Cyril HARDCASTLE

27 April 1917

HARDCASTLE – Killed in action April 9th Signaller Cyril Hardcastle, of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Hardcastle, of Swartha, Silsden, aged 20.

27 April 1917

SILSDEN SOLDIER KILLED

Mr. and Mrs. H. Hardcastle, of Swartha, Silsden, received official news from the War Office on Wednesday morning last, that their son, Signaller Cyril Hardcastle, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, was killed in action in France on April 9th. Pte. Hardcastle, who was 20 years of age, enlisted in January, 1915, and went to France last August. Prior to enlisting he was learning designing at Messrs. Driver Bros., North Street Mills, Silsden. He was a teacher at the Silsden Parish Church Sunday School, and also a member of the gymnasium connected with the school. Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle have two other sons serving, Corporal Willie Hardcastle, who is in Mesopotamia, and attached to the R.A.M.C., and Pte. Ernest Hardcastle, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

11 May 1917

GOOD NEWS OF A SILSDEN SOLDIER

We are pleased to state that Signaller Cyril Hardcastle, of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Hardcastle, of Swartha, Silsden, who was reported in our columns a fortnight ago as having been killed in action on April 9 is still alive, but suffering from a shrapnel wound in the shoulder. Official news of his death was received by his parents from the War Office, but, since then he has written several letters home which have given the family much happy relief. In a letter, dated May 4th, he states:– “You will most likely have heard before you get this letter that I have been wounded, as I sent a field card a few hours after it was done. Don’t. worry because it is nothing serious, only a small shrapnel wound in the right shoulder.

01 June 1917

SILSDEN SOLDIER MENTIONED IN DISPATCH

Pte. (acting Corporal) L. Galvin, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Galvin, of Silsden, has been mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s dispatch of April 9th. Corporal Galvin enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, and had been at the front a considerable time. Since his recognition by Sir Douglas Haig, he has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In a letter to a friend at Silsden, Sergt. Galvin states:– “Many thanks for your letter, which was waiting for me when l came out of hospital. I got hit with a small piece of bomb in the left buttock, but the piece did not go in, so I only got a slight wound. I had to go into hospital, but I soon asked to return to my unit, as hospital life does not suit me. It would have been all right had it been in Blighty. I saw Cyril Hardcastle there, but he went further down the line. It seems he had been reported missing. Willie Carter has turned up, he being m hospital with a gun shot wound in the buttock. Bob Atkinson is also in hospital suffering from some minor ailment or other. He was promoted to Lance-Sergt. a few days after I was promoted to full sergeant.”

Sergt. Galvin is 23 years of age and married. He has two brothers who have served their King and country, Sergt. Joe Galvin, who is at present at Malta, and Pte. Edward Galvin, who went out o the Dardanelles, where he was wounded in the knee by a sniper’s bullet. He was afterwards brought home to England, and finally discharged as unfit for further service. He is at present working on munitions at Keighley.

08 June 1917

SIISDEN’S GALLANT HEROES

Writing in the current issue of the Silsden Parish Magazine Rev. E.E . Peters (vicar) states:–

“The month that has just passed has been a sad and anxious one for us in this town. We have suffered very heavily by the deaths of gallant men, who have given their lives for us. We offer our most heartfelt sympathy to their relatives and friends in their bereavement and assure them that we shall always cherish the memory of the noble men who have sacrificed all for our country. I hope to have the opportunity of speaking to them individually at the memorial service which we have arranged to hold on Sunday morning, June 10th, when we shall pay our last tribute of affection and esteem to their glorious memory. We sympathise also most deeply with those who are still in the keenest anxiety as to the fate of the men who have been reported ‘missing,’ and earnestly pray that good news may soon be received of them. It was a great joy to us all when we learned that Pte. Cyril Hardcastle had not been killed in action. We felt very thankful to God that the sad news was not true, and we are now extremely glad to know that he is nearly recovered from the wound which he lately received. The Food Economy Campaign seems to be making good headway amongst us. Doubtless we all recognise the extreme necessity for keeping within the voluntary rations and are doing our best to fulfil our obligations in that particular. The increased success of our measures against the submarines and the beautifully seasonable weather are encouraging, and the danger of starvation teems less imminent than it was a few weeks ago, but only the very foolish and unpatriotic will allow that encouragement to relax their efforts in economy. There is no doubt whatever that if we only do our part the gallant fighting men of our own services and of those of our Allies, will soon bring the war to a completely successful issue which we all so earnestly long for.”

12 October 1917

SILSDEN – PTE. E. HARDCASTLE KILLED IN ACTION

Mr. and Mrs. H. Hardcastle, of Swartha, Silsden, have received official information that their son, Pte. Ernest Hardcastle, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, has been killed in action on the 21st of September. Company Quartermaster-Sergeant M.H. Denham in a letter to the deceased soldier’s parents, states:– “It is with deepest regret and sympathy that I write to inform you of your son’s death on September 21st. He was in an attack on the previous day, and was killed whilst engaged holding the line he had helped to wrest from the enemy. He died a victorious soldier’s death, and his country need be proud of him. It may be some comfort to you to know that he was respectably buried not far from the scene of his death, and where his grave will receive every attention. He was a lad of great promise, and a favourite with all. His many friends also desire me to express sympathy with you on their behalf. May God comfort you in your great loss.” Pte. Hardcastle was 19 years of age. He joined the colours in December last, and went out to France in June. He was formerly employed as a warp twister by Messrs. Driver Bros., North Street Mills, Silsden. Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle have two more sons serving, Signaller Cyril Hardcastle, and Pte. Willie Hardcastle, of the R.A.M.C., who has been in Mesopotamia almost since the campaign in that quarter was commenced.