Victor Rupert ATKINSON

07 December 1917

SETTLE OFFICER KILLED - DR. F. E. ATKINSON'S ONLY SON

Second Lieutenant Victor Rupert Atkinson, West Riding Regiment, was killed in action on November 23rd, aged 20 years. He was the only surviving son of Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson, of 'Bowerley,' Settle, and grandson of the late Edward Atkinson, of Leeds and Harrogate. He was educated at Giggleswick Grammar School where he was in the O.T.C. On leaving, he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. and had fifteen months training with and the Cadet School at Berkhamsted. He received his commission in the beginning of March, and after three weeks at Clipstone Camp went to the Front on April 5th. We tender to the bereaved family the sincere sympathy of a host of friends in Craven.

07 December 1917

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

Mr. Slingsby also presided at a meeting of the Rural Council which followed.

OFFICIALS' BEREAVMENTS

The Chairman first referred in sympathetic terms to the bereavement which Mr. Rodwell, the surveyor, recently sustained in the loss of his son, Sec.-Lieut. Wm. Albert Rodwell, whom, he said, they all loved and respected. Lieut. Rodwell, who had been head boy of the Skipton Grammar School, was as fine a boy as ever walked. In the preparation of the mines for the blowing up of the Messines Ridge he had worked hard for his country, and he was one of those fine upstanding Englishmen whom the country could ill afford to lose. He moved that a resolution of sympathy be adopted with Mr. and Mrs. Rodwell in their great loss.

Mr. Slingsby also moved that a similar resolution be forwarded to Dr. Atkinson, the medical officer, who, he said, had also lost his son in this dreadful war. He had not known Dr. Atkinson's son personally, but he had heard him spoken of most highly, and he was sure they all felt the deepest sympathy for their medical officer.

Cr. W.A. Procter seconded both resolutions, which were carried in silence.

07 December 1917

MORE SKIPTON CASUALTIES - LANCE CORPORAL FRED BARRETT

Official news was also received yesterday of the death in action on November 23rd of Lance Corporal Fred Barrett, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, whose wife lives at 65, Newmarket Street, Skipton. The distressing news had come to hand a day or two earlier in a letter from Major Gilbert Tanner, who, after expressing his sympathy with the bereaved wife, continued:- "Your husband was killed by a shell which so seriously wounded Second-Lieutenant Atkinson (Settle) that he died a little while afterwards. Your husband was killed instantly and suffered no pain. He was one of the best soldiers in my company, and was marked out for further promotion."

Sergeant Arthur Gough, a well known Skipton soldier, has also written Mrs. Barrett a touching letter in which he says:- "Your husband was well liked by all who knew him. As you know, Fred was a great pal of mine. I have known him a number of years, and I assure you his death is a great loss to me. One great consolation is that he laid down his life as a soldier, fighting for his King and Country."

Deceased was 26 years of age and was the youngest son of Mrs. Barrett, of Russell Street, Skipton. He enlisted on October 12th 1914, and went to the Front in the following Spring. He was formerly in the employ of the Craven Lead Works, and played cricket with the Church Institute Club and football (outside left) with the Cononley Association Football Club. His elder brother, Private Arthur Barrett, Northumberland Fusiliers, lost his right arm in the early months of the war, and another brother, Corporal George Barrett, is still in France with the local Territorials.

21 December 1917

SKIPTON URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL - MEDICAL OFFICER'S BEREAVEMENT

The Chairman referred in sympathetic terms to the Medical Officer's bereavement in the loss on the Western Front of his only surviving son, and said that however painful such resolutions might be he thought the Council would wish in some simple form to record their regret at the great loss which had overtaken Dr. Atkinson and his wife. He moved, therefore, that the Clerk convey the Council's sympathy to Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson. The resolution was agreed to by the members rising in their places.

18 January 1918

SETTLE UNION - RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL: Letters from Bereaved Families

A letter was read from Dr. F. E. Atkinson thanking the chairman and members of the Council for their Motion of sympathy passed at their last meeting at the loss of his son. He added that the loss of such a son to him and his family would be a life-long grief, but the knowledge that he had been fighting to give peace and liberty to the world was helping in enabling them to bear their heavy burden. One could only hope that the war would be so ended that he and the thousands who had died like him would be satisfied because their sacrifice had not been in vain. - A letter was also received from Mr. T. Bradley, a member of the Council, thanking the members and officials for their expressions of sympathy and regret in his recent bereavement.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

SECOND-LIEUTENANT V. R. ATKINSON

Duke of Wellington's Regiment, son of Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson, 'Bowerley,' Settle. Killed in action in France on November 23rd, 1917, aged 20 years.