Sam BANCROFT

08 January 1915

SILSDEN

Private Sam Bancroft, of the 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment also writes:- "I received the parcel and all the men from Silsden who are stationed here wish me to thank all who have contributed on their behalf. We could not have a better gift, as the clothing will keep us very warm during the winter. I have been getting into trouble over going home without leave from Birstall. I fairly caught it when I got back, but I was not alone. There were 84 of us, and we all got 21 days pay stopped, which is rather hard lines. However, we broke one of the Army laws so we must keep on smiling. It will take more than that to make me downhearted, but some of them are rather kicking against it. It was our own fault, so we must stand it, although it is hard lines."

14 May 1915

SILSDEN YOUTH'S EXPERIENCES.

In letters received by an Addingham friend from two brothers, natives of Silsden, named Bancroft, who are serving with the 4th and 6th Battalion of the West Riding Regiment at the front, some interesting details are given, and Joe, who is with the 4th Battalion, says his platoon was fetching rations one day, and it was a very risky job, going about a mile under fire, with no cover or anything. They are just getting used to it. They had only had one killed yet, and that was when they had been there ten days. He had not seen his brother since the day they arrived. He said he was enjoying himself "if only he had more Woodbines."

Sam, who is in the Signal Section, in a few lines said he was still keeping in the best of health and that it was surprising how it got out that they had lost a lot of men. They had been in the trenches three days and they could count on one hand how many they had had either killed or wounded. Besides, they had been shelled out of a village which was not a pleasant beginning. The second night they were in the trenches they had all the wires broken. The officer and himself went out to repair them. It was not a very nice job, but it had to be done so that they could get news through.

28 May 1915

NEWS FROM A SILSDEN SOLDIER

In a letter to Mr. Ambrose Longbottom, of Kirkgate, Silsden, Private Sam Bancroft, of one of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiments, says:-

"You will be wondering by now how I am getting on amongst it all. Well, I am still in the best of health, and have got accustomed to sleeping under all sorts of conditions. We have been in the trenches twice since I wrote to you last. The first time we were in three days, and then we came out to rest three days in a place where the Germans kept landing a few shells just to let us know they were alive. The second time we were in the trenches four days. We came out on Sunday night, and I expect we shall go in again on Wednesday. We don't get a big lot of rest when we are in the trenches, as we have to keep on the telephone and bullets keep catching the wire and cutting them, and then the fun starts in going out to mend them. I have been out a few times both day and night; it is not very nice to have bullets whistling round you, or a shell bursting not far off. They make us kiss the ground, but Mr. Slingsby always goes out with us, and do you know I would go anywhere with him.

"Well, you will like to know a little about the trenches and the way we get into them. The first time we went in we went down a road and you could keep hearing a bullet pass. There has been a few wounded while going down to the trenches. When we get about 200 yards off we go down the side of a high wall, and there is a good sniper or two who keep letting drive at the wall and we have to keep ducking. When we get into the trenches it is very safe unless we keep our head above the parapet too long. The parapet is about six feet high and made of sand-bags. Most of the firing goes on at night. Each side keeps sending up flares or star shells, and they make it as light as day. The trenches are very fair at present as we have had five days of very fine weather, but when we went in the last time it had been raining, and they were very bad. We were nearly up to the knees in mud. It must have been bad in winter as we had only a shower or two to make such a state of affairs as mentioned. Another thing that has been done now is that we have made a trench to go down instead of going down the road.

"How are the Boy Scouts getting on at Silsden? I had a P.C. from Mr. Berry, and he said they were going strong. I hope you have a good time if you go into camp anywhere. I am not doing bad for cigarettes. I have had a good few sent out, and we get a weekly allowance, which runs about 20 each, and one ounce of tobacco, so we are not doing bad. But we smoke nearly all the time, both day and night."

Mr. Longbottom is Scoutmaster of the Parish Church Boy Scouts, of which Private Bancroft was formerly a prominent member.

25 June 1915

SILSDEN - Mementoes from Germany

A couple of German shell heads, which have been found in Flanders, have been on view during the week in the shop window of Mr. Wm. Sugden, draper, Kirkgate, Silsden. They have been sent to Mr. Fred Crossley, of 41, Bolton Road, Silsden, by Private Charles Crossley (nephew), and Pte. Sam Bancroft (the latter being a Silsden soldier). In a letter to his uncle Private Crossley says:- "We are sending you some German shell heads and bullets, and please send word whether you receive them or not. I have been away from my company for a fortnight to learn bomb throwing, but came back on the 15th inst., and had to go into the trenches. Sam Bancroft is going into the trenches to-night (Thursday, 17th) for three days, and then out for six days into billets. I am not far from him and always go up to see him when we are out of the trenches together. I get on splendid with him. I have not troubled so much about collecting souvenirs as they are nearly all lumber for us to carry, but Sam has a bicycle to ride on and has no pack to carry, and he has three days at headquarters out of six."

