John Alfred Redick

27th July 1916: John Alfred Redick (33)

The first Norland fatality of World War I was Lance-Corporal John Alfred Redick, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme on 27th July 1916. He was the son of John and Rhoda Redick, who were born in Leeds and Pudsey respectively. John Redick, the father, was recorded in the 1901 census as a joiner and wheelwright, living at 4 Broad Street, Sowerby Bridge. At that time John Jnr was living at home with his parents, and was 18, single, and a plumber’s apprentice. He had an older brother, Moses, and four older sisters, Emily, Alice, Margaret and Sarah. 

John got married three years later on 14th August 1904 to Amy Hickman, who came from Wordsley in Staffordshire. On 10th September that year they sailed from Liverpool to New York aboard the RMS Lucania, presumably planning to emigrate, but for whatever reason they returned to the UK, for the 1911 census shows them living at 1 Naylor Street, Parkgate, Rotherham. They had adopted a child, Ada, who had been born in Laisterdyke in 1907. John was working at this time as an electric crane driver in a steel-works. At some point, they had come back to our area, with John employed on the railways. Their address at the time of his death is Old Fold, Scarr Head. 

His death was reported in the Halifax Courier on Saturday 19th August 1916:

“The first Sowerby Bridge ambulance man to fall in the present war is L.Cpl. John Arthur (sic) Redick, who resided at Old Fold, Scarr Head. Deceased was aged 33 and was married. The intimation was received by his wife on Wednesday. This was the brief official statement from the Record Office of the RAMC at Aldershot, stating that he was killed in action in July. L.Cpl. Redick was a native of Sowerby Bridge and was associated with the Wesleyan Mission Church, his name appearing on the roll of honour there. He was a member of the Lily of the Valley Lodge, Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, and during his brief stay in America he held high office in the Unity. He joined the RAMC in August of last year, and went to the front in October with the 100th Field Ambulance. Before enlisting he was employed on the permanent way by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.”

On the following Saturday (26th August) the Halifax Courier published the following letter that Amy Redick had received from Sgt. Major Reason of the Field Ambulance:

“10th August 1916

Dear Mrs Redick, 

Will you kindly accept my deepest sympathy with you at the loss of your husband, who has fallen nobly doing his duty for his King and country. He was a great favourite in the ambulance, always willing to do his bit and every NCO and man wishes to join me in expression of sympathy. His death cast quite a gloom over the boys. He was killed absolutely doing his best for the wounded, being on a car bringing the wounded into hospital. His death must have been instantaneous, as he was hit by a shell, as was his companion, who, I regret to say, was also killed.

Again expressing our deepest sympathy and trusting that under the sad circumstances the consolation that your husband died a true soldier, yes a hero, will help you through your terrible loss. Believe me, yours sincerely

F. Reason, Sgt. Major, no 100 Field Ambulance."

John Redick (64176) is also remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France, which commemorates all those who fell in the Battle of the Somme who have no known grave.

September 29th 1916: Edgar Hoyle (21)

The second fatality, also in the Battle of the Somme, was only 21 years old when he died but had already completed two years service in different theaters of the war. Edgar was the only son of Arthur and Mary Hoyle and the family lived at Windsor Terrace, Scar Head. Previously they had lived at Wood Top (1891) and Watson Terrace (1911). His father was a woollen cloth finisher and Edgar was a woollen piecer working for Messrs John Atkinson & Sons, Watson Mill. His two older sisters, Florence and Agnes, were both blanket weavers. The parents had already lost one daughter, Elizabeth, who died in 1894, aged 4.

The Halifax Courier of November 4th 1916 records that Edgar is missing:

"News has been received that Private Edgar Hoyle (12681) Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt., is reported missing from Sept. 29 or 30. His home is at Windsor Terrace, Scarr Head, Sowerby Bridge, and he is 21 years of age. He joined the army two years ago and served in the Dardanelles and Egypt prior to going to France. The family are naturally anxious and will welcome information."

