William IRELAND (1)

21 July 1916

NEWS FROM SKIPTON SOLDIERS

We have received a letter from Sergt. C. Thompson, of the 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 49th West Riding Division, who encloses a photograph of sergeants in the A (Skipton) Company, which we regret that we cannot reproduce with any satisfaction owing to technical difficulties. Sergt. Thompson, writing on July 14th, says:– “I take the pleasure of writing a few lines to let you know that the boys and myself are in the pink. We had a good number of casualties while in the trenches, but those of us who are left are in the best of health and spirits. We have had a bit of trouble with the Bosch, but have come out top dog.

"I had the pleasure of reading the ‘Craven Herald’ last week, and it seemed like old times again to see the old familiar names and places talked about. It is a treat to get hold of the paper. Wishing your paper the best of luck, I remain,” &c.

The names of those in the photograph are:– Sergeant Pryke, Sergeant Ireland, Sergeant Hawley, Company Q.M.S. Cumberland, Sergeant (ex-P.C.) Thompson, Sergeant Fennerty, Sergeant McDermott, Sergeant Cutler, and Lance-Sergeant Carruthers.

24 August 1917

IRELAND – Killed in action on the Western Front, Sergeant Wm. Ireland, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mr. Edward Ireland, 7, King Street, Skipton, aged 26 years.

24 August 1917

SKIPTON SERGEANT KILLED IN ACTION

News has been received that Sergeant William Ireland, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, husband of Mrs. Ireland of 36 Westmorland Street, Skipton, and son of Mr. Edward Ireland of 7, King Street, Skipton, has been killed in action. Attached to the Territorials, he was called up on the outbreak of war and went to France with his regiment in April 1915. Sergeant Ireland, who was 26 years of age, was formerly employed as a weaver by Messrs. John Wilkinson, Park Shed, Skipton. He was married when over on leave in May last. He was a member of the Otley Street Baptist Church, and was connected with the Sunday School.

In a letter to Mrs. Ireland, Chaplain A.W. Watt writes:– “It is with deepest sympathy with you in your sorrow that I write in this your hour of sadness. Your loss coming so soon in your married life will make it intensely bitter to you. I have just returned from the military cemetery in which Sergeant Ireland and his companion in life – Sergeant Child – are laid side by side. The officers and men from his company were there to pay their tribute of respect to his memory. We are all very sorry indeed to lose him, both as a non-commissioned officer and as a man. He was recognised as one of the best of our N.C.O.s, but it is as one of my own congregation that I think of him. I always remember him as being at my first celebration of Holy Communion with the battalion, and his whole life was consistent with his religious profession. Gladly would we have seen him spared to work with us, but it was otherwise decreed. It has fallen to him to complete the faithful sacrifice of life by the laying down of that life. He has joined the many who have gone before, and are waiting on the other side with their earthly work completed. He was mercifully spared the lingering and pain which some have to endure. In your sorrow may you have the comfort and healing of our fellow sufferer and Saviour Jesus.”

Lieut. T. Coulthurst writes:– “I find it very difficult indeed to write and express my sympathy for you at the loss of your husband, as it is a great blow to all of us. It is impossible for me to tell you how greatly your husband was esteemed by all. I was recently in charge of ‘A’ Company, and I know what a loss they have had. Every officer had the greatest respect for him, and I know most feel his loss very greatly. I attended his funeral this morning, and he was carried to his rest by men from his own platoon, and I could see that they knew that they had lost one of the best friends they could ever wish to have. Please accept my deepest sympathy, and believe me we all feel very greatly for you, as your great loss is indeed ours as well.”

