Stephen BISHOP

23 July 1915

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

THE 6TH WEST RIDINGS IN ACTION

It became generally known in Skipton and district yesterday that the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment had, during the previous week, sustained a number of casualties. So far as can be ascertained, two Skipton men–Ptes. S. Bishop and John Wiggan–had been killed and others are in hospital wounded.

PRIVATES BISHOP AND WIGGAN KILLED

The first intimation of the death of Private Bishop was conveyed to his wife by a letter received by the deceased's brother from a Skipton soldier named Private Harry Ingham. The communication states:– "Stephen Bishop got killed yesterday and you never know when your turn is going to come. It was done by a bomb in the trenches, only 15 yards from the enemy.”

Confirmation of this was forthcoming yesterday when Mrs. Bishop received the following letter from Major C. M. Bateman:– “I very much regret to inform you that your husband, Private Stephen Bishop, was killed in action on July 18th whilst doing his duty in the trenches. I very much regret his death and all his comrades miss him very much. He was always cheery and bright in spite of all risks and trying circumstances.”

Private Bishop, who was 37 years of age, was well known and very popular in Skipton. He was formerly employed at Messrs. Wilkinsons’ Park Shed, and was for many years a very useful member of the Skipton Rugby Football team. He was a forward of more than average ability, and figured conspicuously in several cup contests including the memorable final with Otley at Ilkley three seasons ago. Private Bishop leaves a widow and one child. He joined the 1st 6th Battalion in September last.

KILLED IN THE TRENCHES

News of the death of Private Wiggan was also received yesterday morning by his parents, who reside at 28, Rowland Street, Skipton. As in the case of Private Bishop the official news came from Major Bateman, who states:– “I very much regret to inform you that your son, Private J. Wiggan, was killed in action on July 18th whilst carrying out his duties in the trenches. I have always found him a very good and willing worker, and must offer you my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement.”

The deceased soldier, who was only 22 years of age, had been a member of the 1st 6th Battalion for about six years, and prior to the war worked at Wilkinson’s, Park Shed. He was well-known, and highly esteemed by all whom he came in contact with.

A WOUND IN THE CHIN

Private Herbert Reed, of the 1st 6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, in a letter to his wife at 18, Alexandra View, Keighley Road, Skipton, conveys the news that he has been wounded on the chin. He says:–“I think you will be surprised to hear that I got wounded on the 18th, but the wound was only a slight one on the chin. I am now in hospital and hope to be discharged soon. John Wiggan and Stephen Bishop were both killed outright at the same time.”

30 July 1915

FOR KING & COUNTRY

Above we reproduce photographs of Privates Wiggan and Bishop of the First 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, who were killed on Sunday, July 18th, by a trench mortar.

The parents of Private Wiggan, who reside at 28, Rowland Street, Skipton, received on Sunday the following letter from Corporal E. Friend, of the First 6th Duke of Wellington's Regiment:- "Just a line or two to let you know the sad news of your son John. With being his sectional commander I think it my duty to send you an account of his death. At the time he was speaking to Private Bishop, who is well known in Skipton as an old footballer. They both passed away at the same time into the next world, where there is no war raging. They were both killed by the same missile. John was one of the liveliest fellows in the platoon, and everyone was sorry to hear of his sad end. All the fellows in the platoon send their deepest sympathy. He was killed about 1 p.m."

During the last week Mrs. Bishop has received the following letter:- "Dear Mrs. Bishop, - Just a line or two expressing my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement. It may be some satisfaction to you to know that he met his death without pain, as it was almost instantaneous. Steve was in my section and we always got on well together. In fact I might say that he was the most popular man in the platoon, and it cast over all of us a gloom when he passed away. The whole company wish me to express their sorrow."

"Yours sincerely, Arthur Cutler (Sergt.)"

30 July 1915

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT - PRIVATE'S SPIRITED LETTER: An Appreciation of Lieut. Slingsby

Writing from the trenches in Belgium, under date July 20th, a private in the 6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment says: "I am in the best of health and spirits, and I hope you are the same. You will have heard by now about Mr. Slingsby. He was shot through the head while laying a wire in a dangerous part of the trenches, in broad daylight! It was the biggest shock I have had yet - for a time it took all the breath out of us for you know what a decent chap he was, and you also know how he befriended his old scouts. He was our best friend, and the man we admired and loved better than any man we ever came across. He would never let us take any risk, and there was not a braver man in the fighting line - others have been recommended for doing less than he!

"Our division line lost rather heavily this last fortnight, and especially A Company (Skipton Company) in our battalion. S. Bishop is one of the killed: he was one of the jolliest fellows in the battalion. Our G.O.C. Major General Baldock has also been wounded. We feel the loss of these fellows keenly, but it adds to the score we have to pay off with those devils.

