St Matthew's soldiers who died during World War I
In Memory of the Fallen Sons of St Matthew’s Church, Rastrick
Details of the St Matthew's soldiers who died during the Great War 1914-18, and whose names are recorded on the War Memorial or whose remains are buried in the Churchyard
Pte. Harry Ambler 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, Died of Wounds 25 March 1916 401/409/410
Middleton, Manchester or Bury (SD38); formerly of Rastrick. Rastrick Church
Sunday School. Rastrick Conservative Club. Enlisted Aug 1915 No 17354. Wounded in chest and right arm by grenade on 22 March 1916. Died in casualty clearing Station. Buried Lille Cemetery. Aged 40. (BEcho 7April 1916{p} SD38) 18
Pte. John Aspinall Army Service Corps Died 9July 1916 401/409
Lived at 141 Thornhill Rd, Rastrick. Married to Ada. Rastrick Cricket Club. No SS/20986. 28 Lines of Communication Company. Died of dysentery at Salonika. Buried Anglo-French Military Cemetery Aged 42. (BEcho 4Aug 1916 SD78 War Graves British Empire Greece 7)
Pte. Dixon Berry of the West Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action on the 2nd November 1916 at the age of 40 years. He was the son of John Henry and Emma Berry of Cliffe Buildings, Rastrick. Dixon worked as a tailor for the Brighouse Co-operative Society and was a Yorkshire Champion crown-green bowler. Dixon enlisted in the Spring of 1916 with the Yorkshire Regiment No. 29082, West Yorkshire No. 43566. He was buried in a dug-out by a shell while he slept on the 2nd November 1916. A memorial service was held for him in Rastrick Church on the 3rd December 1916
Pte John Royston Booth No. 202976 of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) killed by shellfire on the 6th March 1916, aged 17 years. Third son of Frederick William and Isabella Booth of 15 Brook Grain Hill, Rastrick. Born in Huddersfield 1899. Sometimes known as John Rawlston Booth. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial (Dud Corner Cemetery).
Pte Norman Booth 10th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. Reported missing Wednesday 15th November 1916 401/409/410
Son of Robert and Mary Anne Booth of Dewsbury Road, Rastrick, lived at 112 Rastrick Common. Married to Eliza Jane (later Mrs Mcllwaine) on 25th May 1901; they had four children. Worked with Brighouse Co-op Coal Dept. Active in Carters’ TU. Enlisted September 1914 in King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry No 18431. York and Lancaster No 19730. Wounded, treated at Field Dressing Station. Disappeared with ambulance carrying him to rear.
Commemorated Thiepval Memorial Grave Ref. / Panel Number : Pier and Face 14A and 14B . will be found on the D73, off the main Bapaume to Albert Road (D929) , Aged 34. (BEcho 4Jan1918{p} SD61 WMBE Reg 21 p5).
Brother Tom (below) Reported Missing under similar circumstances
Lance Corporal Tom Booth No. 5863 of the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment was born and educated in Rastrick. He was married to Anni Booth and employed as a warehouseman. Tom was captain of the Rastrick AFC. Anni and Tom lived at 10 Folly Road, Cowcliffe. Tom enlisted on 5 May 1914, but was sadly killed in action near Ypres on the 8th November 1914 aged 36 years. He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing.
Pte. Frank Bottomley 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment Died of wounds 22 August 1917 401/409/410
Lived at 08 Thornhill Rd, Rastrick. Married to Martha Eleanor née Sutcliffe at St Matthew’s Church Rastrick on 31st May 1911, later of 21 Tofts
Grove. Mason with Lister, Brook & Co, Brighouse. Enlisted York and Lancaster Regiment No 41925.
Middlesex Regiment No 52447. Died of gunshot wound in abdomen at Australian Casualty Clearing Station in France. Buried Lyssenthoek British Military Cemetery. Aged 32. (BEcho 14Sep1917{p} SD56 WGBE
Belgium 11)
Pte. Cecil Brewer 24th Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Killed in Action 14th October 1916 401/409/410
Son of Denis & Lizzie, of 7 Delf PIace, Rastrick. Unmarried. Rag grinder for
Helm & Sons, Spout Mills, Rastrick. Enlisted in Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment April 1916 No 19918.
