Clifford George UNWIN

28 July 1916

UNWIN – Died from wounds received in action, Private Clifford George Unwin, son of Mr. Samuel Unwin, formerly of Skipton, but now of Keighley, aged 23 years.

28 July 1916

SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR – PTE. CLIFFORD GEORGE UNWIN

News of the death from wounds of Pte. Clifford George Unwin, son of Mr. Samuel Unwin, formerly of Skipton, but now of Keighley, was received last weekend. Before joining the Army on his 22nd birthday in September, 1914, deceased was a twister and loomer at Messrs. Rose, Hewitt, & Co., and lived with his married sister, Mrs. McEnnerney, in Dawson Street, Skipton. He joined the 10th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment and had been at the front several months. His death is referred to by another Skipton soldier, Pte. J. W. Atkinson, who in a letter to his wife at 29, Cavendish Street, Skipton, says:– “We have a Skipton lad out of our battalion who has died from wounds. I am sorry to say his name is Clifford Unwin. I expect you will know him.”

Pte. Atkinson is a stretcher bearer attached to the 29th Division, 69th Brigade, and in the same letter he says:– “We are still out of the trenches and we can do with staying out a bit after the work we have had. We have received some splendid congratulations on our work. Our troops are still advancing all along the line, so I don’t think the war will last much longer.”

11 August 1916

THE LATE PTE. T. B. CARTMAN OF SKIPTON – LETTERS FROM TWO COMRADES

Official news of the death of Pte. T.B. Cartman of Skipton, which was referred to in our last issue, was received on Tuesday. Letters have also been received by his relatives from two of his comrades, both of which indicate the high esteem in which deceased was held by the men in A Company of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

From a letter written by Pte. T. Greenwood, we take the following:– “It is with a heavy heart that I write these few sorrowful words of your Tommy’s death, which occurred in hospital on Wednesday, July 12th, at which place they buried him. On Monday morning previous, we shared a parcel and had a few happy minutes together. That night we moved into the trenches on our way to the village. Both your Charlie and Tommy were hit, Charlie very slightly in the knee. I was close to him and we shook hands before he turned to walk back to the dressing station. It was not until the following afternoon that I heard Tommy had got hit. I am sorry I don’t know any particulars of his death and funeral. I scarcely know how to express my feelings for I have lost the very best pal I ever had, and I ask you to bear up and face it, if not with a smile, with a good heart and keep your trust in Him above, who guides us in all things. All the platoon join in with their sympathy.”

Pte. J. W. Atkinson, another Skipton soldier, has written as follows:– “I cannot tell you how sorry I am to hear about poor Tommy dying from his wounds. He was very badly wounded in the legs when we carried him out on the stretcher, but we did our level best for him. There were a lot of killed and wounded lying all over the trench, but we got them all away as quickly as possible. I thought it my duty to write to you with carrying him out, and being a lad I have known for years. I am pleased to say Charlie only got a slight wound and will soon be back again. He helped us to carry Tom out of the trenches to the dressing station and he worked very hard. I am sorry to say we have had two Skipton lads die from wounds, the other one being Clifford Unwin, who got badly wounded in the big advance. The Germans lost very heavily and had a lot both killed and wounded and we also took a lot of prisoners.”

Pte. Cartman was the son of Mrs. Rishworth, of Wood Side Farm, Silsden, and resided for many years with his aunt Mrs. Branston, in Brook Street, Skipton. He enlisted on the outbreak of war; prior to which he was employed by Messrs. Lipton’s, High Street, Skipton.

13 April 1917

SKIPTON SOLDIER’S DEATH CONFIRMED

In our issue of July 28th last year we recorded the fact that news from an unofficial source had been received of the death of Private Clifford George Unwin, son of Samuel Unwin, formerly of Skipton, but now of Keighley. This news, which was contained in a letter from another Skipton soldier named Pte. J. W. Atkinson, whose home is at 29, Cavendish Street, has this week been confirmed by the War Office. Before joining the Army on his 22nd birthday in September 1914, Pte. Unwin was a twister and loomer for Messrs. Rose, Hewitt, and Co., and lived with his married sister, Mrs. McEnnerney, in Dawson Street, Skipton. He enlisted in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and had been at the Front several months.

06 July 1917

UNWIN – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private Clifford George Unwin, 16, Dawson Street, who died from wounds at Contalmaison on or about July 11th 1916.

Eternal rest given unto him, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.

“May he rest in peace.”

From Father, Sister, Brother and Annie.

12 July 1918

UNWIN – In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Private Clifford George Unwin, 10th West Riding Regiment, who died of wounds in France on or about July 11th, 1916.

“May he rest in peace.”

From his loving sister and brother, Blanche and Herbert.

11 July 1919

UNWIN – In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Clifford George Unwin, 10th West Ridings, who died of wounds in France on or about July 11th, 1916.

Eternal rest grant them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.

From Blanche and Herbert, 16 Dawson Street.