 90 Lower York Street. William worked as a plumber and 18 year old Fred was employed as a postman. In that census Fred was one of four children in the household. On 22 April 1905 Fred married Elizabeth Ann Guy. Fred signed his attestation papers in December 1915 where it states he became a member of the Post Office Rifles. Fred at that time lived at 102 Stanley Road. We know that Fred was 5' 7½" tall with a 35" girth. The papers also give Elizabeth's address and also in brackets the address 83 Skipton Road, Harrogate. The maiden name of Elizabeth, and also the date and place of marriage is confirmed by these papers and also the names of their 3 children - Kathleen Elizabeth 25 August 1906, Normanton: Jennie 9 April 1908 also Normanton and George Percy 21 September 1914 in Wakefield. Fred, upon enlistment became Gnr 94517 in the RGA. From 7 December 1915 to 20 October 1916 Fred served At Home. On 21 October 1916 to 12 September 1917 when he was KIA he served in the BEF. Fred rests in Canada Farm Cemetery, nr Poperinge. The cemetery is close by a farmhouse used as a dressing station in 1917 and most of the 907 of those at rest were casualties there.

Ernest Norman Bradley was the son of William and Clara of Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield. In 1901 the family lived at Barnalls Terrace, Stanley Road and William E, the head of the household worked as a bricklayer. He enlisted in Leeds and served in the RAMC as Pte., 403232. Ernest died on 28 April 1918 aged 23 and is remembered at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery. Private Ernest Norman Bradley was awarded the M.M.

Ernest Norman Bradley is also mentioned on the Aberford Road War Memorial

John William Dixon was born in 1894 in Wakefield and in 1901 was living in the home of his grandfather, Joseph Dixon. John enlisted in Wakefield where he joined the KOYLI and became Pte 2987 in the 1/4th Btn/ John was KIA on 13 September 1915 and he rests in Bard Cottage Cemetery, on the N369 Ypres to Boezinge road.

Note :- his next of kin is given as his brother Snowden

Noah Eccles, one of 10 children, was the son of Joseph and Martha, who in 1901 were living in Providence St, Wakefield. On his enlistment, Noah stated he was born in St Andrew's, Wakefield - he joined the KOYLI and became Pte 16817 and was KIA on 1 July 1916 and like many other who perished on the day are remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

Note :- By the end of the war Noah's wife Edith, nee Wilcock, whom he had married in 1908 had remarried a William Geary in 1919 and was living at Providence Place, Eastmoor

George William Flynn was born in 1892 in Barnsley, the son of William and Jessie who after the war lived at Kingstone Place, Barnsley. He enlisted in Wakefield where he now resided, joining the KOYLI as 15338, later transferring to the Army Cyclist Corps and becoming Pte 6082. George was KIA on 28 September 1918 aged 23 and he rests in Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos.

George's service records tell us that he was a miner upon enlistment on 4 September 1914 where he signed in a good hand to serve King and Country. His record goes to to inform us that George was 21 years and 355 days old at the time of his medical and he was 5' 6½" tall, weighed 149 lbs and had a 38" chest with a 3" expansion. He had a sallow complexion, and brown eyes and hair. And he gave his relegion as that of Roman Catholic. His physical development was good and his pulse rate was 78. He had no vaccination marks and his vision was 6/9 in both eyes. He had been admitted to hospital on the 9 March 1915 and discharged on the 20th of the same month for a sprain (?) in his right ankle. In among the service records for George (known as the Burnt Papers, due to the place of storage being bombed in WW2 and many of the records being either burnt or damaged by water) are a receipt from his wife acknowledging the reciept of his medals - the 1915 Star and the British Medal, but most interesting are a set of damaged letters from his wife where she acknowledges reciept of his belongings but following that a series of letters where she is requesting the whereabouts of a gold ring that she knows George took with him to France. One letter also mentions George's child. By 1921 the ring letters were still tooing and froing from the Army to Mary at 2 Brickyard, Greenhill, Eastmoor, but by 5 February 1921 Mary was now Mrs M Hinchliffe living at 7 Tealls Yard, Dale Street, Ossett. One of the final papers in George's records state that he was reported missing In The Field on 29 September 1915. On 22 October 1915 he was recorded as KIA In The Field and the following line gives his place of burial as Le Ratoire Farm, , Vermilles, Grave : plot 62, this being reported by the Rev. Ponsonby, 1st Guards Brigade on 9 October 1915 and returned to the War Office on 26 October 1915. He was re-buried in Dud Corner at a later date. Mary did eventually recieve a pension for George of 15/- per week for herself and one child with effect from 1 May 1916. Dotted through these records are various request when Mary is asking for information regarding her husband and there are some postcards with the words 'dead' marked in bold pencil. All in all there are approx. 30 pages of record all damaged in some way but giving an insight into the life of George and his wife Mary during the period up to and following WW1. One of the latter pages the words ' would like to know the real truth' does this refer to the gold ring mentioned so many times. But, I wonder, did the gold ring ever turn up ?

Harry Hardy was the son of Alexander and Easter of Hambleton St, off Jacob's Well Lane. He served in the 1/4th KOYLI as Pte 3093 and was KIA on 17 December 1915 aged just 20. He is remembered in Bard Cottage Cemetery near Ypre along with over 1600 other casualties

There are two possibilities for the entry for H Jackson, the first is Herbert Jackson, born in South Ossett and enlisted in Wakefield. He joined the KOYLI as Pte 249599 or 240599 as found on the CWGC website. Herbert was KIA on 19 July 1917 and is remembered at Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery near Niewpoort in Belgium. Herbert rests with over 800 other casualties of which, over 300 are unidentified.
Or H Jackson could be Herbert Jackson the son of Thomas and Pamela Jackson of Hoyland. Herbert was born in 1882 and in 1901 was working as a teacher in an elimenrary school. The outbreak of war saw Herbert enlisting in Wakefield also, into the KOYLI as Pte 205369. He was KIA on 20 July 1918 and rests ar Courmas British Cemetery, 11km south west of Riems. Courmas is only a small cemetery with only 200 headstones of which 25% are unidentified

Note: Herbert son of Thomas and Pamela left a widow - Mary Ann of Hilside View, Outwood.

The only W Northrop that can be found is William Northrop who served in the Duke of Wellington's Regt., as Pte 12327. He was KIA on 26 August 1918 and is remembered in Boscon British Cemetery, approx. 6km south east of Asiago

Note : William originated from Bradford

John was born in Hinderclay, Bury St Edmunds in 1889, the son of Robert. In the 1901 census John was living with his widowed grandfather, Thomas at The Elms Farm, Hinderclay. By 1911 John wa aged 22 and living in Wakefield. He enlisted in the town, joining the KOYLI and becamePte 2348 later becoming L/Cpl 200429. He died of wounds on 22 April 1918 aged 29 and rests in Etaples Military Cemetery.

Note : John was awarded the M.M. but this award is ommitted from the Memorial in the Church