Official news of his death only came eight months later, with the following report appearing in the Halifax Courier on 21st July 1917:

"Mr & Mrs Arthur Hoyle, Windsor Terrace, Scarr Head, have received official news that their only son Pte. Edgar Hoyle (12681), West Riding Regt., who has been missing since Sept. 29 1916, is reported killed on that date (or since). Aged 21, he joined up in October 1914, In civil life he worked for Messrs John Atkinson & Sons, Watson Mill, Sowerby Bridge."

The family inserted the following death notice in the same edition of the Courier:

"HOYLE: Missing Sept.29 1916, now presumed killed. Duke of Wellington's, only beloved son of Mr & Mrs Arthur Hoyle of Windsor Terrace, Scarr Head, Sowerby Bridge, aged 21 years."

He is also remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France and on his parents' grave in St Luke's churchyard. His name is also on the memorial removed from St George's Church, Sowerby, when it closed and which is now in St Peter's Church, Sowerby. 

14th November 1916: Arthur James Ritchie 

Arthur James Ritchie was born in Liverpool in 1896. In 1901, when he was 5 years old, he was living in a "doctor's house" at 2 Leathley Street, Hunslet, Leeds. His father had died, and his widowed mother, Alice, was living with her parents, Arthur and Emma Osborn. His grandmother is listed as a "housekeeper", presumably to the doctor, although no doctor is recorded as living at the house, and his grandfather is a butcher. They had originally come from Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. Ten years later the 1911 census finds them living at Ash Grove in Norland, not far from Sowerby Croft. His mother has remarried and he has a step-father, Richard Howarth, a railway labourer, born in Sowerby in 1867. His grandmother has died and his grandfather Arthur Osborn, now retired, is living with them. Evidence of further travels can be taken from the fact that he now has a sister, Elsie, who was born in Southampton in 1903. There are also two baby step-brothers, Leslie (2) and Maurice (1). Arthur, now aged 15, is recorded as being a "pawnbroker's assistant".

Five years later Arthur was initially a conscientious objector to the war and appeared before the Halifax Rural District Council Tribunal on Wednesday 15th March 1916. The following Saturday the Halifax Courier reported on his appeal to the tribunal (1):-

“Another conscientious objector, Arthur James Ritchie, pawnbroker’s assistant, Norland House, Norland, but employed at Todmorden, said he objected to killing. He had tried to enlist in a non-combatant force. He had held those opinions a long time. He had never thought of killing anything or anybody.

Mr Black: None of us have.

Mr Rawson: Will you be willing to help putting up barbed wire at the front, digging trenches, and bringing in the wounded?

Arthur Ritchie: Well, yes."

His appeal failed and six months later Gunner Arthur Ritchie (C Coy, Heavy Section, Machine Gun Corps), found himself in tank C14 on 15th September 1916 taking part in the prolonged Battle of the Somme. This was the very first involvement of tanks in the war, the new secret weapon designed to carve a way through the German defences. The Halifax Great War Heritage Society booklet “Calderdale People of the Great War” has a page devoted to Arthur Ritchie. It describes what the tank crews had to endure and what happened to Arthur in tank C14:

“Conditions inside these early tanks were appalling. High temperatures, noise, non-existent suspension and poisonous suffocating fumes from the internal engine all played their part. C14 developed a steering fault and got stuck in a shell hole. Some of the crew went out to try and dig out the tank. Arthur was left to man one of the two machine guns with a colleague. Eventually they all had to abandon the tank and make for the home lines. Arthur suffered severe wounds in his back and was evacuated to the base hospital at Abbeville where he celebrated his 21st birthday. His wounds did not respond to treatment and he died from septic poisoning on 14th November 1916.”

On Saturday 25th November 1916, his death was reported in the Halifax Courier:

“Gunner Arthur Ritchie: Information has been received of the death from wounds on November 14th of Gunner Arthur Ritchie (38051), who prior to the war was in business in Todmorden, and formerly of Moorlands House, Norland. He celebrated his 21st birthday in hospital, where he was kindly treated by the doctors and nurses. He was in one of the first tanks that surprised the enemy, but was unfortunately in one that had a mishap and he had to defend himself on foot, receiving a shrapnel wound in the back, which proved fatal, septic poisoning supervening.”

