Woolley War Memorial

Wakefield Family History Sharing

Woolley War Memorial incl. Woolley Colliery and Brick Row

1914 - 1919
Name	Additional Information
R J Banks	In 1901 Reginald was 11 years old and living with his parents and siblings at Woolley Post Office. Reginalds father worked on the local estate and his sister was a telegraphist. Reginald Joe Banks served in the KOYLI during the conflict. He was born in Woolley and enlisted in nearby Barnsley. Reginald served as L/Cpl 18829. He was KIA on 1 July 1916 and is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial.
J Empsall	John Empsall in 1901 was just 5 years old and living with his parents John Wm. and Eliza. His father was a colliery banks man aged 34. John enlisted in Wetherby although he was born in Woolley. He served in the Royal Field Artillery, Gunner, L/23451. He was KIA on 17 November 1916 and is remembered at Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps near Albert. On the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website the details are T. Empsall
R Harman	Reginald Edward Harman was the son of John Henry from Gloucestershire and Elizabeth Harmanof High Hoyland. In 1901, Reginald, born in West Bretton, was living with his parents and sister at Haigh Station, he was 18 years old and a designers apprentice. During the Great War Reginald enlisted in nearby Barnsley into the York and Lancs Regt. no 14/758 and gained the rank of A/Sgt. Reginald died of wounds on 7 May 1917 aged 34 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery near Boulogne.
J M Nussey	Joe Middlebrooke Nussey was born in 1896. In the 1901 census he was living with his parents, Joseph, a stonemason, and Harriet, along with his 6 siblings aged between 27 and 5. Joe enlisted into the Duke of Wellington's Regt. in Wakefield as no 35365. He was KIA on 20 October 1918 aged 22. He is remembered at St Aubert British Cemetery near Cambrai.
G Robinson	No further information
C W Stennett	Charles William was the son of John William and Frances Stennett. In 1901 the family were living at Fox Lane, Dirtcar (now Durkar) and John was a yardman at the Calder Soap Works. He had been born in Langwick (?), Lincolnshire and Frances born at Newland. Charles was born in Walton and when it came time for him to 'sign up' he joined the KOYLI in Wakefield as Pte 200259. He was KIA on 23 March 1918 aged 22 and is remembered at the Tyne Cott Memorial.
H Sutton	Herbert Sutton, was born in Woolley in 1897. In the census of 1901 he can be found at Woolley Edge with his father George Chalkley Sutton aged 40, a coalminer, his mother Eliza and his 4 siblings. Herbert enlisted in Colsterdale, the place where the Leeds Pals did their training. He joined the West Yorkshire Regt becoming L/Cpl 15/1499. He was KIA on 27 March 1918 and is remembered on the Arras Memorial

1939 - 1945
A Brown	No further information
N Coatesworth	Norman Coatesworth was a Sergeant in the RAFVR ( Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), no 953084. He was the son of Benjamin and Nora of Staincross, nr Barnsley. Norman died on 27 December 1941 aged 25. He is remembered along with over 20,000 other airmen who lost their lives during WWII and have no known grave.