"They say that a cablegram arrived here this morning for Mr. Slingsby to tell him that the "Bulldogs" had won the shield. I don't know whether it is true, but I hope it is. I hope the Gala was a success... I think it rather rotten about the Welsh miners, it shows what weight Parliament carries: they do all the talking but never act.

"The fellows round here are sick of reading in the few newspapers they get 'so and so' is bringing in a Bill to do this and that and shorten the war, and then in big lines head 'Lord Haldane attacks Mr.Lloyd George' on such and such a question. The whole game in Parliament is shifting the blame off one person's shoulders on to another's, and blinding people to what they are going to do.

"The whole batch want kicking out, and some sound military men putting in their places. Kitchener should send for a division that has been out here for a good few months, and drive the Welsh miners and all such like back to their work in the same way they drive the Germans when they get the chance. It is not often I grunt about anything in my letters, but it is a grunt that every fellow would like to express that is out here to-day, be he a trade unionist, unionist, or whatever party he belongs in civil life, if he is a soldier in spirit as well as being one through patriotism.

"We are at war now, and although we have been at it for nearly twelve months those sentimental idiots in Parliament don't realise it yet. I would like someone to run amok with a fixed bayonet in the House of Commons, or rather let the Germans gas them: they won't even let us pay the Hun back in his own coin with gas, and the wind is in our favour nine times to their one."

08 October 1915

SKIPTONIAN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

A motor transport driver connected with the 29th Division of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, who formerly played a prominent part in the affairs of the Skipton Football Club, writing to Mr. Charles Horne, of Skipton, says:-

"I thank you and the committee for the cigarettes you sent me, and, I can tell you, I enjoyed them. I was sorry to hear of poor Stephen Bishop's death. I think that by the look of things there will be no football this year, but I think the men of Skipton will be good enough sportsmen as to keep the Skipton Club out of debt, seeing that it has sent practically every one of its members to the Colours.

"I suppose that your general meeting will be over by the time this letter reaches you, and I would like you to write and let me know how things are going on. The news which we get out here generally comes from home, but there is plenty of work. All the same I am keeping in the best of health."

13 April 1917

"FELL DOING HIS DUTY NOBLY" - SKIPTON FOOTBALLER KILLED IN ACTION: GUNNER GEO. WILLIAM FLETCHER

It is with much regret that we have to record this week the death in action of Gunner George William Fletcher of the Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Fletcher of 32 George Street, Skipton, and a well known Skipton footballer. News of the sad event, which apparently occurred about Wednesday of last week, was received last weekend in the following letter from deceased's officer:- "I much regret to have to inform you that your son met a soldier's end in action. He fell doing his duty nobly, as the excellent gunner he was, with the lanyard in his hand. His name will be the first to be inscribed on the Roll of Honour of the ----- Siege Battery, and none will, I am certain, be more sincerely lamented. He was struck by a piece of shell in the head and killed instantly, and his death must have been painless. Please accept the sympathy of both officers and men in your bereavement."

Twenty-nine years of age, deceased was a warp-dresser in the employ of Mr. J. Wilkinson, Park Shed, prior to enlisting in February 1915, and he had been in France about nine months. Amongst the sporting public of the town and district he will be remembered as one of the best forwards for many seasons of the Skipton Rugby Football Club, and he was one of the clever fifteen which, in 1911-12, carried off the Yorkshire Challenge Cup. For a brief period he also assisted the Ilkley Rugby team.

His brother, Pte. Charles Smith Fletcher, has also been at the Front with the West Riding Regiment and was recently seriously wounded in the thigh. He is now in Liverpool hospital. He was also in the employ of Mr. Wilkinson as a dyer.

With the death of Gunner Fletcher, the Skipton Football Club's Roll of Honour has been increased to six, the other five being Lieut. J.C. McIntyre, Lance-Corporal J. Willan and Privates S. Bishop, F. Thornton and Fred Gallagher.

30 November 1917

SKIPTON BAPTISTS' MEMORIAL TO SOLDIERS

On Tuesday afternoon a three days' sale of work was commenced in the Baptist School, Otley Street, Skipton, in aid of the Soldiers' Memorial Extension Fund, by means of which it is intended to extend the premises in memory of the young men associated with the place who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the war. Seventy young men belonging to the church and school are at present serving with the Colours, of whom two, H. Maudsley (deacon and Sunday School superintendent) and H. Birch have been missing since May 3rd and August 17th respectively, while the following have given their lives in the great cause:- S. Bishop, J. McIntyre, J. Duckworth, G.A. Wilson, H. Greenwood, D. Collins, B. Peel (Sunday School secretary), H. Scott, A. Bruce, J. Metcalfe, A. Gill, W. Barraclough, E. Platt and W. Ireland...