John Edgar Thomas GORNALL

25 August 1916

GISBURN – DEATH OF PTE. EDGAR GORNALL

It is with deep regret that we report the death of Private Edgar Gornall, son of Mr. John Gornall, Gisburn, who is employed on the Gisburn Estate. He died in France on July 27th while serving his country. The sad news was sent by a companion in arms, Pte. J. Bunnett of the 1/7th West Riding Regiment, and from the letter received it appears that Private Gornall must have died from natural causes, probably ‘syncope’. The news of his death caused quite a shock in the village, and much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family.

A memorial service was held in the Parish Church (conducted by the Rev. J. Heslop, vicar). It included the hymns, ‘Peace, perfect peace’, ‘For all the Saints’ (‘Labourer’s Task is o’er’), and ‘For ever with the Lord’. At the close Miss Maud Starkie, the organist, played the Dead March. The sermon was preached by the Vicar from the text, ‘Carest thou not’. He said:– “We have come into the House of God today with hearts full of sorrow to commend to the mercy of Almighty God the soul of our dear brother who has died in France in the service of his country. He was one of the sort who felt that he must do his bit for England, and who shortly after the outbreak of war joined the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He never spared himself in anything that he undertook. We tender to the sorrowing relatives and friends our most sincere and respected sympathy. Let us not forget that two years ago, when the shot was fired which set alight the general conflagration, he with others from the parish were engaged in civil occupations. They had no idea that they would ever see active service, but when they realised their country’s need they sprang to the old Colours, counting not their lives dear unto themselves, convinced of the righteousness of our cause. And what a splendid example they have left. Their names will go down in succeeding generations of worshippers within these sacred walls, as men within whom the spirit of Christ, which is the spirit of self-sacrifice, was pre-eminent. They have done what they could, and we are proud to have been associated with them in any way, and today in the midst of our sorrow we thank God for such noble lives, so self-sacrificingly laid down upon the altar of their country. For greater love hath no man than this -that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

10 May 1918

GISBURN

Private J. Boynton, of the Royal Warwicks, for many years gardener to Lord Ribblesdale, is officially reported missing and believed wounded since the 21st of March. His wife is a daughter of Mr. Gornal, an old estate worker, who has already lost a son in France. Mrs. Ellis, of the Old Vicarage, who has also lost a son in the war, received news last week of the death in action of her nephew, Private Harold Wright, son of Mr. Harry Wright, of Accrington, a boy who was very well known in the village. – Regimental-Sergeant-Major Fox is home on leave from his training camp at Longmoor, and Gunner Charles Waller is home from Gosport on short leave.