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers No 41516 (Tyneside Irish). In France 3 days before death by gunshot. Buried Cite Bonjean British Military Cemetery, Armentieres. Aged 19. (BEcho 20 Oct 1916{p> SD10 WGBE France 922)
Pte. Allen Briggs 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards, 19th Foot) Killed in Action 31March 1917 401/409/410
202 Thornhill Rd, Rastrick. He was connected with Rastrick Church, Sunday School & Institute. Worked for T Collinson & Sons, Brighouse. Enlisted June 1916. Commemorated on Arras Memorial. Aged 19. (BEcho 20Apr1917{p> WMBE Reg 20 p3)
Pte. WALTER Henry Churchman 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, Killed in action 15th April 1918 401/409/410
124 Highbury, Rastrick; native of Southowram. Married Mary Anne Stott at St Matthew’s Church Rastrick on 25th January 1904, with whom he subsequently had 4 daughters.
Worked for T Helm & Sons, Spout Mills, Rastrick. No 300178. At first Reported Missing. Aged 35. (BEcho 17May1918{p> SD38)
Pte Ernest Clay Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow) Died of wounds 13 April 1918 401/409/410 Lived at 4 Common, Rastrick. Worked in father's business; Clay & Sykes, painters & decorators. Rastrick Constitutional Club; notable billiard player. Enlisted April 1916. Once wounded. Died of wound to abdomen in New Zealand Hospital in France.
Death notice came in same post as brother James Arthur (below). Aged 22
(BEcho 26Apr1918{p>)
Pte James Arthur Clay 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment Killed in Action 22 March 1918 401/409/410
Lived at 4 The Common, Rastrick. Motorman for Goodwins, Bradford. Enlisted Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment October 1917 No. 32980. Transferred to Worcestershire Regiment on Western Front No 42245. Commemorated on Arras Memorial. Aged 19. (BEcho 26April 1918{p> SD34 WMBE Reg 20 p5) Brother Ernest (above).
Capt. Lionel Pilleau Clay Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons, Killed in Action 18 February 1918 211/401/409/410
Married with 3 children. Parents at Rastrick House. Educated Harrow, head of
school, Borfield Scholar to Balliol College, Oxford. Graduated B.A. Member of Inner Temple. Barrister on Northern Circuit. 1906 joined Dragoons. Served at HQ on court-martial service. Killed by bomb while sleeping. Aged 38 (OD) Cousin of HC Pileau
Pte. Kaye Farrar 2/7 Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment Died 17July 1915 409/401
Lived in Rastrick. Worked as a Dyer’s Labourer at Brookfoot Dyeworks. Service No. 4380. Died in training at Henham Park, Suffolk. Buried Rastrick Churchyard 21July 1915. Aged 33. WGBE Yorks 585) [Name not included on the St Matthew’s Memorial]
Lance Corporal Arthur Garlick was baptised at St Matthew’s on the 20th June 1897. He served as a Lance Cpl. in the West Riding Regiment. The son of Mr & Mrs W. Garlick of 425 Lytham Road Blackpool, he lived at 15 Castle Terrace, Rastrick. He was educated at Rastrick Grammar School from 1909 to 1911, and later worked as a clerk in the offices of the Brighouse Co-operative Society. Arthur enlisted in February 1915 as No. 201505. He suffered from multiple wounds on 19 November 1917 on the Anzac Ridge near Ypres, and sadly died 36 hours later after an operation. He was buried at Lyssenthoek Military Cemetery aged 20 years. His family gave its name to Garlick Street in Rastrick.
Pte Frederick Haley 9th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment Killed in Action 10th April 1917 401/409/410
Lived at 12 Field Lane, Rastrick. Married. Formerly quarryman for Bentley & Kaye. Working at Barnburgh Colliery when he enlisted at Mexborough April 1916 No 25074.
Killed in France. Aged 27. (BEcho 27Apr1917 SD61)
Pte. Charles L. Hinchliffe 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Died of wounds 20th July 1917 401/409/410
Son of Henry & Clara Annie, 60 Tofts Grove, Rastrick. Fastbowler, rep Yorks
Council, Rastrick Cricket Club. Member Rastrick Conservative Club. Worked for J T Clay & Sons Ltd, Crowtrees Mill. Enlisted Cameron Highlanders (Queen's Own) December 1915. To France with Gordon Highlanders No 266676 July 1916. Wounded Beaumont Hamel November 1916. Returned to Unit, April 1917 Reported Missing. Died as Prisoner-of-war. Buried Niederzwehren Cemetery, Cassel. Aged 29. (BEcho 10Aug1917{p} says 30Jul1917 SD65 WGBE Germany 3)
Gnr John Gordon Hollingsworth Royal Garrison Artillery WWI 401/409/410 No details available at present.
