Thomas Edward INMAN

11 October 1918

Private T. E. Inman, Skipton

Official news, was received yesterday that Private T. E. Inman, West Yorkshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Inman, 14 Albert Street, Skipton, was killed in action in France on September 17th. Formerly an overlooker at Belle Vue Mills, Skipton, and 27 years of age, Private Inman joined up in June last year and went to the Front five months later. He leaves a wife, one child and an adopted child living at 15 Keighley Road, Skipton. We will give a photograph next week.

18 October 1918

Private T. E. Inman, Skipton

The photograph is that of Private T. E. Inman, West Yorkshire Regiment, of Skipton, whose death in action on September 17th we reported last week. A touching letter of sympathy has been received by his wife from the Chaplain, who conducted the funeral service.

19 September 1919

INMAN – In ever loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. Thomas Edward Inman (Tom), 1st West Yorks., killed in action 17th Sept., 1918.

He left behind some aching hearts
That loved him very dear,
Hearts that never can forget,
For his memory is written here.

From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brother.

INMAN – In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Pte. Thomas Edward Inman (Tom), 1st West Yorks., killed in action 17th Sept., 1918.

Upright and just in all his ways,
Faithful and true to the end of his days,
Forgotten by some, to the world he may be,
But true to our memory he never will be.
‘Tis sad but true, we don’t know why,
The best are the first that are called to die.

From his loving Sisters Mabel and Maggie, Brother Ernest, and Nieces Violet and Margaret.

INMAN – In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Pte. Thomas Edward Inman (Tom), 1st West Yorks., killed in action 17th Sept., 1918.

Fondly we loved him, he is dear to us still:
But in grief we must bend to God’s holy will;
Our sorrow is great, our loss hard to bear,
But the angels, dear brother, will guard you with care.

From his loving Sisters Mary Ann and Jane, and Brothers-in-law Jack and John.

17 September 1920

INMAN – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. T. E. Inman, killed in action Sept. 17th, 1918.

Fresh in our hearts your memory clings,
Yet still our grief is sore;
But each passing year will nearer bring
The day we meet once more.

From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers.

INMAN – In loving memory of our dear brother, Pte. T. E. Inman, killed in action Sept. 17th, 1918.

The midnight star shines on the grave
Of the one we loved but could not save.

From his loving Sisters and Brothers, Jane and Jack, and Mary Ann and Jack.

INMAN – In loving memory of our dear brother, Pte. T. E. Inman, killed in action Sept. 17th, 1918.

‘Tis only those who have loved and lost
Who now realise war’s bitter cost.

From his loving Sisters and Brother, Maggie, Mabel, Ernest; and nieces Violet and Margaret.

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.