Tag Archives: memorials

Henry Umfreville Wilkinson

The memorial to Henry can be found inside the church at Milton on Sea, but who was Henry ?

Well, he was the son of Henry Marlow Wilkinson (b 4 Aug. 1827 Godshill, I.O.W d 9 Dec 1908, Milford-on-Sea ) and his wife Florence Amy Kemp-Welch (b 1852 in Brixton, Surrey, died on 5 Jun 1927 in Milford on Sea) who married in Christchurch in the winter of 1886.  Henry Marlow Wilkinson was a clergyman living with his wife, family and servants in Milford vicarage at the time of the 1901 census – Henry Umfreville was aged 10 and like his sister Marie he was not listed as a scholar. Henry Marlow was from a family of clergymen.

Ten years before in 1891, Henry Marlow Wilkinson was aged 63 while Florence his new wife was aged 38 and for children she had 3 under 5 – John, Cyril and Henry aged 10 months.

By the time of the 1911 census Florence was a widow and living at Milford Corner with her 4 children and 4 servants in a 17 roomed house.  Good news for family historians Florence added that she had had 7 children but had lost 3 by the time of the census.  Who were the other children ?  In 1911 John Rothes Marlow Wilkinson was 23 and a student ; Cyril Hacket Wilkinson was 22 and a student ; Henry Umfreville Wilkinson was 20 and a student  and finally, Marie Cecile Florence Wilkinson aged 17 and also a student.

2012 C Sklinar

From the memorial we know that Henry Umfreville was a student at Oxford and attained a B.A., he also was a member of the Civil Service and it was during this service in Mlanji, Nyasaland that he died on 17 March 1916 that he died aged 25. I’ve not found a lot about Henry but will his brother who was a soldier during the Great War be any different ?

John Rothes Marlow Wilkinson, as we know he was the elder brother of Henry U but he has more of a story to tell.

In the London Gazette John is mentioned as to be a Second Lieutenant in the Territorials dated 17 December 1909.   Another mention gives information regarding Second Lieutenant Wilkinson being transferred from the 7th Bttn Hampshire Regt., to the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regt.,) He was a University candidate on 24 March 1911but would not be getting pay of allowances prior to 7 February 1912.

2012 C Sklinar

Soldiers who Died in the Great War tells us information we have already gained from the London Gazette but that he was Killed in Action on 10th September 1914 near Mons.  But a look at De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour gives an insight as to who the young man was.  He was a handsome young man, with I suppose you could say he had film star looks – well you could if this was the 1940’s or 50’s.  He had good strong features and a neat moustache.  His education was at Winchester College and Worcester College (1907-1911) and was Captain of the colleges boat club.  We know he was killed near Mons, but what happened ?  A Private from C Coy., 4th Middlesex Regt., wrote “On Sunday 23 August, we were entrenched in front of a convent, when Capt., …..gave Lieut. Wilkinson an order to take half his platoon (two sections) to reinforce A Coy.  The Coy. was at the left of our positions and was hard pressed.  We took up position under heavy fire at a group of houses.  Your son went into one of the houses, and was heard directing the fire of his two sections through the skylight of the root.  He directed his fire so well that he forced the Germans to retire from his front.  it was from this house that he was overwhelming numbers of Germans coming through the wood to his front.  The Germans came on again until they were within 200 yards.  Lieut. Wilkinson came out of the house into the trench.  It was here that he got the order to retire.  He got the order twice, but would not take it, as he thought it was not an official order.  Eventually he got the order from the G.O.C. to retire.  It was then I noticed he was limping.  To retire we had to go through barbed wire ; here we got separated owing to the heavy shell and rifle fire.  I am very sorry to say that I was not the only man of those two sections to get away from that place.  No officers could give me any information of Lieut. Wilkinson.  I reported to the C.O. what had happened and told him that Lieut. Wilkinson was a very brave man.  He replied, ‘Yes, I know that, and I am very sorry to have lost him’ … I must say your son was a man in very sense of the word.  I think he was as brave a gentleman as one could meet here.  I told this to Capt.,……. I think I have an idea of a brave officer, as I went through the South African War and have eight clasps to my medal”  Such sad news for a family to hear but good to know that a Private thought enough of his Lieutenant to write to his family and inform them what really happened.  So many other families could only wonder or imagine the fate of their loved one.

