Lawrence Beaumont WESTERN

23 March 1917

WESTERN – March 12th, 1917, killed in action in France, Pte. Laurence Western, West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Western, Gladstone Street, Skipton.

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”.

23 March 1917

SKIPTON’S ROLL OF HONOUR – PTE. LAURENCE WESTERN

We regret to record the death on the field of battle of another fine young Skipton soldier – Pte. Laurence Western, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Western, 28, Gladstone Street, Skipton. Anxiety as to his fate had been felt by the family for a few days owing to reports which had been circulated, and the worst fears were confirmed during the weekend by the following letter dated March 13th, from Captain H. Dixon, of the West Riding Regiment:–

“Dear Mrs. Western, – It is with much regret that I have to write and tell you that your son, Pte. L. Western, was killed yesterday morning, whilst on duty in the trenches about 8 a.m., by a rifle bullet. I feel the loss of such a soldier very much. He has been most consistent in carrying out his duty ever since we first come out to France. I can only hope that the fact that your son died at his post carrying out his duty nobly may be of some consolation to you. Please accept my deepest sympathy.”

Twenty-two years of age, Pte. Western in civil life was employed in the grocery department of the Skipton Co-operative Society. He enlisted during the month following the outbreak of the war, and went out to France in April, 1915. He had seen much fighting, but up to the shot which took his life he had come through unscathed, although he had had many narrow escapes. On one occasion, for instance, a bullet passed through his waistcoat without doing any serious damage. He had been on duty for some time as a Lewis gunner. In his last letter home, dated March 5th, he mentioned that his regiment had been on the move for a few days, and that they were temporarily short of food.

Deceased was a member of the Parish Church Institute and was also a member of the Handbell Ringers’ Association connected with the Parish Church. Six members of this Association have been on active service -W. Burgess, Albert Coates, F. Billows, Sydney Carter, Laurence Western and J. Chew; and three of them – Burgess, Carter and Western – we are sorry to say, have paid the supreme sacrifice, while Chew has been wounded.

Mr. and Mrs. Western have another son at the Front – Pte. Wm. Western, with the R.A.M.C.; while two sons-in-law, Corpl. J. Bracewell and Pte. H. Garton, are also in the Army.

The parents have also received the following letter from Mr. James Foulds, the manager of the Skipton Co-operative Society:– “Allow me to tender you on behalf of the Society and myself our deepest sympathy with you and your family in your bereavement and sorrow in the loss of your son Laurence, who has so nobly laid down his life for the benefit of others and his county. As an employee he was one of the best, and during the whole of his employment with the Society I never remember having had occasion to say a wrong word to him. He was always cheerful and conscientious in doing his duty. Knowing this, I hope it will help you to bear the serious loss you have sustained.”

15 March 1918

WESTERN – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private Lawrence Western, who was killed in action in March 12th, 1917, and interred at St. Vast Cemetery, France.

A loving son and brother kind,
A beautiful memory left behind
In the midst of strife he has passed to rest,
We miss him most who loved him best.

From Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers, 28, Gladstone Street, Skipton.