John IVESON

23 March 1917

IVESON – Died from wounds received in action, Pte. John Iveson, Coldstream Guards, husband of Mrs. Iveson, East End, Gayle, near Hawes, aged 30 years.

23 March 1917

HAWES – FOOTBALLER DIES FOR HIS COUNTRY: Five Sons in the Army

The little village of Gayle, near Hawes, is mourning the loss of another of her lads. On Wednesday, the 14th inst., Mrs. Iveson, East End, Gayle, received a wire stating that her husband, Pte. John Iveson, Coldstream Guards, had been dangerously wounded in action. This ill news was followed on Monday by another telegram conveying the sad news that he had succumbed to his wounds.

Pte. Iveson, who was 30 years of age, was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Iveson, Gayle, whose five sons are all in the Army. He joined up in July 1916, and had been in France about two months. He was married three years ago, and leaves a widow and two children. ‘Jack’ Iveson, as he was familiarly called, was a splendid type of English manhood, standing well over six feet and proportionately built. As a footballer he was well known, not only throughout the Richmondshire Division, but also in Westmorland. He was for years the mainstay of the Hawes Football Club, and his dash and pluck has saved many a game for his side when defeat seemed a foregone conclusion. He was a magnificent centre forward, and the champion goal scorer of the Allertonshire League. His weight and dash made him a terror to opposing backs and goalkeepers, but whilst he was absolutely fearless and used his weight effectively, he scorned everything that was mean or tricky, and was the first to condemn unfair tactics either on the part of club-mate or opponent.

He was a big-hearted, splendid-dispositioned lad, generous to a fault, and those who knew him best esteemed him most. The sportsmanship and fearlessness he always displayed on the field of play made him a true type of British soldier, and his sorrowing relations and friends may be assured and derive consolation from the fact that in the greatest game of all he would do his bit with the same unflinching courage, and show the same dauntless spirit that animated his conduct on the playing fields of his native dale. Footballers not only in Hawes and Gayle, where he was a most popular figure, but throughout Richmondshire and Westmorland, will sincerely mourn the death of another of their community who has done his duty and ‘gone west’. The greatest sympathy is felt for the widow, parents, and family in their great loss.

18 May 1917

HAWES – THE STRICKEN BRAVE: MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service for all the local men who have fallen in the War since October was held in St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. There was a large congregation and the service was conducted by the Rev. S.D. Crawford. The soldiers to whose memory honour was paid were:– Corporal S. Moore; Private C.E. Bacon; Private J.W. Horn; Private A. Kirkbride; Private J. Iveson; Private J. Mitton; Private R. Walton; Private J. Fawcett; Private L. Staveley.

The choir and clergy were preceded to the chancel from the choir vestry by one of the choristers, Master Kenneth Wilson, in Boy Scouts’ uniform, carrying the Union Jack draped in black. The service opened with the hymn ‘Days and Moments,’ followed by Psalm xxiii, and the lesson from Rev. xxi, verses 1 – 5. Then was sung the hymn ‘Nearer my God to Thee.’ Sentences and collects from the Burial Service, with other special collects, were followed by the singing of the ‘Nunc Dimittis’ and the hymn ‘On the Resurrection Morning.’

The Vicar said: “For the second time we meet to mourn the loss of our fellow townsmen in this terrible and sad war. Your presence here is not only to pay honour to their memory, but is a proof of your sympathy with their sorrowing relatives. No words can lighten that sorrow I know, but I pray – and I am sure you all pray – that time, the great healer of all wounds, may do its work, and that in the years to come their sorrow may be lightened by the thought that their dear ones died the noblest of all deaths – that of the soldier who falls in a righteous cause and for King and Country – aye, and more than that, for civilisation and liberty. I have been asked in more houses than one, “Why should all this fighting and bloodshed be going on between professedly Christian countries?” and I think the only answer that can be given is that it has been forced upon the rest of the world by a country which has substituted for the laws of Christianity the laws of the devil. When a nation goes so far as to brush aside treaties hitherto held sacred among the nations as mere scraps of paper, when it breaks not only the laws of humanity, drawn up to alleviate the horrors of war – laws to which itself had given assent, and gives as its only excuse, the laws of necessity, and when it tries to force upon other nations the ‘Kultur’ which has produced this spirit of ruthlessness and contempt for all that is just and noble and chivalrous, then I say, the danger to civilisation is so great that no Christian country should stand by and take no part in wiping it out. The fact that nearly the whole of the New World, following in the steps of the U.S.A., are either openly at war, or have broken off relations with our enemy, is a strong proof that our cause is just, for it is a condemnation, the greatest condemnation, of their conduct and action. So long as the spirit of militarism, which governs a powerful nation like Germany, lasts, and is allowed to exist so long there will be danger of fresh and repeated wars. We and our Allies are out to put an end to this; we are out to bring about a time when war shall be no more, and peaceful arbitration shall take its place. Is not that worth fighting for? It is a noble object, and those dear lads we mourn to-day, with thousands of others who have made the great sacrifice with them, have not sacrificed their lives in vain, for they have helped to bring about that victory which, God grant, will be the prelude of universal peace.”

After the address and whilst Mr. Haverfield played the Dead March, the chorister before mentioned stood at ‘Attention’ at the chancel steps holding the Union Jack.

The sounding of the ‘Last Post’ by Mr. J. Blades brought a most impressive service to a close.

08 March 1918

IVESON – In loving remembrance of our dear brother, Private J. Iveson, Coldstream Guards, died of wounds March 13th, 1917.

He left his home in the flower of youth,
He looked so strong and brave;
We little thought that in such short time
He’d be laid in a hero’s grave.

Ever remembered by his loving sisters, Mary and Bell.

IVESON – In loving memory of our dear brother, Private J. Iveson. Coldstream Guards, died of wounds March 13th, 1917.

Ever remembered by his loving brothers John, William, James and Arthur.

15 March 1918

IVESON – In loving memory of my dear husband, Private John Iveson, Coldstream Guards, who died from wounds March 13th, 1917.

The midnight star shines on the grave
Of one we loved, but could not save;
On earth there’s strife, in heaven rest,
We miss him most who loved him best.

From his loving Wife and Children Mary and Isabel, Gayle, Hawes.

14 March 1919

IVESON – In loving memory of my dear husband, Private John Iveson, Coldstream Guards, died from wounds March 14th, 1917.

No one knows how much we miss him,
Only those who have lost can tell
Of the grief that’s borne in: silence
Of him we loved so well.

From his loving Wife and children, Mary and Isabel, Gayle, Hawes, March 11th,.1919.

IVESON – In affectionate remembrance of our dear brother, Private Jack Iveson, Coldstream Guards, died from wounds March 14th, 1917.

We who loved you sadly miss you
As it dawns another year ;
In our lonely hours of thinking
Thoughts of you are very near.

From his Brother and Sister, Jim and Mary, Scar Top.

12 March 1920

IVESON – In loving memory of my dear husband, John Iveson, Coldstream Guards, who died in France from wounds received in action, on March 13th, 1917.

Oh, think not that I can him forget,
His form will ne’er depart;
For every word his lips have breathed
Are engraved within my heart.

From his loving wife and daughter, Mary and Isabel, Gayle, Hawes.

11 March 1921

IVESON – In loving remembrance of my dear husband, Pte. John Iveson, Coldstream Guards, who died March 13th, 1917, from wounds received in action.

No space of time nor lapse of years
Can dim our loved one’s past.
For loving memory holds it dear,
Affection holds it fast.

From his loving Wife and Family, Gayle, March 8th.