1914 - 1918
Woolley Colliery and Brick Row
W Chalkley D.C.M.	In 1901 Wilfred Chalkley was 19 years old. He was living with his parents John and Mary, and his 2 siblings at New Brick Row, Woolley. Wilfred, along with his father he was also a miner. For that matter every man who lived in the row and was old enough to work also worked down the pit. Wilfred enlisted in Sheffield originally joining the RAMC no 41916. He was later in the Cheshire Regt., no 76036. Wilfred was awarded the D.C.M. but was KIA on 25 October 1918 and is remembered at La Laiterie Military Cemetery, 7km south of Ypres, Belgium.
B Croft	Bertram in the 1901 census was living with his parents Hazar and Ursula and siblings at 12 Belper Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The census states that Bertram was born in Ilkeston, while information on Soldiers who died in the Great War says that he was born in Barnsley, where he enlisted. But in 1918 his parents were living at 22 Woolley Colliery, Darton, Barnsley. Bertram enlisted in Barnsley joining the Yorks and Lancs Regt no 24082, later moving to the Dorsetshire Regt no 23632. Bertram was KIA on 8 June 1918 aged 22 and is remembered at the Pozieres Memorial.
J Joyner	John Ernest Percival Joyner lived in 1901 with his parents, Septimus and Polly and his brothers and sisters at Top Row, Woolley Colliery. Septimus, along with all the other able bodied men in the Row worked at Woolley pit. John was 20 years old when war broke out and he eventually enlisted in Barnsley, joining the York and Lancs Regt, as Pte 13/525. He was KIA on 24 March 1918 aged 24. He is remembered along with along with over 35,000 other Commonwealth servicemen whose final resting place is known only unto them.
F W Loft	Frederick William Loft, his parents Frederick William and Sarah and siblings lived next door to the Joyner family at Top Row, Woolley Colliery. Frederick when he enlisted was living in Standlake, Oxfordshire and it was the County Town that he joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I. as Cpl. 200832. His parents must have still lived in Woolley as when Frederick died of wounds on 6 April 1917 aged 30, it was in Woolley Churchyard that he was buried in along with 3 other servicemen.
A Mitchell	Aquilla Mitchell was the son of Thomas and Sarah Booth Mitchell, they lived atTop Row, Woolley Colliery with Aquillas a servant and 2 boarders. Aquilla joined the Kings Own Scottish Borderers in Barnsley as Pte. 18295. He died of wounds on 5 June 1916 age 26 and is buried at Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension near Arras along with 560 identified casualties.
W Mitchell	Wilson Mitchell was the son of Edward and Agnes Mitchell of Low Row, Woolley Colliery. Edward being Colliery Deputy and his brother Joseph a pony driver. Wilson enlisted in Barnsley, joining the York and Lancaster Regt., no 14/1131. He was KIA on 1 July 1916 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and he is remembered at Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, near Albert along with over 1,000 other identified casualties.
W Wiles	Walter was the son of Moses and Jane Wiles of Old Brick Row. Walter was born in Chapelthorpe and enlisted in Barnsley into the York and Lancaster Regt., no 25664. He was later in the Northumberland Fusiliers no 39018. Walter died on 5 June 1917 when he was 30 years old.

1939 - 1945
H Bellin	Harold was a Leading Aircraftsman in the RAFVR, no 1065217. He was the son of William Abraham and Florence, who lived in Woolley and the husband of Dorothy who lived in Mapplewell. He died on 8 December 1942 aged 28 and is buried at All Saints Churchyard, Darton.
F W Lightowler	Frederick William was the son of Percy and Doris of Darton. He served in the RAFVR and became a Sergeant, flight engineer in the 102 sqdn, service no 2202534. He died on 2 November 1944 aged 21 and is remembered at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany along with over 3000 other casualties.
J Margison	Joseph was the son of John and Emma of Darton and husband of Minerva. He served in the RA during WWII, service no 1681885. He died on 21 December 1941 and is buried at All Saints Churchyard, Darton along with 23 other casualties of war.
H Osborne	During WWII, Hugh, who was the son of Arthur and Lilian of Darton, joined the KOYLI, no 4698208. He died on 9 December 1944 aged 23 and is remembered at Faenza War Cemetery, Italy, along with over 1,00 Commonwealth war dead.
S Ward	No further information
G Margison	George, son of John and Emma of Darton, served in the Pioneer Corps, no 13027838. He died on 13 February 1941 aged 41 and is buried at All Saints Churchyard, Darton.

The men that worked for England they have their graves at home and bees and birds of England above the cross can roam.

But they that fought for England, following a falling star. Alas, alas, for England they have their graves afar

extract from a poem by G K Chesterton

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