Thomas Charles CHEW

06 September 1918

Private Thomas Charles Chew, Skipton

Private Thomas Charles Chew, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Chew, 10 Union Terrace, Skipton, was, we regret to say, killed in action between 21st - 23rd August. He was only 18 years of age, and enlisted last December, going out to France in June last. Before joining the Army he was an apprentice with Mr. E. Lee, painter and decorator, and was associated with the Gargrave Road Primitive Methodist Church. In a letter of sympathy to the parents, Lieut. G. E. Hutchinson says that it was after an attack, when things were quiet, that Private Chew was hit with a piece of shell at the back of the head, and died at once. The officer also says that deceased was well thought of by his officers and fellow men in the Company, and that he was buried just over a trench, a cross being placed over the grave.

Thos. M. O'Neil, a Chaplain, in a letter to the parents, says:- "Between August 21st - 23rd the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment drove the Germans from two villages. So neatly did the Regiment do its work that the men were specially thanked by Sir Douglas Haig. The losses were very few, but unfortunately the one dearest to you died. On behalf of the officers and men of the Battalion I offer you our deepest sympathy."

22 August 1919

CHEW - In loving memory of our dear son, Private T. C. Chew. of the King's Own Royal Lancashire [sic] Regiment, who was killed in action on the 23rd of August, 1918, at Gommecourt, in his 19th year.

Not now, but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land,
We'll read the meaning of our tears,
And there, some time, we'll understand.
God knows the way, He holds the key,
He guides us with unerring hand;
Some time with tearless eyes we'll see,
Yes, there, up there we'll understand.

"If death is the price of victory he is one of
the many who has paid it in full."

From his dear Father and Mother, 10 Union Terrace, Newtown, Skipton.

20 August 1920

CHEW - In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. T. C. Chew, who was killed in action in France, August 23rd, 1918.

A soldier's grave is a touching thing
When loving hands no flowers can bring;
But God in His most loving care
Will guard our dear lad sleeping there.

From his sorrowing Father and Mother, 10 Union Terrace, Newtown.

26 August 1921

CHEW - In loving memory of Private Thomas C. Chew, who was killed in action on the 23rd of August, 1918, in his 19th year.

We are thinking of you to-day, dear lad,
Although three years have passed;
We picture you in memory
Just as we saw you last.

From his dear Father and Mother, 10 Union Terrace, Newtown, Skipton.

23 February 1923

ODDFELLOWS' WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILING CEREMONY AT A SKIPTON LODGE

OVER 200 WHO SERVED

There was a large attendance of local members of the Independent Order of Oddfellows at the Friendly Societies' Hall, Skipton, on Saturday afternoon, on the occasion of the unveiling of a war memorial to the members of the Loyal Traveller's Friend Lodge, I.O.O.F, M.U., who fell in the war.

The Memorial takes the form of a beautifully designed scroll within an oak frame with a glass front, the work of Mr. H. Spencer, junr., and it bears the inscription:-

LOYAL/TRAVELLER'S FRIEND LODGE,/SKIPTON DISTRICT ./I.O.O.F. ROLL OF HONOUR M.U./OF/THOSE MEMBERS OF THIS LODGE WHO FOUGHT FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY TO UPHOLD THE SACRED CAUSES OF BROTHERHOOD AND HUMANITY IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918.

Below the inscription are the names of 173 members who served in the war, and of the 40 members who were killed. The names of the fallen occupy a central position on the scroll, and above them are the following words:-

IN MEMORIAM
OF THOSE WHO MADE THE
SUPREME SACRIFICE.
THEIR HEARTS ARE LIFTED UP
THEIR HEARTS
THAT HAVE FOREKNOWN
THE UTTER PRICE,
THEIR HEARTS BURN
UPWARD AS A FLAME
OF SPLENDOUR AND OF
SACRIFICE

The names of the fallen are as follows:- H. Armstrong, J.J. Brown, J. Barrett, Robt. Brown, W.W. Bell, A. Clayton, W.H. Coles, T.C. Chew, Tom Downes, T.M. Drummond, Jos. Emmott, Thos. Edmondson, J. Easterby, F. Gallagher, J.W. Garwood, G.E. Godwin, S.J. Hargreaves, M. Hargreaves, A. Hebden, J. Hebden, A. Hawkswell, T.E. Inman, M. Lund, R.C. [R.G.] Metcalfe, Hbt. Maudsley, Hy. Maudsley, A.J. Pimnock [Pinnock], H.Y. [Harry] Riley, T.W. Storey, J.H. Stewart, R. Spencer, J.W. Shuttleworth, Wm. Tempest, Hbt. Thompson, Fred Thornton, J.W. Varley, John Ward, J.A. Whittaker, J.W. Whittaker, and R.D. Whittaker.

The Unveiling Ceremony

The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Bro. Thos. Bellamy, and was performed by Bro. Amos Culpan, Prov. C.S., and a simple service included the singing of the hymns, 'O God our help' and Kipling's Recessional, 'God of our fathers,' and the reading of a portion of Scripture, and the offering of a prayer by Bro. James Greenwood, of Bradford, and formerly of Skipton.

Bro. Bellamy observed that those members of the Lodge whom they were met to honour went into battle, suffered untold privations, and, in many cases, made the supreme sacrifice. They gave their lives in defence of their homes and their country. Further than that, they gave their lives for justice and freedom, and in order that we might live. It was the duty of Oddfellows, equally as much as other sections of the community, to do everything within their power to make the country better for that sacrifice. "In the time of our prosperity," concluded Bro. Bellamy, "never let us forget those who served us in the time of our adversity."

A Lesson of the War

Prior to unveiling the memorial, Bro. Culpan described the ceremony he had been asked to perform as one not unattended by sorrow. It was an occasion upon which one felt a desire to make their Order better for the sacrifice of its members, and to extend the true spirit of brotherhood. In nearly 4,000 of their Lodges they would find a roll of honour. Over 22,000 of their members made the supreme sacrifice, and thousands of others were ruined and shattered in health and without prospects for the future. Each and all of them ought to perform some daily service that would make the sacrifice of those men worth while. One result of the terrible ordeal of 1914 to 1918 was the creation of a better feeling between men, and a desire to break down the class barriers that formerly existed. That was one of the great lessons of the war.