Pte Leonard Kershaw served with the Northumberland Fusiliers Killed in Action 23rd November 1916 401/409/410
He lived at 124 Crowtrees Lane, Rastrick and played for the Rastrick Association Football Club and Cricket Club. Leonard was employed as a spinner by T Helm & Sons of Spout Mills, Rastrick. Service number 40471, he was killed at the Battle of Warlencourt, Somme aged 25. (BEcho 8Dec1916 {p} SD10)
Pte. Edward Knapton was born in 1882, the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Knapton. Edward lived at 6 Thomas St, Rastrick and worshipped at Bridge End Congregational Church. He was a dyer's labourer working at Brookfoot Dyeworks.(cotton dye-works). [1911]. Edward enlisted in 'Brighouse Chums'
October 1914 No 201159. He was a member of RAOC Royal Army Ordnance Corps. During World War 1, he served as a Private with 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Invalided home September 1917. He died 10th October 1918, killed by an exploding grenade in an accident on a bombing range in the North Riding of Yorkshire and later buried in Rastrick Churchyard on 15th October 1918, aged 36. (BEcho 18Oct 1918{p} SD38 WGBE Yorks 585) , [Name not included on the St Matthew’s Memorial]
Guardsman George Allan Margerison of the 1st Scots Guards was killed in action on 15 September 1916 401/409/410
He lived at 120 Brooke Street, Rastrick and was a spinner for J Crowther & Sons Ltd, Broadhouse Mills, Brighouse. Service number 13795, he was killed at the Somme. Commerorated on the Thiepval Memorial aged 23 ( BEcho 20 Oct1916 {p} SD5 WBE Reg 21 p 29)
Pte Leonard Marshall of the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action on 5th October 1918 aged 26. Private 44367.
Born on 29th September 1892, son of Henry and Martha Marshall, he was baptised at St Matthew’s Church, Rastrick on the 6th November. Employed at Thomas Helm & Sons, Spout Mills, Rastrick he was a prominent rugby footballer and a member of the Rastrick Cricket Club. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial (Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery).
Pte Herbert Pamment served with the 10 West Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards 19th Foot) was killed in action on the 20th October 1918 401/409/410
Son of Mr and Mrs W. Pamment, Herbert lived at 12 Brick Terrace, Gooder Lane, Rastrick. He was unmarried. He was a member of St John’s Church choir and later at St Matthew’s Church and was connected with the Rastrick Church institute. He was apprenticed to J Blakeborough & Sons. He enlisted in June 1918 with service number 77686, but was killed in an attack on Neuvilly, Selle River (about 3 weeks before the Armistice). He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, aged 20. (BEcho 15 Nov 1918 {p} Sd19 wMBE Reg 16 p 5)
Sgt. John Earnshaw Rider of the 9th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment was killed in action on the 25th April 1916 401/409
Formerly of Redmire, Wensleydale, he lived with his Aunt and Uncle at Stott Field Lane, Rastrick. He worked for John Smith & Sons, Badger Hill Mills, Rastrick. John enlisted in September 1914 with service number 11455; he was killed by shellfire aged 22. (BEcho 5May 1916 {p} SD38) He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Berks Cemetery Extension.
Pte John Willie Skitmore of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, Service no. 20043 died on the 12th October 1916.
In 1911 he was living with his two brothers and sister at the house of Jesse and Alice Mitchell, 5 Raynor Road, Rastrick and worked as a dyer’s puddler, employed at Messrs Thornton, Hannam and Marshall, at Brookfoot Dyeworks
John Skitmore married Florence Mary Holmes at St Matthew’s Church Rastrick on the 21st August 1915 and moved to 11, Castle Terrace.
With no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial.
Pte Charlie Smith 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment Killed in Action 4th November 1918 401/409/410
Lived at 51 Rastrick Common. Unmarried. Apprentice wiredrawer for Ramsden Camm & Co He was formerly connected with Rastrick Church Sunday School
Enlisted May1918 No 52101. Aged 19. (BEcho 29Nov1918{p} SD38)
Pte, Harry Smith 2/4 Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment Killed in Action 29th September 1918 401/409/410
Brighouse. No 306801. Military Medal ‘for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field, it being stated that, he along with others, held a position, which was being stormed by the enemy, until reinforcements arrived’ in the attack on Marcoing on 30th December 1917. (BEcho 6Dec 1918 SD38) 23
2nd Lt William Henry Smith of the Royal Field Artillery was killed in action on the 23rd April 1917.
He was the only son of Albert Edward and Mary Emma née Crossley Smith. In 1911 the family lived at Ridge House 100 New Hey Road. He was employed as a wool sorter. William Henry was buried in the Cojeul British Cemetery.
Pte Herbert Southern of the 1st/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment was killed in action by an explosive shell on 16th October 1915, aged 20 years. Before enlisting he was employed at the Oaks Green branch of the Co-op grocery in Rastrick.