He was 26 years old when he was KIA and rests in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Hainaut, nr Mons, Belgium.

Within a two year period Florence  had lost another two of her boys but she did live on for another few years.

Papers of the Wilkinson of Milford  family can be found in the Bodleian Library

James Marlow Wilkinson was one of over 2000 people who corresponded with Darwin

Roll of honour of sons and daughters who gave their lives in the Great War

WW1 casualty remembered in Golcar Parish Church

Over the past weeks, I’ve been doing a family tree for a friend and yesterday after threatening to go and visit the area and a local museum, off I went.  It was a nice day albeit a little nippy – my hands were feeling the chill while taking photographs in the churchyard…. but you carry on for the cause!

So, it’s 12:15 and the museum opens at 2pm and my plan was to photograph the family headstones in the churchyard and then cross the road to the museum that was once the home of the family I’m delving into – the Pearson family.  I’m not going to go into the family here as I still have to add some photographs etc., but that churchyard is a family tree in itself as many of the names on the headstones tie in with the Pearson tree.

I digress, as I said the Pearson people are not the aim of this blog, the true star of these lines is a young man named John T Gledhill.

Gledhill headstone. Carol Sklinar 2012

Who was John Taylor Gledhill, well he was born the son of Joe and Clara Gledhill, and lived in 1901 at The Green, Golcar.  Joe was aged 43 in the census and worked as a woollen percher.  Clara nee Taylor was aged 43 and the mother of  3 children aged between 9 and 16 (Jane, James and John).   For those of you wishing to find the family in 1901 they have been transcribed as GLADHILL.

By the time of the 1911 census the family were living at 38 Knowl Bank, Golcar in a 5 roomed house.  The 3 children were still living at home and all working within the woollen industry, weaver, spinners and twisters.  The census tells that Clara had had in total 4 children but only three had survived to the census and the couple had been married 26 years (Sept Qtr 1885 in the Huddersfield Registration District).

John Taylor Gledhill joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in Huddersfield and became Pte., 290/706.  He was later transferred to the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regt.,) 16th Battalion and changed his service number to 40858.  Soldiers at this time changed their service number when they changed Battalion or Regiment and Officers during this time had no service number.  During WW2 service men and women kept their number for the duration of service and now officers had service numbers.

The service records for John don’t seem to have survived but from Soldiers who Died in the Great War I have been able to glean that he Died on 24 July 1917 .  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirms his service number for the West Yorkshire Rgt. It also confirms his date of death but also tells us where he now rests – Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery and the position within the cemetery, IV D 27 – relating to section, row and number within that row.  Each cemetery has a box within or near the entrance where you can find a plan to help pinpointing the grave.

Another source, The Medal Rolls Index told that John was eligible for the Victory and British Medals which would have been given to his next of kin.

John is recorded on the War Memorial inside the church and also on the St John’s School  Memorial, also in the church.

St John's School Memorial. Carol Sklinar 2012

What did John look like ? How tall was he ? Did he have any scars or tattoos ? With the lack of his service record I may never know. Has John ever had a visitor to his resting place in France and how many people have strayed from the path and wondered among the many headstones and learnt of Johns fate – in modern times probably not many. But today John will have his name written once more and many will now know of this young man from Golcar.

Lest we Forget

Dunbarton War Memorial WWI & WWII

When we visited Dunbarton  a quick drive round the area only found the Dunbarton Memorial to those who died in the South African Campaign.  Well, it was an easy find as it was just outside the Town Hall, but I did have to get out of the car and do an ‘Anneka Rice’ impression before I found out it was not exactly what I was looking for, but a bonus.

