Thomas FITZSIMONS

05 November 1915

STEETONIANS RE-UNITE

In a letter to his parents, Pte. W. H. Teale, 9th Battalion Duke Wellington’s, described and expressed the pleasure it gave to those present at a gathering of Steeton soldiers at a town behind the firing line “Somewhere in France.” The party included, in addition to Private Teale, Privates Tom Fitzimmons, Prince Dawson, Robert Anderson, G. Stott, and Tom Roberts, along with a trio of Steeton soldier brothers – Privates Willie Dove, Jim Dove, and Matthew Dove, the two last-named being in the Northumberland Fusiliers. The first-named five were several years’ ago prominent players in the Steeton Association football team and are now figuring in the ‘greater game.’ Privates W. Dove, Dawson, and Fitzimmons are with the 6th Battalion (Territorials), and the remainder of the party are ‘Kitchener’s Boys.’ It had been expected that a trio of Steetonians from the 10th Battalion of the ‘Dukes’ should be present, but the ‘Huns’ claimed their respectful attention.

10 December 1915

A STEETON SOLDIER’S DEATH

Another brave Steeton lad has laid down his life for his country in the person of Private Tom Fitzsimmons, of the 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s, the sad news being conveyed through a letter to his parents, whose only son he was, and who reside at Station View, Steeton.

Second-Lieut. Holland, in conveying the news stated:– “I am very sorry indeed to have to tell you of the death of your son yesterday (Friday, December 3rd). He was killed by a rifle bullet whilst on duty with a machine gun section in the front firing line trench. I know what a shock this news will be to you. I am afraid I can offer to you no consolation. You have my deepest sympathy in your trouble, as have all those whose dear ones fall in this terrible war. Your son was given a quiet burial this morning, (Saturday, December 4th) in a little cemetery about a mile behind the firing line, with the other fallen heroes, who are now with God in a place where there is no more war. I pray that God will give you strength to bear up bravely in your affliction. Your son’s personal effects will be forwarded to you in due course.”

Private Fitzsimmons, who was 23 years of age, enlisted in September, 1914, and went out to France during the last summer. Keen of outdoor sports, deceased was a very prominent football player in the Keighley and District League, assisting first the Steeton C.L.B. Club, and then the Steeton and Keighley St. Ann’s Clubs to reach the final ties of the Keighley Charity Cup Competition, and he was one of the eight Steeton soldiers of different battalions now in France who re-united behind the firing line a few weeks back.

17 December 1915

FITZSIMONS–December 2nd, killed in action in Belgium, in his 24th year, Private Thomas Fitzsimons, 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Palframan, Station View, Steeton.

17 December 1915

STEETON-WITH-EASTBURN – MEMORIAL SERVICE

A service in memory of Private Thomas Fitzsimmons, 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, whose death was reported last week, was held at St. Stephen’s Church on Sunday afternoon. The vicar, Rev. W. Seelly, conducted the service, which was largely attended by relatives and former friends of the fallen soldier, who was, previous to reaching the age limit, a member of the Steeton St. Stephen’s Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade, and also a Sunday School scholar at St. Stephen’s.

During the past week further details as to how the late Private Thomas Fitzsimmons met his death are to hand. Writing to the fallen hero’s mother, Lance-Corporal Wallbank, of the Machine Gun Section to which the deceased soldier was attached, says:– “I write these few lines to express my deepest sympathy at the loss of your dear son Tom. I can assure you, his death was instantaneous and he died with a smile on his lips. Do not grieve, as he is with God in a place where there is no more tears or sadness. He has paid the price his country demanded, and he did it with a good heart, and let this help you to bear the loss. He had been with my section ever since he joined the Machine Gun Section, and he kept us all alive and cheerful with his wit. He was always bright and cheerful whenever or whatever he had to do, and always did it with a cheerful spirit. It was about six o’clock on Thursday night, December 2nd, that his death occurred. We were mounting our gun and he was shot in the neck with a bullet from the German lines. I will see that you get all his personal belongings as soon as possible. You have the sympathy of all the Machine Gun Section and also my own.”

15 September 1916

CRAVEN VILLAGE INSTITUTES – IDEALS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

The quarterly meeting of the Craven and District Village Institutes’ Association was held at the Steeton Mechanics’ Institute on Saturday afternoon, under the chairmanship of the Rev. A.C. Blunt, of Gargrave, the newly-appointed president for the ensuing year. Delegates were present from Gargrave, Oakworth, Cross Roads, Kildwick, Steeton, Cononley, and Gisburn.

