31 December 1915
INGLETON AND THE WAR – The Sixth Fatality
Amongst those who attested at Settle were the following from Ingleton Fells:–
Thomas Faraday, John Faraday, James Parker, John Mason, Robert Lambert, Bryan Chapman, William Middleton, and William Hilton. These names bring the Ingleton Roll of Honour to 231.
Pte. W. Bolton, 6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, was killed by shrapnel some time ago. He is the fifth Ingletonian to lay down his life for his country.
Pte. Stanley Thornber was shot through the chest some weeks ago, the bullet passing above the heart. The bullet has not been extracted, as an operation might prove dangerous.
Pte. Harold Howson, who has been in hospital suffering from trench foot, is at home, and Privates Joe Vickers and J. W. Robinson are at home on furlough from the Front.
News has just been received that Pte Cyril Tomlinson, 21 years of age, has been killed in the trenches by a sniper. He was the eldest son of Pte. Edward Tomlinson, Main Street; and went out to the Front with the 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. Immediately on receipt of the sad intelligence, the Union Jack was hoisted half-mast at St. Mary’s Church. He is the sixth Ingletonian to give up his life for his King and country. As well as his father he has two brothers and several relatives serving with the forces. His brother-in-law, Pte. H. Routledge, has been gassed and is now in hospital at Lincoln.
Dr. Mackenzie has received a telegram from the War Office intimating that his son, Capt. Gordon Mackenzie, has been wounded in action, but the extent of his injuries is not yet known.
It is also reported that Pte. J. Nash and Pte. J. Waring have been wounded, and Pte. J. Clapham gassed, so that it would appear that the Ingletonians have been in the thick of it recently.
15 September 1916
ROBINSON – September 3rd, killed in action in France, Pte. J. W. Robinson, West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs Robinson, Back Gate, Ingleton.
15 September 1916
INGLETON – INGLETONIANS KILLED AND WOUNDED
Private J. W. Robinson, whose mother resides in Back Gate, Ingleton, was also killed by the same shell. The following letters give particulars:–
September 4th 1916
“Dear Mrs. Robinson, – I regret exceedingly to have the painful duty of writing to inform you that your son, Pte. J. W. Robinson, was killed in action yesterday, September 3rd, as a result of a shell which came into the trench. After the explosion I, with one of his comrades, started to carry him to the dressing station, but he died a few minutes before he reached the doctor. He did not suffer much pain. I, on behalf of his comrades and myself, offer you the sincerest of sympathy in your bereavement. Of his qualities as a soldier and his devotion to duty I can only speak in the highest terms, as he was always ready for any duty. He was of a bright cheery disposition and he will be greatly missed in the platoon to which he belonged. Believe me, yours in sympathy.
“ARCHIBALD McCOLL, 2nd Lieutenant, West Riding Regiment”
September 4th 1916
“Dear Friends, – I am writing to you and I don’t know how to tell you. You don’t know how I feel, but it has to be done. I am sorry to have to tell you poor Jack, your nephew, got killed yesterday, and all the boys are very sorry. He got hit with a piece of shell and died in a minute or two. He did not suffer much at all. It was only about ten yards from him when it was done, and there was a lot more knocked out with the same shell. I am very sorry for his poor mother, and I am sure it will be a shock for you all. He was one of the very best of lads in our Battalion, and everybody liked him, and he has gone down for a good cause, same as many thousands more. We went up to the trenches together, and we were quite lively, but you know this is an awful game. Just now where we are it is a worse quarter than where we were last year at this time. It is simply ‘hell’ and nothing else, and he is a lucky man that gets through it. It is hard lines when we lose a pal like Jack; he was one that was always in for a bit of fun and we shall always miss him very much. We slept together the weeks before we went, and I shall miss him more than a lot of them because I have known him all his life. They buried him last night with lots more of our poor fellows. Jim Metcalfe got wounded with the same shell and Billy Preston, and those two have gone down the line somewhere, and I think they will pull through in time. You must tell his poor mother how sorry I am to write this letter. From your friend.
“C. R. SEARS”
05 January 1917
INGLETON – WAR ITEMS
After being four months in hospital, Corporal W. Preston, eldest son of Mr. John Preston, fruiter and fishmonger, is now home on 10 days’ leave. He was wounded in the face with shrapnel, a part of which has not been extracted. He was able to walk to a dressing station in the trenches, and was in the act of climbing over when a machine gun bullet passed through one leg and lodged in the knee of the other. He was between Sergeant J. Metcalfe and Pte. J.W. Robinson when they had the misfortune to be killed.
Other who have been home are: Sergeant W. Routledge (direct from the trenches), Corporal J.W. Routledge (his father), Corporal T. Heaps (Military Medallist) and Private Sherwin.
07 September 1917
ROBINSON – In loving memory of Private J.W. Robinson, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was killed in action in France on September 3rd 1914.
Sleep on, dear son, in a soldier’s grave,
Your life for your country you nobly gave;
No one stood near to bid you good-bye,
But safe in God’s keeping you now lie.
From Mother and Sister, Ingleton.
22 February 1918
INGLETON – IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN
A memorial service for Ingleton men who have fallen in the war was held in St. Mary’s Church on Sunday evening. There was a large congregation, and the service was of an impressive character. The Union Jack was hoisted half-mast on the tower during the day. At the commencement of the service the organist, Mr. C. Bentham, played ‘O rest in the Lord’, and at the conclusion the Dead March in ‘Saul’, 'How bright these glorious spirits shine’, and other hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung, as was also the National Anthem. Standing on the Chancel steps, Bugler J. Robinson sounded the ‘Last Post’, and its solemn and eerie notes reverberated along the aisles.
Before commencing his address, the vicar, the Rev. D. T. Davies, read out the list of those who had fallen, as follows:–
Killed in action: Second-Lieutenant G. Kirk, Sergeant J. Metcalfe, Privates A. Noble, G. Scholey, C. Tomlinson, J. Smith, W. A. Hodgson, J. W. Wadeson, J. W. Robinson, J. Clapham, W. Smith, J. Schofield, J. Kettlewell, W. Marklew, E. Askew, P. Fletcher, G. Metcalfe, A. M. Booth, J. Woodhouse, W. Bolton, and J. [W.H.W.] Wilson.
Died in hospital: Privates W. H. Wignall and C. Newsholme.
Torpedoed: C. Grant.
Missing; Sergeant R. E. Walker, Privates A. Sherwin, W. Northey, E. Robinson, J. Saul, and W. [J.C.] Bradford.
The Vicar, speaking from the words, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’, said that the occasion brought them face in face with a question that was momentous to everyone, and the list which he had just read made them pause and ask the question, “Is the cause for which we are fighting of such a nature that these sacrifices are necessary?” They must remind themselves of the causes which led to the war. Our honour was pledged to protect a small country from an oppressing wrong, and we were compelled to stand by them. They were standing to protect a weak country from a fearful wrong committed by one of the strongest nations in the world – from a military point of view the strongest – a nation that was steadily prospering year after year and which had been training its manhood to satisfy its mad ambition for power. It was becoming clear, especially during the last few weeks, that the dominant note running through their proposals had been their determination that might should conquer over right, and that they would rule as masters over the whole world. When they analysed the causes they saw that the principles of justice and righteousness were struggling against oppression and wrong-doing. They had seen an attempt to impose injustice on the whole world, to impose the doctrine that might is right and mercy unknown by the will of one man, and to sweep away religion, man’s guidance, in a moment.
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