Born in 1895, he was baptised at St Matthew’s Rastrick on 1st October 1898
He was one of the sons of William Henry and Kate Southern, living at 134 Thornhill Road, Rastrick, when he enlisted. He is buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.
Pioneer William George Stannard Royal Engineers was killed in action on the 9th July 1918 401/409/410
He lived at 5 Raw Hill, Rastrick and was married with 2 children. He was a member of the Foresters Friendly Society and employed as a silk dresser for Wood Bros & Sons of Thornhill Briggs, Brighouse. He enlisted in August 1914 with service number 192832. Serving with the Special Company (gas) in the Royal Engineers, he was gassed and wounded in 1917. Then he was hit by a shell fragment at night, aged 29 (BEcho 19Jul1918 {p} SD4)
Pte George Ernest Stirzaker of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (K.O.Y.L.I.) was killed in action on the 24th April 1917 401/409
He lived at 7 John Street, Birstall, but his parents, Mr & Mrs. G. Stirzaker, were at Bowling Alley, Rastrick. He was married on the 24th January 1910 at St Matthew’s Church Rastrick, to Martha Elsey, daughter of local shepherd John Elsey. Employed as a farm labourer by J. Jowett, Woodhouse, he enlisted in October 1916 with service number 38187. A Lewis-gunner, he was killed by shell-fire aged 33. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial. (BEcho 11 May 1917 {p} SD24 WMBE Reg 20 p 21)
2nd Lieut. Oswald Sutcliffe was born in Halifax in 1896 the son of Frederick and Mary Anne Sutcliffe of Croft Hollow, Rastrick. He was baptised at St Matthew’s Church, Rastrick on 15th September 1896. He was educated at Rastrick Grammar School from 1904 to 1910, Sedbergh College and Wadham College, Oxford University and intended to become a clergyman. Oswald also lived with his aunt, Miss Sutcliffe, in Far Headingley. During World War I, Oswald enlisted and was attached to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action on the 3rd November 1916, aged 20 and buried at the Hébuterne British Military Cemetery in France . Oswald is commemorated in a memorial tablet placed by his aunt on the west wall of St Matthew’s Church and in a memorial window in St Chad’s, Far Headingley. and St Matthew’s memorial.
429/401/409/410 (RGS BEcho 10 Nov1916 p OD)
Lance Corp William Richard Sutcliffe of the Highland Light Infantry was killed in action 19th August 1917 aged 23. Although he was living with Mrs Stannard at Calder View, Sunny Bank Road, Brighouse before enlisting, his mother lived at 8 Walker Square, New Hey Road, Rastrick. Before joining up he was employed at Messrs. Smith's Dyeworks, Huddersfield.
Pte Arthur Thornton of the 10 Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment was killed in action on 20th September 1917 401/409/410
He lived at 29 Gooder Lane , Rastrick. Married, he worked as a bootmaker for his father at Birds Royd, Rastrick. He enlisted in December 1916 with service number 29969. He was killed in the Ypres salient. Buried at Amar Communal Cemetery later at the Bedford House British Military Cemetery Aged 32 (BEcho 12 Oct1917 {p} SD38 WGBE Belgium 167)
Pte. Sam Thornton 1/4 Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment was killed in action on the 17th October 1918 402/409/410
Sam was the son of George E. and Edith Thornton and lived at 3 Bottom of Town, Rastrick. He was unmarried and a member of the Rastrick Church and Sunday School. He worked as a farm labourer for Pearson Marsden. With Service number 34787 he was killed by a sniper on Gordon Wood, west of La Selle river. He was buried at St Aubert British Military Cemetery aged 19 (BEcho 8Nov1918 {p} SD38 WGBE France 270)
Gnr James Walker of Royal Field Artillery was killed in action on the 8th August 1917. 401/409/410.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. James Henry Walker, he lived at 18 Toothill Bank, Rastrick and worked for W Wood & Sons, Holme Farm, Toothill. James enlisted in June 1915 with service number L/28110. He suffered a gunshot wound to the head in September 1916. He was killed while unsuccessfully trying to put out a fire in an ammunition dump, Aged 19 (BEcho 24 Aug1917 {p} SD2)
Notes:
1. The numbers after the date of death are cross references in the Biographical Index of the War Memorials in Calderdale. (Hornshaw and Fowler) e.g 410 indicates the list of names for the Rastrick St Matthew’s War Memorial, 409 indicates the Rastrick War memorial outside Rastrick Library and 401 indicates the Brighouse War memorial in Rydings Park.
2. More details of the soldiers can be found in Alan Flux’s 2016 book ‘The Lost Sons of Rastrick’ ISBN: 978-1-5262-0476-9