Second-Lieutenant C.H.R. Lowther also writes:– “I expect you will have heard by now the sad news of your husband’s death in action. I am sending you my very deepest sympathy in your terrible loss. Your husband was my section sergeant, so you can understand how greatly I feel his loss and how much I can sympathise with you in your sad bereavement. I shall never have a more painstaking and capable sergeant, who always justified the confidence put upon him by all the officers. I should wish to speak also for the men of his platoon, who feel his loss very deeply. He always thought of them at all times, and not only gained their respect, but also their admiration. I feel you would like to know about his last moments. He was very badly wounded by the same shell that killed his friend, Sergeant Child, of the same platoon. Although he was very badly wounded I am confident he did not suffer. He lived for half an hour, during which time he spoke of being in ‘Blighty’ soon. His last words were about you, in which he said, “Write and tell my wife about it.” He was laid to rest in a British cemetery and carried to his last resting place by men of his own platoon. I know in your great grief it is hard for you to realise what a loss it is to us as well. But I know his example, which will never be forgotten by ‘A’ Company, will always be the means of helping those who worked with him to carry on his splendid work. I enclose a letter addressed to you, which must have been the last he wrote before his death. If there are any other particulars I can give you in any way I shall only be too pleased to do so. Please accept through me the very deepest sympathies of No. 1 Platoon, who have lost one of the best friends they ever had.”

There are also four other brothers serving – Privates John and Arthur Ireland, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and who are both in France; Private Tom Ireland, also of the West Riding Regiment, who has served in France but has returned owing to suffering from muscular rheumatism and is at present stationed at Clipstone; and Private Edward Ireland, who is serving with the Engineers, and expects leaving England shortly for Egypt.

24 August 1917

SERGEANT VICTOR CHILD, SKIPTON

Sergeant Victor Child, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, husband of Mrs. Child of 14, Clitheroe Street, Skipton, was killed in action on August 12th. He is 32 years of age and leaves a widow and five children. He was a Territorial for eleven years prior to the war, and when hostilities commenced was called up and went out to France with his regiment in April 1915. His time expired last March, but he signed on again in June, and had any time been expecting a month’s leave. He was formerly employed as a dyer at Belle Vue Mills, and at one time was a member of the Skipton Congregational Church Brotherhood.

Lieut. T. Coulthurst, in a letter to Mrs. Child, states:– “It is a very sad letter for me to write and express my sympathy for you in your great grief. Whilst I was with ‘A’ Company I soon learned the value of your husband and what he meant to his company. I know what a great loss it is for them, as he was respected by all. I went to his funeral this morning; he was carried to his resting place by men from the same platoon as he was in, and it was very easy to see how greatly they felt his loss. Please accept my sympathy, as I feel very greatly indeed for you and know what a terrible blow it must be for you.”

Second Lieutenant C.H.E. Lowther writes:– “I expect you will have heard by now the sad news of the death in action of your husband. I was his platoon officer, and can sympathise with you very sincerely in your very sad bereavement, as I know better than most others his sterling qualities. He was not only thought very highly of by his officers, but by all who served under him. He was always cheerful and happy, and his good spirits had a wonderful effect on the men at all times. It is indeed a very great blow for No. 1 Platoon that we should lose your husband and Sergeant Ireland together. It may be some slight consolation to you to know that he was killed instantaneously, and therefore suffered no pain whatever. He died at 3 am. on Saturday morning, August 12th, whilst on duty, and was buried in a British cemetery and carried to his last resting place by men of his own company. I know this loss must be terrible for you and your family, but believe me, it is for us as well, as we have not only lost one of our best sergeants, but one whose cheery spirits and splendid example was of inestimable value to all who knew him. His children will always be proud that their father died so splendidly for his country, and left behind a memory never to be forgotten by the officers and men of ‘A’ Company. Please accept my deepest sympathies and those of the men of No. 1 Platoon for one whom they knew, with Sergeant Ireland, to be their very best friends.”

