Herbert THOMPSON (2)

20 September 1918

Private Herbert Thompson, Skipton

Official news has also been received this week of the death in action on August 30th of Private Herbert Thompson, son of Mrs. Edwin Thompson, 57 Duckett Street, Skipton, and whose wife now lives with her parents at Mirfield. For many years Private Thompson, who was 29 years of age, was coachman for the late Mr. T. H. Dewhurst, Whinfield, Skipton, and was well known in the town. He enlisted in the West Riding Regiment in February 1915, and was groom to Major Edgar Dewhurst, and afterwards to Major England of Gargrave, before he went to the Front with the transport section of the regiment in February 1916. He also had a leave last March. A brother, Pte. Thomas Edward Thompson, is also serving in Salonika. The Chaplain of the regiment, in a letter of sympathy to the bereaved wife, says deceased was a good lad and is sadly missed by all in his Company.

29 August 1919

THOMPSON – In loving remembrance of a devoted husband and daddy, Private Herbert Thompson, 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was reported killed in action August 30th, 1918.

“Only those who have loved and lost
Can understand war’s bitter cost.”

From his loving Wife and little Sonnie, Water Royd, Mirfield.

THOMPSON – 1n loving memory of a dear son and brother, Private Herbert Thompson, who was killed in action in France August 30th, 1918.

“A sorrow too deep for words.”

From Mother, Sister and Brother, 57 Duckett Street, Skipton.

27 August 1920

THOMPSON – In affectionate and ever loving memory of a dear husband and dad, Herbert Thompson, 4th West Riding Regt., who fell in action August 30th, 1918.

“He liveth in our hearts for ever.”

Waterroyd, Mirfield

02 September 1921

THOMPSON – In loving remembrance of a dear husband and dad, Herbert Thompson, who was killed in action in France, August 30th, 1918. Also of my dear mother, died August 27th, 1920.

Gone from our home,
But not from our hearts.

Water Royd, Mirfield.

23 February 1923

ODDFELLOWS’ WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILING CEREMONY AT A SKIPTON LODGE

OVER 200 WHO SERVED

There was a large attendance of local members of the Independent Order of Oddfellows at the Friendly Societies’ Hall, Skipton, on Saturday afternoon, on the occasion of the unveiling of a war memorial to the members of the Loyal Traveller’s Friend Lodge, I.O.O.F, M.U., who fell in the war.

The Memorial takes the form of a beautifully designed scroll within an oak frame with a glass front, the work of Mr. H. Spencer, junr., and it bears the inscription:–

LOYAL/TRAVELLER’S FRIEND LODGE,/SKIPTON DISTRICT ./I.O.O.F. ROLL OF HONOUR M.U./OF/THOSE MEMBERS OF THIS LODGE WHO FOUGHT FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY TO UPHOLD THE SACRED CAUSES OF BROTHERHOOD AND HUMANITY IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914–1918.

Below the inscription are the names of 173 members who served in the war, and of the 40 members who were killed. The names of the fallen occupy a central position on the scroll, and above them are the following words:–

IN MEMORIAM
OF THOSE WHO MADE THE
SUPREME SACRIFICE.
THEIR HEARTS ARE LIFTED UP
THEIR HEARTS
THAT HAVE FOREKNOWN
THE UTTER PRICE,
THEIR HEARTS BURN
UPWARD AS A FLAME
OF SPLENDOUR AND OF
SACRIFICE

The names of the fallen are as follows:– H. Armstrong, J.J. Brown, J. Barrett, Robt. Brown, W.W. Bell, A. Clayton, W.H. Coles, T.C. Chew, Tom Downes, T.M. Drummond, Jos. Emmott, Thos. Edmondson, J. Easterby, F. Gallagher, J.W. Garwood, G.E. Godwin, S.J. Hargreaves, M. Hargreaves, A. Hebden, J. Hebden, A. Hawkswell, T.E. Inman, M. Lund, R.C. [R.G.] Metcalfe, Hbt. Maudsley, Hy. Maudsley, A.J. Pimnock [Pinnock], H.Y. [Harry] Riley, T.W. Storey, J.H. Stewart, R. Spencer, J.W. Shuttleworth, Wm. Tempest, Hbt. Thompson, Fred Thornton, J.W. Varley, John Ward, J.A. Whittaker, J.W. Whittaker, and R.D. Whittaker.

The Unveiling Ceremony

The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Bro. Thos. Bellamy, and was performed by Bro. Amos Culpan, Prov. C.S., and a simple service included the singing of the hymns, ‘O God our help’ and Kipling’s Recessional, ‘God of our fathers,’ and the reading of a portion of Scripture, and the offering of a prayer by Bro. James Greenwood, of Bradford, and formerly of Skipton.

Bro. Bellamy observed that those members of the Lodge whom they were met to honour went into battle, suffered untold privations, and, in many cases, made the supreme sacrifice. They gave their lives in defence of their homes and their country. Further than that, they gave their lives for justice and freedom, and in order that we might live. It was the duty of Oddfellows, equally as much as other sections of the community, to do everything within their power to make the country better for that sacrifice. “In the time of our prosperity,” concluded Bro. Bellamy, “never let us forget those who served us in the time of our adversity.”

A Lesson of the War

Prior to unveiling the memorial, Bro. Culpan described the ceremony he had been asked to perform as one not unattended by sorrow. It was an occasion upon which one felt a desire to make their Order better for the sacrifice of its members, and to extend the true spirit of brotherhood. In nearly 4,000 of their Lodges they would find a roll of honour. Over 22,000 of their members made the supreme sacrifice, and thousands of others were ruined and shattered in health and without prospects for the future. Each and all of them ought to perform some daily service that would make the sacrifice of those men worth while. One result of the terrible ordeal of 1914 to 1918 was the creation of a better feeling between men, and a desire to break down the class barriers that formerly existed. That was one of the great lessons of the war.