After going inside the Town Hall and enquiring I eventually had directions to the memorial, but I must add the directions were not all that good!.  In the end I saidto my long suffering husband ‘just park the car and I’ll find it’ .

You would be surprised how many people use a park every day, walk past a large lump of stone with wrought iron fencing and don’t even know what it is – well, after having my website for over 12 years and doing the memorial transcriptions for about 8 or 9, I am not surprised, I am ashamed.

Dunbarton War Memorial by Carol Sklinar 2010

So starting with the South African Campaign Memorial, who is there ?

Peter Robert Denny, Capt., 1st Kings Dragoon Guards was killed on 24 April 1900.  Also mentioned is J M’Ghee, Pte 2101 in the Scottish Rifles.  He died at Spion Kop on 24 January 1900.   Just to name a few.

Now to the WW1 & 2 memorial.  This wonderful piece of stone stands in Lenongrove Park – close by the path that runs along the Clyde.  Although, this memorial and the South African Campaign memorial are not on my website yet, I thought I would give you a little of glimpse of what it to come……….soon!

For starters, I thought I would let you know about Pte Robert Mustarde – he served as Pte 202169.  Robert was born in Kirkintilloch and enlisted in Stirling, joining the HLI.  He is recorded as dying on 14 April 1917 at sea and is remembered on the Mikra Memorial, Greece.  Robert is more than likely 1 of over 5oo nurses, officers and men who were lost on transports and hospital ships in the Mediteranian.  Many were washed ashore, identified and buried in Thessalonika, others like Richard were not so lucky and a name on a memorial is there only memorial.

William Yuille, son of John and Catherine of 1 Beechwood Terrace, Dunbarton is also on the memorial.  He served s 43314 in the Royal Engineers.  He was born in Dunbarton, also enlisting in the town.  He was KIA on 7 December 1916 and rests in Bancourt British Cemetery near Bapaume.

Basil Withy, the son of Henry and Mary Forrest Withy of Brantford House, West Hartlepool. Henry was in the 1901 census listed as being a shipbuilder, by 1911 he is a widower and retired.  But on those census I can find no mention of Basil who was born in 1886 in Hartlepool – where was he?   Basil  served as a Lieutenant in The King’s ( Liverpool Regiment).  He Died of Wounds on 2 July 1916 and  rests in La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie.  Henry, his father was granted Probate at Durham on 6 September with Basil’s effects adding up to £5049 15s 1d.     Note – there is an Ernest, son of Henry and Mary who is of a similar age, could this be Basil who is known to the family by a differant name……….does anyone know any different?

Just a few names and information to be going on with along with an image of the memorial and I could not let this posting go without leaving you with this view from just along the  path.

William Harold Ryder

While writing a previous blog I remembered my visit to Bardsey Church a few years ago and while clicking through the pictures I took on that morning I found one, a photo of a memorial plaque.

What do we know about this young man from the plaque on the wall of the church?
He was called William Harold Ryder, the third son of Charles Foster and Anna Ryder. Now another question arises, who are they as there is also a memorial to them.

But back to William, he served during WW1 as a Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps and fell whilst serving in France on July 6th, 1917 aged 20 and rests in Warloy Baillon.

William’s memorial plaque C Sklinar 2007

The information on the memorial inside the church gives a good start to finding out more about William.

William, as we know, was the son of Charles Foster Ryder and his wife Anna. Anna died in 1907 and a memorial in the church informs all that Charles Foster had the church floor relaid to its original level in 1914 in memory of his wife.

Charles F Ryder married Anna Potter on 7th February 1888 at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate. Charles was aged 32, a bachelor of Chapel Allerton and the son of Charles Ryder a brewer. While his new wife was aged 25, a spinster with no occupation living at 48 Cleveland Square, the son of William Potter (decd.), a merchant. Witness to this joyful event were Anna(?) L Ross and W Henderson.

