Sylvester PETTY

27 October 1916

PETTY – Killed in action in France, Pte. Sylvester Petty, of the Bradford ‘Pals,’ formerly of Sutton, aged 31years.

27 October 1916

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – PRIVATE SYLVESTER PETTY KILLED

News has been received that Private Sylvester Petty, a former Sutton boy, has been killed in action ‘somewhere in France’. Private Petty was a member of an old Sutton family, and when he resided in the district was an ardent follower and supporter of the Sutton United Football Club. He was also closely connected with the Sutton Baptist Church and Sunday School. He was employed as a house painter and decorator, an occupation which he relinquished at the outbreak of hostilities to join the West Riding Regiment (Bradford ‘Pals’). After training at Ripon and other places he went with his regiment to France. Private Petty left the district a few years ago to take up his residence, along with his sister, in Keighley. He was about 31 years of age.

11 November 1916

SUTTON SOLDIER KILLED IN FRANCE – PRIVATE SYLVESTER PETTY

The death in action of Private Sylvester Petty has been officially notified. Pte. Petty had been in France since April last and had taken part in several engagements prior to his death, which is said to have been instantaneous. It is inferred that his Battalion took part in the capture of Le Sars on the Somme on the 7th of October, on which day he was killed.

Pte. Petty joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in February 1915, and had therefore served 20 months with the Colours. He was born at Sutton Mill 30 years ago, and his family have had a very long settlement at Sutton. He was for many years connected with the Sutton Baptist School and Chapel and was a fine type of soldier. For the past few years Pte. Petty had resided in Spencer Street, Keighley, with his sister, both parents having pre-deceased him.