17 September 1915

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Silsden is paying a heavy price. On Monday morning Miss Hannah Faulkner, who resides at Bridge Street, Silsden, received information concerning the death of one of her brothers, Private Jobey Faulkner, of the 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. Private Faulkner, who enlisted after the outbreak of war, was one of five brothers serving their King and Country. The Faulkners were the only family in Silsden who could claim to have five representatives in the Army.

Privates Edward and Tom Faulkner have both been wounded in France, the former having gained convalescence and gone beck to the front, but the latter is said to be still nursing his wound in one of the hospitals in this country. Private Jobey Faulkner was killed in France. In a letter to his sister, Private Dan Faulkner says:- "I am sorry to tell you that our Jobey got killed while on duty. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel and died half an hour later. He was hit on the 7th of September about half-past six at night, and was buried the same evening. You must cheer up; it has been very hard for me but we can always say that he did his duty to the last."

Prior to his death Private Faulkner sent a letter to his sister in which he said:- "I had a letter from George W. Barrett the other day. He said he was going on all right. He said he had had a letter from our "Teddy" when he was coming across to France. We went for a walk as far as the 6th Battalion, and there I saw Sam Bancroft but I did not see Percy Baldwin and Fred Taylor (all Silsden soldiers), as Percy had gone out in the morning with the R.E. and Fred Taylor had just gone on pass. I saw several Steeton and Sutton lads, and they looked very well, but the same as me a bit rough. When you write to Tom or 'Teddy' just tell them we should like a word from them."

Silsden's list of fallen is now eight, four of whom have been recorded during the short space of a week. Four have been killed in France, three in the Dardanelles, and one is this country while on guard duty.

22 October 1915

REPORTED HONOUR FOR SILSDEN SOLDIER

It is reported that Private Sam Bancroft, a signaller in the 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, and whose home is in Walker's Place, Silsden, has been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery whilst carrying out his duties at the Front.

It is said that the deed, which led to Private Bancroft's recommendation for the D.C.M., was that a telephone wire had been broken and the lieutenant in command asked for volunteers to repair it. The whole of the Signalling Corps at once volunteered, but he chose two out of them, one being Private Bancroft. The work was started at 8 o'clock in the evening and was not completed until 3-30 a.m., during which lengthy period Private Bancroft was constantly under shell fire. He was operating in a bullet-swept zone all the time.

After the work had been completed he made tracks to his previous destination by the guidance of the stars. Being a former Boy Scout, Private Bancroft had learned how to locate himself by this means. He was not allowed to use any kind of light for fear of being located by the enemy. He was able to return safely and was afterwards complimented on his successful work by the commander.

Prior to the war he took a very important part in the Boy Scout movement locally, he being attached to the Silsden Parish Church Troop (Silsden 2nd). He was also a member of the Silsden St. John Ambulance Brigade. Private Bancroft, along with his two brothers - Willie and Joe - have all been home during the past week on leave for a few days. The latter came from Le Havre Hospital, where he has been under treatment for some time suffering from gas poisoning.

10 December 1915

SILSDEN SOLDIERS' APPRECIATION - INTERESTING LETTERS

Mrs. Charles Sugden, Lady Superintendent of the Silsden St John Ambulance Nursing Division, has received a number of interesting letters from local soldiers and sailors conveying their thanks to the inhabitants of Silsden for the parcels which have recently been forwarded to them.

Signaller Sam Bancroft, 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, who has been in the trenches in Flanders for some months, writes:-

"It is very good of you to think of us, and I can assure you the socks came in very handy as we had just come out of the trenches. We had been in four days, and I think they were the worst I have had since we came out here. They have given us an idea of what it is going to be like in winter. I got a letter from Sam Fort (a Silsden Ambulance man in a hospital at Rouen) the other day, and he has always something to say about going to college before we go collecting again. I again thank you for the parcel."

18 February 1916

SILSDEN SOLDIERS' APPRECIATION - SOME INTERESTING LETTERS

A number of interesting letters have again been received by Mrs. Charles Sugden (Lady Supt. of the Silsden Ambulance Division) from Silsden Soldiers and Sailors on active service abroad, and who have been the recipients of a second parcel sent last month. Each parcel contained a box of biscuits, pair of socks, pair of woollen gloves, box of chocolates, candles, oxo, and either tea or cocoa tablets, the expense of which was borne out of the local Soldiers War Fund, as was the case with the Christmas Parcels. The inhabitants of Silsden therefore may well be pleased at the good work which their liberal contributions has enabled the lady workers to perform.