Cleveland Sq. (source unknown)

Anna, in the census of 1881 was living with her father, William and mother Agnes (both from Manchester) at 48 Cleveland Square, where William gave his occupation as that of East India Merchant. In the household were the parents, Anna and her brother and 7 servants.

In the census of 1901 Charles F, a brewer is living on Leeds Road, Scarcroft with his children – Daniel G aged 8, Agnes L aged 6 and Wm H aged 4, Rosamund aged 2 and Marion E Harrison a visitor – Anna is not with her husband in the census. But a search for Anna born in 1863 in Little Missenden, find an Anna Ryder living as married Head of The Hall, Little Thurlow, Suffolk. With Anna is Georgina M Bryant a 25 year old trained hospital nurse and other staff – could Anna have been sickly and lived in the country for her health?

By 1911 Charles is a Brewery Director, more than likely Tetley’s Brewery, and living at The Grange, Scarcroft. On the census for The Grange is Charles F, Agnes Louisa, Rosamund Daphne and 7 servants. The Grange was a 20 roomed property with 10 persons living within its walls. William now aged 14 was a boarder at Uppingham, one of Englands Public Schools. The school seeing many people pass through its doors who have now become well known including:- 5 Victoria Cross recipients; Richard Thorp, actor ; John Suchet, journalist and broadcaster ; Phil Spencer, property expert ; C R W Nevison, Official War Artist in both World Wars ; Sir Donald Campbell ; Sir Malcolm Campbell and William Henry Pratt aka Boris Karloff to name just a few.
William served in the RFC and his medal card states that he had served in the Yorks Hussars as a Lieutenant but there is no mention of any medals awarded in his name, but his date of death is recorded in the remarks section.

William died on 6 July 1917 and Probate was granted in London on June 8th, 1918, to Charles Foster Ryder, gentleman.

Men from Wakefield in Lijssenthoek CWGC

Resting in Lijssenthoek CWGC Military Cemetery are over 35 young men from the Wakefield area.  I know there names and in which section they rest but only two I know very well – one being my great uncle Herbert Siddle.  Herbert was 1 of 13 children born to Charles Siddle and his wife Emma Mills – Emma lost 3 of her children within months of their births.

The siddle family lived in the Kirkgate area of Wakefield, with cousins living just up the hill on Warrengate, Stanley Road and in the East Moor area.

Herbert was born in  Wakefield in the year 1892 and by 1911 he was a driller at the local boiler works, living with his parents, 4 siblings, a nephew and a niece, an uncle and a boarder on Hardy Croft, Wakefield – 11 people in a 5 roomed house.  I was brought up in that house and I can’t imagine how it would have been living in a house with a dining kitchen, front room, 2 double bedrooms and an attic.  It would have been so different from when I lived there with my parents.

Herbert enlisted in Wakefield, joining the KOYLI and becoming Pte 242874.  He had been wounded in the Somme and sent home to recuperate before being sent back to France and Belgium.  In April of 1918 he was in a trench and was shot in the neck.  Very quickly he was taken to a Dressing Station at Kemmel before becoming one of the many who are KIA.

Kemmel Wood bunker copyright C Sklinar 2008

Mrs Siddle had 2 other sons serving in WW1, Claude served as 241166in the RFA; Edwin served as 268976 and had been in in the WRVAD Hospital – he had been awarded, along with his other service medals, the Silver War Badge which he would have worn on his lapel to show he had been injured out of service.

Coming forward many decades to the 1980’s my father and I often met and chatted with an old gentleman whom we met while shopping.  After not seeing him for many months I mentioned to dad that we’d not seen him in a while, to which I was informed that he had died.  The conversation went on about the gentleman only for it to be brought up that this man was next to or very near great uncle Herbert when he had been shot !!!  By the 80’s I’d already started the family tree and there are no words to describe how I felt at this moment – should I scream ‘Why did you not tell me?’, utter a few choice words or just throttle my dad.  The reply I got from a bemused father was ‘Well, didn’t think you’d be interested’, like hell!!

