John Leslie BERRY

26 November 1915

PRIVATE TOON'S DEATH CONFIRMED - Former Skipton Football Player

The death of Pte. Albert Toon, 1/6 Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, which was unofficially reported about three weeks' ago, was confirmed on Monday morning last by the formal announcement from the War Office.

Pte. Toon was the son of Mr. Wm. Toon, of 2, York Street, Broughton Road, Skipton, and would have been 21 years of age next January. He was formerly employed at Firth Shed, Skipton, and a well-known member of the Niffany Rover's Association Football Club.

He joined the 2/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment in January last and subsequently transferred to the 1st 6th, with which he went to France in April last. His letters home have been bright and cheerful, and he evidently took a keen interest in his work.

The following letter has been received from Pte. J. L. Berry, who was in the same dug-out as Pte. Toon:
"It grieves me very much to write these few lines, but as his chum I think it my duty to express my sympathy regarding Albert's death. He was close by me at the time and it was an unlucky shot that caught him, death being instantaneous. He was a fine lad and I think everybody has lost a real pal, but he has gone for the good cause, doing his duty in the best of spirits to the last. His grave is marked with a cross among those of his fellow men.

"I, together with all his pals, express our sympathy in your time of sorrow."

Mr. Toon has two other sons and a son-in-law serving with the Colours.

23 March 1917

THE LATE PRIVATE L. WESTERN OF SKIPTON

Some particulars of the death of this Skipton soldier will be found in our inner pages. Letters of sympathy have since been received from the Army Chaplain and a number of deceased's pals. The Rev. H. E. Tilston also mentions that Pte. Western was killed by a sniper's bullet in the head on March 12th, when he was trying to hit the periscope of a German. He was buried with the Church service in the English cemetery, he adds, and the usual cross was being erected over the grave.

Gunner D. Lister, stationed at Winchester, writes:- "Having been a chum of Laurence for the past ten years or more, I beg to offer you my deepest sympathy in your great loss. You have lost a good son and a brave soldier, and I have lost a friend that I can never replace." He also mentions that he had received the bad news from France that morning (March 19th).

"I had letters from Laurence and Percy;" he adds, "and Laurence had written part of his letter on the 12th of this month, and at the foot was a note by Captain Dixon to inform me that poor Laurence had been killed shortly after writing the letter."

From a touching letter signed "Yours in sympathy, Ptes. J. L. Berry, J.E. Core, E.M. Smith, W. Holmes, J. J. Brown, J. Preston," we take the following:- "Being your son's pals we thought it our duty to write and let you know (of his death), and I can assure you we miss him very much. He was buried in a beautiful little cemetery along with comrades who have also answered the call, and a white cross marks his grave. We, all being Skipton lads, have always been good pals together, and more so being in the same Lewis Gun team. As yet we can hardly realise that he has gone".

25 October 1918

MORE SKIPTON SACRIFICES - Second-Lieutenant J. Leslie Berry, West Ridings

We regret to record the death in action on October 12th of Second Lieutenant J. Leslie Berry, West Riding Regiment, one of the three soldier sons of Mr. and Mr. Berry, 48 Broughton Road, Skipton. This fine young officer enlisted in September 1914, at the age of seventeen, and if he had lived until Thursday of last week he would have had five birthdays in the Army. He went to France in 1915, and after two and half years' active service, at which time he had been promoted to Lance Corporal, he accepted a commission and came to England for the customary training. He returned to the Front about two months ago. For a short time before enlisting he was in the employ of Messrs. Rose, Hewitt and Co., Broughton Road Shed. Two brothers are also serving: Gunner William Berry, who is suffering from shellshock, with the Machine Gun Corps, and Edmund in the Air Force.

Mrs. Berry has received the following letter from Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Driver, of Silsden:- "It is my very painful duty to have to inform you that your son was killed on the morning of October 12th, whilst leading his men to the attack. He is a great loss to the battalion, for although he had been with us so short a time he was greatly respected by all ranks for his cheerful bearing and great gallantry in action. Please accept our deepest sympathy on behalf of the officers and men of the battalion in this your very great loss."

10 October 1919

BERRY - In unfading memory of a dearly beloved son and brother, Second-Lieutenant John Leslie Berry, 9th West Riding Regiment, who fell in action at Neuvilly, near La Catena, October 12th, 1918, in his 21 year.

48 Broughton Road, Skipton.