William METCALFE

31 August 1917

LONG PRESTON – Khaki Wedding

The third wedding in succession at Long Preston Church in which the bridegroom wore the King’s uniform took place on Monday morning at nine o’clock, when Pte. Wm. Metcalfe, Duke of Wellington’s, was united to Miss May Wooler, both being natives of the village. The ‘best man’ was Mr. Robert Slater, who was wounded on active service and has now been discharged. The bridesmaid was the sister of the bride. The Rev. A. Ingilby officiated. On Tuesday, the day after the marriage, the bridegroom returned to his military duties.

07 December 1917

METCALFE – November 22nd 1917 from wounds received in action on the Western Front, Pte. William Metcalfe, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, dearly loved husband of Mabel Metcalfe, Main Street, Long Preston.

07 December 1917

LONG PRESTON SOLDIER’S SACRIFICE

We regret to record the death of a Long Preston soldier on active service in France – Private Wm. Metcalfe, of the Duke of Wellington’s Territorials. A telegram was received by his wife on November 23rd to say Metcalfe was dangerously wounded and had been received at a Casualty Clearing hospital. This was followed by a letter to say he had succumbed to his wounds. He was married at Long Preston Church on August 27th last and returned to his military duties the following day. In civil life he was employed by Mr. J. Carr in the building trade. He was a very genial young man, always cheerful and brisk. He was a quick runner and a prize-winner in foot races in both civil and military sports.

On Sunday evening a memorial service was held at the Parish Church. The Rev. A. Ingilby, in his sermon, said:– “The call had come to one of them in the vigour of his manhood, who went out only a few months ago fresh from his marriage to fight for his King and Country, and he had answered the call and it was in his memory they were holding this service. Those lads who went away to meet death face to face must know that to each of them the call might come at any moment. It was a sad for those who remained to think of the young life taken away but the Master had called and who would not respond to the call, though it came in the noise of the guns and the turmoil of battle?”

The Long Preston Volunteers attended the service in uniform; Handel’s ‘Dead March’ was played on the organ and the ‘Last Post’ sounded on the bugle. The flag on the Church was at half-mast.

The matron of the Clearing Station wrote Mrs. Metcalfe that her husband had been brought in unhappily in a collapsed condition. All possible was done for him but he passed away without pain and was buried in the military cemetery near to -----.

Mrs. Metcalfe has received many tokens of sympathy for which she feels deep gratitude.

22 November 1918

METCALFE – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private William Metcalfe. who died of wounds on November 22nd, 1917.

There is a lonely grave in France
Where a brave hero sleeps;
There’s a cottage home in England,
Where his dear mother sits and weeps.
Although he sleeps across the sea,
Taking his well-earned rest,
He lives for ever in the hearts
Of those who loved him best.

From his loving Mother and Sister, Moor Lane, Long Preston.