I could have throttled my dad but could give my great grandma a very big hug for she kept all the paperwork from the army, including an eye witness report from Sgt Greasby and the Red Cross along with a newspaper from the time with Herbert on the front page. The local paper tried to put a picture of the young men on the front page  when Wakefield lost a son, brother or father.

I have this about my Wakefield soldier but do you have a soldier from Wakefield or know anything about your Wakefield soldier who was KIA or DoW during WW1?  Please let me know.

Please contact me with information.

Queen Victoria’s youngest grandson

While reading my newest purchase – yes it has either family history or military connections I came across an entry for the following and found it quite interesting as years ago I transcribed Eton College War Memorials for no other reason than something to research and with a couple of family members who were KIA – I was hooked and as my family and friends know I can now spot a war memorial at a great distance !

So, who caught my interest this time?

Prince Maurice Victor Donald of Battenberg, was the son of Princess Beatrice and cousin to the Tsar and Kaiser.

Maurice was born in October of 1891 at Balmoral and was the first prince to be born in Scotland for nearly 300 years.

He served as a professional soldier in the KRRC – into which he was commissioned in 1910 and moved with his battalion France in August of 1914.  A few short months later there were only 10 of the original officers left.  On the 13th of October Prince Maurice was Mentioned in Despatches.  The battalion moved to near Zonnebeke and on the 27th of October, while leading his men forward he was killed by a shell burst.  During this time, his cousin, Prince Arthur of Connaught, was an ADC to Sir John French and he made every effort to attend his cousin at the dressing station – but was too late.   Kitchener suggested that he be brought ‘home’ but his family, mainly his mother, decided he should rest with his friends and his men and to this end Prince Arthur made the arrangements.

The family had a memorial service in the Chapel Royal attended by King Geore V and Queen Mary along with other members of the family, the Prime Minister and Lord Kitchener.  The Prince of Wales is reported to have said that he had found the names of many of his friends and fellow officers on casualty lists, including his cousin Prince Maurice, his equerry, Major Cadogan and two of his father’s equerries.  He is also reported to have said that he should not have a friend left soon.

The Prince’s elder brothers also fought in the war – Prince Alexander was invalided home with an injured knee and Prince Leopold, a platoon leader in the Grenadier Guards was hospitalised with a chill and he was sent home – according to some, this was not a bad thing.

Prince Maurice Victor Donald of Battenberg rests along with many others in Ypres Town CWGC Cemetery & Extension

To visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website click here

To visit Major and Mrs Holt’s Battlefield click here

To purchase any of Major and Mrs Holt’s Battlefield Guides visit Pen & Sword  click here

Unknown Soldier

Just over  a month ago I was given a framed picture, I say picture, as it is not truly a memorial.  Anyway, this picture was for a soldier who served in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during WW1.

KOYLI Badge

It would have been quite colourful, with its curled horn with a central white rose surrounded by a horse shoe shaped wreath containing the Battle Honours of the Regiment.

The framed picture must have been on a family wall for many years as the soldiers number, rank and name are very faint and I do mean faint.

Armed with a good source of light, magnifying glass, large cup of tea and a couple of tried and trusted websites I set off on my quest.

The first two numbers and the last few numbers were easy to read, it was the ones in the middle that were the problem.  His regiment was clear, he was  a Private.  His initial was clear, an old fashioned L, you know the one, similar to a £ sign.  His name, well, I decided on M for the first letter, with a L in the middle.  Variations of the names first few letters went on for a while, varying from Mc, Ma, Me and Mo.

As you can guess one of my favourite websites was getting well and truly used and I was certainly making my subscription work.  The eyes of a neighbour and fellow family historian were also called upon and she achieved the same as me.

One thing that we both felt certain about was that he did not die as the CWGC and SWDTGW have no match for any permutation of his army number.

