John William LODGE

31 August 1917

LODGE – August 23rd, 1917, after a short illness, aged 61, Colonel J.W. Lodge, Commanding 2nd Garrison Battalion, A.P.W.O., Yorkshire Regiment, only son of the late Robert Lodge, of Bishopdale, Aysgarth.

31 August 1917

AYSGARTH – DEATH OF COLONEL J. W. LODGE

The death took place at The Rookery, Bishopdale, Aysgarth, yesterday morning week, after a very brief illness, of Colonel J.W. Lodge, of the Yorkshire Regiment. Colonel Lodge had been connected with the Yorkshire Regiment for over 43 years. He served with the 3rd Battalion throughout the South African War, and was in possession of the Queen’s Medal with three clasps, the King’s Medal with two clasps, and the Coronation Medal. From June 1906 to August 1912, when he retired, he commanded the 3rd Battalion. At the outbreak of the present war he volunteered for service, and was appointed as second in command of a battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, and afterwards given command of a Special Reserve Battalion, a post which he held until his death. Of a cheery and kindly disposition, always out to do good, Colonel Lodge was loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing him, and particularly by those who served with him.

He was the only son of Mr. Robert Lodge, of Bishopdale, and was born in 1855. He was educated at St. Peter’s, York, took his M.A. at Cambridge, and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1883. As Squire of Bishopdale, where his family had lived for many years, he took a very deep interest in local and county affairs. Col. Lodge was a J.P. for the North Riding of Yorkshire, a member of the North Riding Council and of the Yorkshire Fishery Board, and also a member of the District Council. He was a staunch Conservative, and well known as a skilful grouse shot and angler, and was for many years an enthusiastic follower of otter hounds. A brave soldier, a keen sportsman, and a gallant gentleman, his loss will be widely felt.

THE FUNERAL

With military honours, the funeral took place at Aysgarth on Monday and was very impressive. The band of the Alexandra (Prince of Wales’s Own) Yorkshire Regiment headed the procession playing Beethoven’s Marche Funebre, and companies of the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and the 2nd Garrison Battalion Yorkshire Regiment formed a guard of honour. The service in the church, conducted by the Vicar of Aysgarth (the Rev. W.K. Wyley), was choral, the hymn being ‘Oft in danger’. At the graveside the hymn ‘Fight the good fight’ was sung, and after the committal sentences a firing party fired volleys over the grave, and buglers sounded ‘The Last Post’.

The chief mourners were Miss Lodge, sister; Mrs. Lyddon, sister; Major Lyddon, nephew; Mrs. Warner, Liverpool; Dawson Harlowe, and Mrs. Purnell Edwards, London, nieces; Mr. William Bolderston, Mr. J. Bolderston, Mr. T.R. Lodge, and Mr. J.J.G. Lodge, cousins; Mrs. Warner, Liverpool; and Mr. Purnell Edwards.

Among others present were Lord Bolton, Chairman of the Leyburn magistrates; Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse, Bart., chairman, North Riding County Council; Col. Henry Williams, M.P., Middlesbrough; Col. Purnell, Major R.M. Gladstone, Major J. Walker, Capt. Blenke, Capt. W.K. Walter, Lieut. Raley, Sec.-Lieut. Kershaw, of the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment; Major H. Levin, Headquarters Staff, Northern Command; Capt. McGee, 2nd Garrison, Yorkshire Regiment; Second Lieutenants Sale, Rouse, Wood, Yorkshire Regiment; Captain Ryan, Durham R.G.A. (representing Col. Robson D.S.O., C.M.G.); and the Revs. F. Whittaker and A. Jones, Chaplains, Yorkshire Regiment; Sergt.-Major Warren and 160 N.C.O.s and men of the Yorkshire Regiment; Lieut. Col. Garnett, Col. Caffin, Capt. Williams and Capt. Hanbury, of the Yorkshire Regt.; Lieut. King, Col. Garnett and Mrs. Garnett, the Rev. W. Beresford-Peirse, Bedale; the Rev. H.G. Topham, Middleham; the Rev. G.T. Whitehead, Thornton Watlass; the Rev. F.M. Squibb, Askrigg; the Rev. H.M. Sharples; the Rev. H. Remington, late of Aysgarth; Dr. Dunbar, Naval Surgeon Pickles, Mr. William Forster, Markenfield Hall, Ripon; Mr. Jno. Maughan, Mr. Hugh Maughan, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Winn, Mr. Ritchie, Mr. T.F. King, Mr. A.W. King, Mr. John Osborne, Mr. C.K. Blackett, Tadcaster; Mr. M. Spensley, Mr. J. Spensley, Mr. Wm. Alderson, Mr. R. Horne, Mr. E.H. Wilkinson (Clerk to the Leyburn Magistrates), and others.

29 March 1918

DAYS IN THE DALES

…One afternoon the hotel [Wheat Sheaf, Carperby] was closed whilst we all went down to the funeral of the late Colonel Lodge in Aysgarth Churchyard. All Wensleydale was there. It was an impressive military funeral, and yet bright and inspiring, without one element of gloom. The sun streamed down as the coffin was slowly borne by soldiers of the late Colonel’s battalion to the strains of Beethoven’s ‘Funeral March’ played by the band. After the committal to the heather-lined grave there were few dry eyes whilst we sang in the Chuchyard

Fight the good fight with all thy might,
Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right;
Lay hold of life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

Then the haunting strains of the ‘Last Post,’ and three volleys over the grave, and we, who remained, felt that we too, must ‘run the straight race’ like men…

H. HUGILL.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

COLONEL J. W. LODGE

Yorkshire Regiment, died at ‘The Rookery,’ Bishopdale, Aysgarth, August 24th, 1917. Commanded a Special Reserve Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment until his death.