Alfred MARONEY

07 December 1917

MARONEY – Killed by an enemy shell on the Western Front, Private Alfred Maroney, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Maroney, 2, Bradley Street, Skipton, aged 21 years.

07 December 1917

MORE SKIPTON CASUALTIES – PRIVATE ALFRED MARONEY

After coming safely through many stiff engagements fought by the famous Coldstream Guards, Private Alfred Maroney, third son of Mr. and Mrs. John Maroney, 2, Bradley Street, Skipton, was, we regret to say, killed recently by a piece of an enemy shell whilst in a shell hole. In a touching letter, dated December 3rd, to the bereaved parents, Second Lieutenant Archie D. Cross says:– “The War Office will have advised you of the death of your son, but I would like to give you the true facts of what actually took place. Private Maroney and myself were in the same shell hole together all night. He was acting as my orderly, and about 6.20 in the morning the Germans put down a heavy barrage in ----- where we were at the time, and a piece of shell went right through the head of your son and he died instantaneously without the slightest pain or struggle. Mere words of mine are, alas, useless to comfort you, for these are things too deep for a written word, but I would ask you to try and remember one thing -somewhere or other in the soldiers’ Valhalla he is waiting for you, waiting contented and happy. He knows now where all is clear that it was necessary, and he would have you know that too. He was carefully and reverently buried the same afternoon. Should there be anything else you would like information about, please let me know.”

Formerly a weaver at Messrs. Rose Hewitt and Co., and a playing member of the Niffany Rovers Football Club, Private Maroney was 21 years of age and enlisted in March 1915. He went to France just before Christmas the same year, and was invalided home with trench feet the following November, but returned to the Front last Whitsuntide. He took part in the fierce fighting at Givenchy, and Lizbuffs [Lesboeufs], and also in other battles on the Somme last Autumn, and on one occasion he and his corporal were the only ones out of their section to return from a sanguinary encounter with the enemy. Another brother, Private James Maroney, Transport Section of the West Riding Regiment, is at present at home on leave after being at the Front since April 1915.

14 December 1917

REPORTED DEAD, BUT NOW ALIVE – GOOD NEWS OF A SKIPTON SOLDIER

Last week we reported a communication from an officer of the Coldstream Guards to the effect that Pte. Alfred Maroney of the same famous regiment, third son of Mr. and Mrs. John Maroney 2, Bradley Street, Skipton, had been killed by an enemy shell while fighting on the Western Front. Following a letter from the parents to the authorities, a telegram has been received to the effect that a mistake has been made, and that Pte. Maroney was safe and sound; and on Wednesday morning the parents received a field post-card from their son, which contained the brief but satisfactory statement:– “I am quite well.”

26 April 1918

Private Alfred Maroney, Skipton

Another Skiptonian who has been killed in the big battle is Pte. Alfred Maroney, third son of Mr. and Mrs. John Maroney, 2 Bradley Street, Skipton, who had previously come safely through many stiff engagements fought by the famous Coldstream Guards. He was killed instantaneously by a piece of shell on March 27th. Pte. Maroney was reported killed in December last, but a telegram was afterwards received by the parents to the effect that a mistake had been made. Twenty-one years of age, deceased was formerly a weaver at Messrs. Rose Hewitt & Co., and a playing member of the Niffany Rovers Football Club. He enlisted in March 1915, went to France just before Christmas the same year, and was invalided home with trench feet the following November, but returned to the Front last Whitsuntide. He took part in the fierce fighting at Givenchy and Lizbuffs [Lesboeufs], and also in other battles on the Somme last autumn, and on one occasion he and his Corporal were the only ones out of their section to return from a sanguinary encounter with the Hun. He was on leave during last month and was killed ten days after returning to the Front. Another brother, Private James Maroney, is serving with the Transport Section of the West Riding Regiment.