The frame was put on my desk and left in view, but it was certainly not forgotten.  Where else could I look? What else could I do? He was an army man.  He may not have volunteered but he was called to Serve King and Country in some way but where? Who would know the regiment better than the Regimental Museum?  The KOYLI museum is housed within Doncaster Museum, being moved from The Barracks at Pontefract.  I ‘phoned, spoke to a nice man who told me he would get someone to call me back as the person who I needed to speak to was on his holidays.  I didn’t have to wait long and Steve rang – I gave him the numbers, rank and what I thought was his name.  He’d ring me back.

Guess what ?  He rang and came up with the same as me – no trace of our man.  He did however, suggest that I go over and take the picture to the Museum, so that he could possibly, shed light on the matter.  Believe you me, it needs a lot of light !

Today was the day I ventured to South Yorkshire, that OK as it was once part of the West Riding before all that reorganisation stuff in the 1970’s.  The Museum is a nice place with nice helpful staff,  but parking is ‘iffy’ as you need a voucher from reception to say you are in the library and you need to sign in but that’s not a problem, but the car park is smallish.

Anyway, Steve looked at the picture and went on the web.  He put various variations of the army number into websites and the numbers came up but with nothing matching the Regiment of anything that even on a good day you could say was his name.

Steve, who works for the library, changes his ‘hat’ and does work for the KOYLI Museum one day a week  and he told me that he thought ‘our man’ did serve, we know that, but that he could have served and done his duty only in the UK and therefore would not get a medal.

What have we come up with in the past weeks :-

We know who gave/lent me the picture BUT NOT from where it came

We know ‘our man’ served in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

We know his rank.

We know his initial

We know that WW1 service records were damaged by the enemy in WW2 and are called ‘The Burnt Records’ for that very reason.  Some were partially  burnt,  some have water damage and others were totally destroyd.

We know that he survived the war.

We seem to know quite a lot don’t we?  But the important segments still remain a mystery.

What is his true army number?

What is his name? The surname that seems to start with an ‘M’.

Who does he belong to?

I think that this picture will be picked up and put down on my more occasions before I get totally exhausted from searching.

My thanks to Steve for his time and help and the fact that he like me, will keep looking.

King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum Collection click here

National Archives – Looking for a person incl. Military, Police, Clergy, Migrants, Wills & much, much more click here


The War Memorial on the Green at Reeth

In May of 2008 we spent a day in North Yorkshire – I think I’d said something like, ‘do you fancy a day out on Sunday?’.  ‘Where?’ Would have been the answer and my reply would have been that I didn’t mind.  Ben, by now would have known the places I’d been and would certainly have known there would have been a war memorial or 10 involved, with the odd churchyard thrown in for very good measure.  It was a nice day but I seem to remember a little windy in Reeth.

The War Memorial, The Green, Reeth, © C Sklinar 2008

The Green in Reeth is a very large open piece of ground in the centre of the village surrounded by houses and a few shops.  The War Memorial sits proud, high on The Green, protected by small posts and a rail.  Although the structure is large, it is simple in design and bears the names of 28 men from the Grinton, Reeth and Marrick areas.

The memorial seemed very much similar to others I’ve transcribed over the years – young men who were sons, brothers and husbands but each with a simple story to tell, until…….. It came to sort out the WW2 section.  The first name of the memorial is that of Major A K Charlesworth.  I found him on the CWGC and that gave me his full name, I then went onto look at the Army Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 and confirmed information.

But when I googled him – he had a rank and a medal, so I thought there could be a little bit more about him on the great www. Yes, there was ! A connection to Wakefield. Albany Kennett had lived at Grinton Lodge and this had been purchased with its kennels and outbuildings by Col. Albany Hawke Charlesworth, born in Stanley, Wakefield,  who had been MP for Wakefield in the mid 1890’s, having purchased the hall in the 1880’s and becoming Lord of the Manor having purchased the rights from the Crown, using Grinton Lodge for shooting.

