Main CPGW Record
Surname: CALVERT
Forename(s): Cyril
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 2477
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 'A' Coy 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 20
Date of Death: 1915-11-24
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: IV. G. 9.
CWGC Cemetery: TALANA FARM CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Cyril Calvert was the son of John Shackleton and Mary Elizabeth Calvert, née Wilkinson. Both parents were born at Skipton, Yorkshire.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 24, Russell Street - Cyril Calvert, aged 5 years, born Skipton, son of John Shackleton and Mary Elizabeth Calvert.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 24, Russell Street - Cyril Calvert, aged 15 years, born Skipton, son of John S. and Mary E. Calvert.
The British Army Service Record for Cyril Calvert exists but may be incomplete.
Cyril is listed in the Nominal Roll of the 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment): Pte C. Calvert.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Cyril Calvert, 2477, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 14.4.15. K. in A. 24.11.15.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Cyril Calvert, 6/2477, 1/6 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 24.11.15.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Cyril Calvert, 2477, 1/6 W. Riding Regt. Date and Place of Death: 24.11.15. In action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - John S. £7 9s. 11d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Cyril. Name(s) on card(s): Dependant: Mrs Mary Elizabeth Calvert. Relationship to soldier. Mother. Address: 43, Duckett Street, Skipton. Other Soldier No. 1626, Arthur Calvert, 2/4 West R. R.; R.F.A. [Arthur was Cyril's brother.]
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
CALVERT, Cyril, 6th Duke of Wellington’s, aged 19, of 24, Russell Street, [Skipton], an enthusiastic footballer, killed in action, France, 1915.
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Private Cyril CALVERT
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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WEST YORKSHIRE PIONEER ILLUSTRATED WAR RECORD
Private Cyril Calvert
Talana Farm Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
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03 December 1915
SKIPTON PRIVATE KILLED
Information came to hand on Monday morning of another Skipton casualty, the victim on this occasion being Private Cyril Calvert, of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, whose parents reside at 24, Russell Street, Skipton.
The sad news was contained in a letter from Lieut. Holland, from which it appeared that the unfortunate young fellow was engaged carrying rations when he was killed instantaneously by a rifle bullet.
Lieut. Holland's letter was in the following terms:- "I am sorry to have to inform you that your son was killed last night. He was with the return carrying party and whilst crossing a strip of exposed ground he was hit in the abdomen by a stray bullet. Death was almost instantaneous. I feel very deeply for you in your loss. He was a good soldier and very popular among his comrades. We always found him a cheerful and willing worker. It will be some consolation for you to realise that he, like thousands of others in this terrible war, died the noblest of deaths - fighting for his country against a dastardly foe."
Private Calvert is the youngest of two brothers serving with the Colours, and was 19 years of age. He was well known in local Association football circles, having played in goal for the Cononley Club. He was employed by Messrs. Firth and Moorhouse, manufacturers, of Skipton, prior to joining the Colours, and was very popular amongst his follow workers. He was also connected with the Skipton Congregational Church.
Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents, especially as Mr. Calvert, who is well known in the town and district as one of the Skipton Hospital Gala Committee's most enthusiastic workers, has been ill for about twelve months, and only arrived home from Buxton on Monday afternoon after undergoing a course of treatment for rheumatism.
26 October 1917
IN MEMORIAM - BROUGHAM STREET SCHOOL HEROES
At the Congregational Church, Skipton, on Tuesday evening, an impressive musical service was held in memory of the teachers and old scholars of the Brougham Street Council School who have fallen in the first three years of the war. Particulars of the deaths of these brave lads have appeared in our columns from time to time, and their names are as follows:- Willie Barraclough, C.D. Bennett (teacher), Arthur Bruce, Sam Cairns, Cyril Calvert, Ennie Clarke, Tom Clarke, Harry Ingham, Tom Langman, Reggie Pollard, Lewis Sedgwick, Joe Stewart, Harry Tindall (teacher), and J.W. Varley.
There was a large and sympathetic congregation, including relatives of those in whose honour the service was held. Conducted jointly by the Rev. L.H. Gaunt and Mr. A. Townsend (headmaster of the school), the service, in addition to special prayers, hymns, collects, &c., comprised anthems by the Brougham Street School Old Scholars' Choir (under the direction of Mr. Townsend), solos by Miss D. Wear and Mr. Clifford Townsend, and an address by Mr. Gaunt.
In a few introductory remarks Mr. Townsend explained the object of the service, which he said was one of praise rather than of sorrow for the splendour of the lives that had been laid down. - The anthems were 'O God, protect with Thy strong hand' (Greig), 'Rest for the Weary' (Gounod), 'The Lord is my Shepherd' (Smart), and 'Peace to the Souls of the Heroes' (Callcott), and in all these and in Nicholson's setting of the 'Magnificat' the girls' voices blended with pleasing effect, the singing being marked by a very fine tone and clear enunciation, showing evidence of careful training. Miss D. Wear sang most acceptably the exacting solo 'I know that my Redeemer' (Handel) and Mr. Clifford Townsend gave a meritorious interpretation of 'The trumpet shall sound' (Handel). In addition to playing the organ accompaniments with the customary taste and efficiency, Mr. W.H. Green contributed as a solo the 'Hallelujah Chorus.'