Mr. Alfred Stell, president of the Seeton Institute, extended a cordial welcome to the new president and the delegates…

Appreciative Letter from the Trenches

The Secretary (Mr. J. Holdsworth) next read the following letter from Captain Cedric F. Horsfall, the late president, written from the trenches in France:–“Many thanks for your letter which I received a few days ago in the front trenches. You have, of course, done quite right in electing another president, and just as I should have wished you to do. I feel as though I have been of little or no use during my two years of office, owing to the circumstances over which I have had no control. After the war I assure you and your Association that you shall have my active support, as I know there is much scope for your work, especially after this war, and when unavoidably the home ties of many of the men will be weakened. I can see some difficulty in preventing wholesale emigration from our villages to the towns and the colonies, and every inducement will be required to keep them in the villages. I think the Institutes might do much to meet this need. I wish you to convey to your Committee my sincerest thanks for the honour they have done to me in allowing me to keep the position of president during these two eventful years. I wish you every success in your work in the future and I am sure that you will get much valuable advice and assistance from your new president, Mr. Blunt. I hope it is not out of place if I add a word of admiration of the men in this Battalion, many of whom come from our villages, and most of whom have been members of the various Institutes. They have not had an easy time lately, but they seem to thrive on work and do it with a good heart, and shelling hardly disturbs them at all.”

STEETON’S ROLL OF HONOUR

Mr. W.J. Johns, of Oakworth, moved that the Association express its sincerest sympathy with the village of Steeton in the great sacrifice that it had been called upon to make in the prosecution of the war. Mr. Weatherall, of Cononley, having seconded.

The Secretary read a list of the Steeton men who have been killed and wounded as follows:–

Killed – W. Dawes, Herbert Dove, Prince Dawson, Wm. Brooksbank, James Dove, Fred T. Ellison, Spencer Cliff (missing), Joseph Hales, Ewart Myers, Thos. Fitzsimmons, Wm. Robson, Thos. Robson, Arthur Smith, Wm. A. Teale, Richard Nicholson, Norman Waterhouse, Clarence Wilson, J. Nelson, Wm. Naylor.

Wounded – John Brooksbank, Wm. Brayshaw, Matthew Dove, Robert Anderson, Percy Race, Fred Baldwin, Fred Greenwood, Frank Throup, Ernest Cooper, Robert Williams.

The Secretary added that many of the wounded men were back in the trenches again, and it was also stated that several of the soldiers had been members of the Steeton Institute.

The resolution of sympathy was carried by the delegates rising in their places…

01 December 1916

FITZSIMMONS – In loving memory of Pte. Thomas Fitzsimmons, 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, killed in action in Belgium, December 2nd 1915 in his 24th year.

A loving son a faithful friend,
One of the best that God could lend.
He nobly answered duty’s call,
His life he gave for one and all,
But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow
None but a heart that’s torn with sorrow can know.

From his Mother for her only child.

12 January 1917

STEETON’S GALLANT DEAD

Happily there has during the closing months of the past year been few casualties amongst Steeton’s soldiers to report. Since the commencement of the war the following well-known local soldiers who have been residents in the village have given their lives for the cause of right and humanity.–Arthur Smith, Willaim Dawes, Herbert Dove, Thomas Robson, James Walker (died in training period), Willie Brooksbank, Ewart Myers, Thomas Fitzsimons, Prince Dawson, Fred Ellison, R. Nicholson, W.H. Teale, William Naylor, William Robson, Joseph Hale, Clarence Wilson, Mathias Dove, James Dove, John Nelson, whilst to add to the above are the names of Spencer Cliff missing since the ever-to-be-remembered landing at Suvla Bay in August, 1915, and Wright Cockshott who has been included in the list of those missing since the early autumn of 1916. Several soldiers whose occupations necessitated residence in the village previous to the war have ‘made the sacrifice’ but are not included in the list.

05 December 1919

FITZSIMONS – In ever loving memory of my dear son, Private Thomas Fitzsimons, 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, killed in action in Belgium, December 2nd, 1915.

“Though death divides, still memory clings.”

From his ever loving Mother.

26 November 1920

STEETON – War Memorial Token

Included amongst the floral tributes placed at the base of the Steeton War Memorial on October 30th was one in remembrance of Thomas Fitzsimon, from his mother and stepfather.