The census of 1891 has Albany Hawke with his family living at Chapelthorpe Hall, Wakefield.  He states he is  a ‘West Riding of York Colliery Proprietor’, born Chapelthorpe, West Riding of York – the transcription of that census is not correct. The family consists of Albany H aged 37, his wife Eleanor aged 24 and daughter Eleanor aged 21 months snf 15 servants including :- Housekeeper; Ladies maid; Housemaid; Laundress; Dairymaid; Grooms; Footmen, to name a few.

The census of 1901 has the family living in Portman Square, London with Albany Hawke living ‘on his own means’ with his family and 14 servants, including :- Governess x 2 ;  Housekeeper; Hospital Nurse; House and Kitchen Maids and Footman to name a few.  The nurse would have been for Albany Hawke as he had been injured in a hunting accident.  He had Grinton Lodge adapted to take his wheelchair.

Ten years late in 1911, we have Albany Hawke with his wife and two daughter living at Brockhurst, W Didsbury and a  mis-transcribed entry for places of birth.  A H is a Colliery Owner / Director and his wife is listed under occupation as Christian Science Practitioner, with two other people in the household giving their occupation as Christian Science Teacher or Practioner, aswell, as the usual amount of servants.

Albany Kennett, seems to be missing from the 1911 census or has been mis-transcribed and needs a little more time to find him.

Also mentioned on the WW1 section is Stanley H Moore.  Stanley Harding Moore had been born in 1898 in Reeth and in 1911 his father was  recorded as being Head Teacher of the Friends School, Reeth.

Tom Was, was the son of John Thomas Ward and Louise Alice.  Tom was 1 of 7 children and in 1911 was a Student Teacher – could he have been working under Mr Moore at the Friends School?  Tom’s father John Thomas Ward was noted as being the Registrar for BMD’s and a Mine Manager.

If you can help with further information or a photograph, please let me know.

To see Reeth War Memorial click here

Local History Lunch Time Talks

Leeds City Council, as I have mentioned before, are hosting a series of lunch time talks and the next in the series is :-

Adel Grange, home of Isabella Ford. Image from Leodis.net

Janet Douglas giving a talk entitled

‘Isabella Ford: Trade Unionist, Suffragist and Socialist’ on
Friday 3rd June, 1.00 – 2.00pm
in the Central Library, third floor meeting room.

All are welcome, no booking required.  **

For more information contact 0113 247 8290 or
localstudies@leedslearning.net

** space limited to 50

Glen Lyon War Memorial

A short while ago a friend sent me his pictures of Glen Lyon War Memorial.  He like many others, know I collect and transcribe them, and he kindly sent me a couple of pics taken on his adventures.

image by J Hall 2011

I can’t say what a beautiful place it is, as I don’t know, but from the picture it certainly looks a pleasant place and with the sun shining and a blue sky, even a cold day would be a pleasant day in Glen Lyon.  The glen is approx. 20 miles in length and stretches from Fortingall to Cashlie and from all accounts well worth a visit.

Who is mentioned on this very special memorial, special, you will see why shortly.  Firstly, and only because his name appears first on the memorial (all names are in rank order)  is Lieutenant Colonel John Robert Beech CMG, DSO who died in Lincolnshire while in command of his troops. Next on the list is Clyde, actually, Robert Clyde Beech, the 20 year old son of John Robert. Next comes Alan Tompson, a relative by marriage of John Robert’s wife, who was the widow of John Bullough or Meggernie Castle. Also on the memorial is Francis Cowie who was before the war was an asistant factor at the castle.  So all in all, the family from ‘the big house’ didn’t fair well from the war.

The last name I am mentioning in this ‘snippet’ is that of John Alexander McCallum of Camusvrachan, KIA in October of 1918 aged 23.  It was his father Alexander, who designed and built the Glen Lyon War Memorial.  What greater gift could a father give to his son, a splendid memorial built at the side of the road that all who pass by will see and hopefully more will now know of the great love and sadness with which it was built.

Where can you read about Alexander and his son and others from the area Click Here