In his address the Rev. L.H. Gaunt expressed his pleasure that the Congregational Church should have been used for a service of that kind and said he would rejoice if it could be used more frequently for public gatherings in which not only comparatively small circle of their own congregation might join, but in which the whole town might feel that it had some part. He also expressed his agreement with what Mr. Townsend had said as to the view they ought to take of the death of their boys, and said he felt that the Bishop of London - despite the fact that he had been taken to task for his expression of opinion - was right when he said that they ought not to think of the death of their boys as sheer calamity and overwhelming sorrow. They ought to think of them as having made a sacrifice bravely and heroically at the call of their country and for humanity, and those who were left behind to cherish their memory would honour them best by thinking of that sacrifice as a victory and not as a disaster; and their remembrance of them should come as a call to follow their example, to live so that they would be worthy of the sacrifice of their loved ones, and to bring to their lives into harmony with the great high note that they had struck in their sacrifice. They thanked God for what their boys had done and suffered, and most of all for what they had been and were now, and to ask His grace to follow in their train.
A collection was taken on behalf of the proposed new memorial of the Brougham Street School, which will probably take the form of a scholarship fund.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
03 December 1915
SKIPTON CASUALTIES
Private Cyril Calvert Killed
Intimation was received from Lieut. Holland of the 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment on Monday morning, that Private Cyril Calvert, of the same regiment, and son of Mr. J.S. Calvert of 24 Russell Street, Skipton, had been killed in action in France. The letter stated that the unfortunate young man had been shot and killed instantaneously while carrying rations, and also in his possession was a letter ready for posting to England. That letter, along with other things belonging to Private Calvert, would be forwarded to his parents in due course. Much sympathy is expressed with the sorrowing relatives.
Pte. Calvert, who was only 19 years of age, was an enthusiastic footballer, and played many fine games in goal for the Cononley Club. He was connected with the Congregational Church, and was formerly employed at Messrs. Firth and Moorhouse's Mill. He was the younger of two brothers who were serving with the colours, and his death will be deeply regretted by a host of friends.
The following is the letter that was received from Lieut. Holland:- "Dear Mrs. Calvert, - I am very sorry to have to inform you that your son has been killed. He was with a return carrying party, and whilst crossing a strip of exposed ground, he was hit in the abdomen by a stray bullet. Death was almost instantaneous, and he must have suffered very little pain as he lost consciousness immediately he was hit. I feel very deeply for you in your loss. He was a good soldier and very popular with his comrades. I always found him a cheerful and willing worker. It would be some consolation for you to realise that he, like thousands of others in this terrible war, died the noblest of all deaths - fighting for his country against a dastardly foe. The enclosed letter was written by him a few hours before he met his death."
24 December 1915
CRAVEN'S ROLL OF HONOUR - SKIPTON
Pte. Cyril Calvert, 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment, and son of Mr. J.S. Calvert, 24 Russell Street, Skipton, killed in action in France. Nineteen years of age, and employed at Messrs. Firth and Moorhouse's mill before the war. An enthusiastic footballer.
26 October 1917
SKIPTON
IN MEMORIAM SERVICE FOR THE FALLEN
An in memoriam musical service was held at the Congregational Church, Skipton, on Tuesday evening last in memory of the teachers and old scholars of the Brougham Street Council School, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the first three years of the war. Their names are as follows:- Willie Barraclough, C. D. Bennett (teacher), Arthur Bruce, Sam Cairns, Cyril Calvert, Ennie Clarke, Tom Clarke, Harry Ingham, Tom Langman, Reggie Pollard, Lewis Sedgwick, Joe Stewart, Harry Tindall (teacher), and J.W. Varley. Mr. A. Townsend, in explaining the objects of the service, said he hoped it would not be of a sorrowful character, but that they were gathered together to honour all the men that had laid down their lives.
Rev. L. F. Gaunt, in the course of a brief address, said that he fully concurred with the statement made at the opening of the service that their predominant thought should be one of trust and thanksgiving for those who had made the supreme sacrifice. They were not to think of those young lives as having been thrown away and lost. No true life would ever be lost, for it was a gift of God, and anything that came from Him could never really die. Standing one day this summer he had watched the field of daisies rippling in the wind, and had rejoined in their beauty, but even as he stood there a mowing machine had come and cut down all the flowers. It seemed a waste of life and beauty, but he remembered that the roots were still there and that the flowers would grow all the fairer and the stronger next year. So it was with those whom we described as having been cut down in their youth. The roots of life had not perished, but would bear flowers and fruit again. Our loved ones, who had passed away, could still be helped by our love and by our prayers. It was for those who remained to prove themselves worthy of the sacrifices that had been made so that at the end they might meet again without shame.
During the evening the following programme was gone through by the members of the Brougham Street Old Scholars' Choir: Anthem, 'O God protect with Thy strong hand' (Grier); sentences and collects; anthem, 'Rest for the weary' (Gounod); hymn, 'For all the Saints'; lesson; magnificat (S. Nicholson); hymn, 'God of our fathers'; solo, 'The trumpet shall sound' (Handel), Clifford Townsend; 'Hallelujah chorus,' organ; solo, 'I know that my Redeemer' (Handel), D. Wear; anthem, 'The Lord is my shepherd' (Smart); hymn, 'Was there ever kindest shepherd'; anthem, 'Peace to the souls of the heroes' (Callcott); hymn, 'The day Thou gavest.' During the evening a collection was taken, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the proposed school memorial.
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