Sergeant Sam Patchett, of Skipton, also writes:– “It is with great sorrow that I am writing this letter to tell you what perhaps you already know. Victor died on August 12th. I was not with him when he died, but I am told that it was instantaneous, and that he felt no pain whatever. He was buried several miles behind the line along with Sergeant W. Ireland, who was killed at the same time. I and several others attended his funeral, and today some of the lads have placed flowers on his grave. I know you will feel the blow very much indeed, but perhaps it will help to comfort you a little to know that he died as a man doing his duty; a man who was absolutely fearless in action, and one who was well liked by all. To me he was a pal, and as a pal of his I feel it my duty to write you and offer you my deepest sympathy in your great sorrow.”

Private C.E. Newhouse of Skipton also writes offering his sympathy.

In his last letter to his wife, written the day before he was killed, Sergeant Child states:– “It is knocking on for winter now, and there does not seem to be any sign of a finish this summer so far, so I expect we shall be plodding on through another winter. We shall have to keep smiling and wait for the end. We have had a rough time of it lately and so have my men, but they stick it with a good heart. I had a Corporal wounded the other day. He is a Skipton lad, and they call him Knowles. He went out to the Front with me.”

30 November 1917

SKIPTON BAPTISTS’ MEMORIAL TO SOLDIERS

On Tuesday afternoon a three days’ sale of work was commenced in the Baptist School, Otley Street, Skipton, in aid of the Soldiers’ Memorial Extension Fund, by means of which it is intended to extend the premises in memory of the young men associated with the place who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the war. Seventy young men belonging to the church and school are at present serving with the Colours, of whom two, H. Maudsley (deacon and Sunday School superintendent) and H. Birch have been missing since May 3rd and August 17th respectively, while the following have given their lives in the great cause:– S. Bishop, J. McIntyre, J. Duckworth, G.A. Wilson, H. Greenwood, D. Collins, B. Peel (Sunday School secretary), H. Scott, A. Bruce, J. Metcalfe, A. Gill, W. Barraclough, E. Platt and W. Ireland…

09 August 1918

IRELAND – In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Sergeant Willie Ireland, West Riding Regiment, who was killed in France August 12th, 1917.

We have lost. Heaven has gained
One of the best this world contained.

From, his loving Sisters and Brothers in France and Egypt.

IRELAND – In ever loving memory, of my dear husband, Sergeant Willie Ireland, West Riding Regiment, who was killed in France August 12th, 1917.

We who loved him sadly miss him,
As it dawns another year,
In the lonely hours of thinking,
Thoughts of him are ever near.
It is sad but true, we cannot tell why,
The best are the first that are called on to die.

From his loving Wife, 36 Westmorland Street, Skipton.

08 August 1919

IRELAND – In ever loving memory of my dear husband, Sergeant Willie Ireland, killed in action August 12th, 1917.

No one knows how much we miss him,
Only those who have lost can tell
Of the grief that’s borne in silence
For the one we loved so well.

Remembered by his loving Wife, 36 Westmorland Street, Skipton.

IRELAND – In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Sergeant Willie Ireland, killed in action August 12th, 1917.

“Rest in peace.”

Ever remembered by his Brothers and Sisters, 13 Brookside, Skipton.

13 August 1920

IRELAND – In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Sgt. W. Ireland, killed in action, August 12th, 1917.

“Ever in our thoughts.”

IRELAND – In loving memory of my dear husband, Sgt. Willie Ireland, 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, killed in action August 12th, 1917.

Time does not change our thoughts of him,
Love and dear memories linger still.
Sunshine passes, shadows fall,
But true remembrance outlasts all.

From his loving Wife, 36 Westmorland St., Skipton.

12 August 1921

IRELAND – In loving memory of our dear brother, Sergt. Willie Ireland, who was killed in action in France, August 12th, 1917.

From sisters and brothers, 13 Brookside, Skipton.

IRELAND – In loving memory of my dear husband, Sergt. Willie Ireland, who was killed in action in France, August 12th, 1917.

Like ivy on the withered oak,
When all thing else decay,
My love for him shall still keep green,
And never fade away.

From his loving wife, 36 Westmorland Street, Skipton.