John Robert HARGREAVES

30 April 1915

HARGREAVES – April 26th, at the Military Hospital, Caterham, Surrey, Private John R. Hargreaves, Grenadier Guards, of pneumonia.

30 April 1915

SKIPTON MAN DIES IN TRAINING

John Robert Hargreaves, a private in the Grenadier Guards, stationed at Caterham, Surrey, son of Mr. S. Hargreaves, boot and shoemaker, Keighley Road, Skipton, has died as the result of an attack of pluro-pneumonia.

Deceased, who was formerly employed at Providence Iron Works, was 26 years of age and married. He enlisted in January last, and has since been in training with his regiment.

Mr. Hargreaves received information on Monday morning last that his son was in hospital and in a serious condition, and later in the day heard of his death. The remains are to be conveyed to Skipton and the interment takes place at Waltonwrays Cemetery to-day (Friday).

18 June 1915

A SKIPTON FATHER LOSES TWO SONS – PRIVATE S. HARGREAVES

There are many homes in Craven which have been saddened by the loss of some relative or result of the terrible struggle on the Continent; but there are few from which two young fellows have gone out to serve their King and Country in their hour of need, and who will never return.

Yet such a home is to be found in Skipton, for on Sunday last Mr. Samuel Hargreaves, a well-known and highly respected Skipton tradesman - whose eldest son died a few weeks ago of pneumonia, which had been contracted whilst serving at Caterham with the Grenadier Guards - received a letter from Major Bateman of the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, which stated that his son, Sam, had been killed whilst he was carrying out his duty in the firing line. The communication was in the following terms:– “I very much regret to inform you that your son, Pte. S. Hargreaves, was killed yesterday. The poor lad was shot through the head by a rifle bullet which seems to have glanced off a piece of stone or other hard substance. He was in the trenches at the time. I trust you will accept my very deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement. I am writing to inform you as it takes some time for the official intimation to reach you from the War Office. I read the burial service myself, as it was impossible to get the services of a clergyman, and I have packed all his belongings which will be forwarded to you in due course. I enclose a letter which he had evidently written recently. Again offering you my deepest sympathy. Yours sincerely, CHARLES M. BATEMAN, MAJOR, O.C. A Company, 1st 6th Duke of Wellington's Regiment.”

Pte. Hargreaves, who was 21 years of age, had served in the local Territorial Battalion for two years before the outbreak of hostilities, and in August last went into strenuous training with his regiment. By trade he was a weaver, and formerly was employed by Messrs. Hartley Bros., of Union Street, Skipton.

25 October 1918

MORE SKIPTON SACRIFICES – A THIRD SON: Private G. Hargreaves, Tank Corps

Mr. S. Hargreaves, 36 Cumberland Street, Skipton, has suffered a third war bereavement by the death in action with the Tank Corps, on September 22nd last, of his son Private G. Hargreaves, and much sympathy is felt for him and his family in their trouble. The Rev. T. A. Lee, chaplain, has written a letter of sympathy to the family, in which he mentions that Private Hargreaves was buried by his officer, Captain Crick, and that he himself had placed a cross over the grave. “It must,” he adds, “give you at least a feeling of pride that he had a part in the great advance in the crossing of the St. Quentin Canal and the breaking of the Hindenberg Line.”

Formerly chauffeur for Mr. J. W. Broughton, architect, Skipton, deceased enlisted in September, 1916, and had been at the Front since March last year. Private Sam Hargreaves, his brother, was killed last June, and another brother, Private John Hargreaves, Grenadier Guards, died last April from pneumonia.