Private Sam Bancroft, writing from France, states:- "In thanking you for a second parcel I can only say what all who receive them say, 'they are fine'. We are now enjoying a well-earned rest; we must have earned it or we should not have got one. It feels grand, I can tell you, to be away from the trenches for a while. I suppose Silsden will be quiet now as all the young men who are medically fit will be soldiers; if not they ought to be. How do you think the war is going on? It can't last for ever, and we can hold out longer than the Germans. We do know that every day the Germans are getting worse off, so let us hope that before long they have to give it up as a bad job."

11 August 1916

SILSDEN

Corporal Joe Bancroft, of the West Riding Regiment, and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bancroft, of 11, Walker's Place, Silsden, has also been wounded and is at present in hospital. In a letter to his parents he says:-

"I have bad news for you this time; I was hit last night with a piece of shell at the back of my shoulder. I do not think though it is very bad. We were making a night attack, but the enemy found us before we took up our position. I had just got back into our trench when a shell dropped amongst my half of the platoon. Only two of us were hit, and I think we got off lucky."

In a letter received the day before he was wounded, Corporal Bancroft stated:- "I have been promoted full Corporal, so you see I am not doing so very bad. I think the Silsden men have come out fairly lucky so far in the advance. I hope no more casualties have come through."

Corporal Bancroft is one of three brothers serving in the West Riding Regiment. He and his brother, Sam, were members of the Territorials prior to the outbreak of war, the latter also being a prominent ambulance worker in Silsden before enlisting.

17 May 1918

Sergeant J. Bancroft, Silsden

Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bancroft, of Walker's Place, Silsden, have received official news that their son, Sergeant Joe Bancroft, of the West Riding Regiment, was killed in action on May 4th. In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft, Lieutenant Colonel R.E. Sugden writes:- "I am awfully grieved to tell you of your son's death. He, along with others, was left in the line to assist a famous foreign battalion, and it appears that he was accidentally killed by a shell. There are thousands of very brave men out here, and I have had scores in my battalion, but I have never seen a man so utterly indifferent and regardless of personal danger as your son. After one German attack, which was repulsed with very heavy losses to the enemy, your son went out about eight times on patrol close to the enemy's position. He had already gained a Military Medal and I had recommended him for the D.C.M. for great gallantry about April 16th, and I sincerely hope it will be awarded. I can ill afford to lose such men as your son, as his influence on his comrades was great, and enabled them to hold out in many a tight corner. You and your family can be proud all your life of your son's record in this terrible war, and I can say most sincerely that I never came across a braver man."

Sergeant Bancroft, who was 25 years of age, enlisted on the outbreak of war, having previously been in the local Territorials. He went to France in April 1915. He had previously been wounded and gassed, and only a few weeks previous to being killed he was wounded in the head. He was one of five brothers serving, the others being: Sapper Sam Bancroft, Royal Engineers; Private Willie Bancroft, who is in hospital wounded; Corporal Fred Bancroft, who has also won the Military Medal; and John Bancroft, who joined up last Tuesday.

25 October 1918

SILSDEN - ANOTHER SCOUTMASTER PAYS THE PRICE

A letter has been received by Mrs. Bancroft, Bolton Road, Silsden, stating that her husband, Signaller Sam Bancroft, West Riding Regiment, was dangerously wounded by shell fire on the night of Friday, 11th October, and that it had been necessary to amputate the limb, which had resulted in his death. Signaller Bancroft was mobilized when war was declared, being a member of the West Riding Territorials, and went to France in April, 1915, and before this had not received a scratch. Signaller Bancroft, who is the son of Mr. And Mrs. J. H. Bancroft, Walker's Place, Silsden, has three other brothers serving - Corporal Fred Bancroft, Military Medallist, who is at present in Ripon Convalescent Hospital; Trooper John Bancroft, Cavalry Reserve Regiment, at Newbridge Camp, Ireland; Private Willie Bancroft, West Yorks. Regiment, who is in Netley Military Hospital. Another brother, Sergeant Joe Bancroft, D.C.M., and M.M., Duke of Wellington's Regiment, was killed in action in May, 1918. Signaller Bancroft is the third assistant Scout Master of the 2nd Silsden Boy Scouts to make the supreme sacrifice in this war, and his death will be greatly regretted by a large circle of friends and by the lads of whom he had charge.