Arthur Ritchie is buried in France at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension and he is also remembered on the memorial board of St George's Church, Sowerby, now in St Peter's Church, Sowerby.

(1) At the same tribunal five other men from Norland appealed against conscription. Charles Wadsworth, a boot maker, Tom Waterhouse, a dyer’s labourer, and Clement Wilson, a farm labourer from Bailey Wood, all had their claims disallowed. Ernest Wadsworth, a dyer’s labourer and Christadelphian, of Watson Terrace, was allocated to non-combatant service (although he said he would appeal). Herbert Hitchen, a grocer from Sparkhouse Lane, had his claim as a conscientious objector turned down, but a further claim on domestic grounds as he had to run the business due to his father being ill, was postponed to a later tribunal.

May 3rd 1917: Lewis Dewhirst (22)

Lewis Dewhirst was born in Norland in 1896. At the age of 5, he is recorded in the 1901 census as living at Spring Terrace with his parents Isaac (b Norland, 1862) and Fanny (b Shrewsbury,1868) and his elder sister Maggie, who had been born in Norland in 1893. Isaac Dewhirst was a plumber. Ten years later (1911 census) the family is still at Spring Terrace and Maggie is now a cotton winder and Lewis a plumber’s apprentice, but whether with his father or elsewhere is not known. After his apprenticeship he started working on the railways and there is a trade union record showing that on 26th March 1915 he was aged 19 and a pipe fitter for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co. at Sowerby Bridge and a member of the National Union of Railwaymen.

On June 23rd 1917 the Halifax Courier reported that Lewis was missing in action:

"Official news has been received that Pte. Lewis Dewhirst, West Riding Regiment (18804), 1 Spring Terrace, Norland, has been missing since May 3rd. Before enlistment he was employed in the hydraulic department of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. He went to France May 9th 1916, and in the following July he was wounded, but was able to return to duty. He was 22 years of age."

Lewis Dewhirst is also remembered on the Arras Memorial in France.

 May 4th 1917: Robert Edgar Sutcliffe  (38)

Robert Edgar Sutcliffe was the second son of Robert and Mary Sutcliffe, who lived for many years at Washington House, Hubberton, near Sowerby. His father was a joiner and carpenter and he had four siblings, Honoria (b 1870), Frederick (b 1873), Albert (b 1884) and Mary (b 1887). Initially he worked independently as a fruiterer and greengrocer (1901 census) but later found employment on the railway as a goods porter. Like Lewis Dewhirst he was a member of the National Union Of Railwaymen (record dated March 14th 1915) and working as a carter at Sowerby Bridge. From his death notice it appears that he was also doing some farming in addition to working for the railway company.

In 1906 Robert married Sarah Elizabeth Balmforth (née Helliwell), who brought two children into the marriage, and the 1911 census shows them living at Ash Grove in Norland, the same address as Arthur Ritchie. Sarah had been living at Sowerby Croft in 1901 with her mother Ann Helliwell, son Horis (sic) (5) and baby Annice. There is no record of the first name of the father. In 1911 Horace is also working for the railway company as a train booker.

Robert enlisted in February 1916 in the West Yorkshire Regiment. 

The Halifax Courier reported his death on May 19th 1917:

"Pte. Robert Edgar Sutcliffe, 946, West Yorkshire Regiment, The Roughs (1), Norland, was killed on May 5th (2) by the explosion of a shell just outside his dugout. His wife has received word from Capt. Riarie (?.. not legible), who wrote: "We had just returned from a night working party in the trenches, and the men had got settled down when the shells began to fall round our billets. Pte. Sutcliffe was making his way to a safer spot. The poor fellow was just too late, and was caught by the next shell and killed instantaneously. He was buried the same day in a British cemetery, and a wooden cross with his name etc., erected over the spot. Pte. Sutcliffe was a splendid fellow, and we greatly feel the loss and sympathise with you in your sad bereavement."   Pte. Sutcliffe was 38 years of age. He enlisted in February 1916 and went to France the May following.  In civilian life he was ten years a greengrocer at The Nook, Sowerby Bridge, but for a time after that he had a farm in Norland. He leaves a widow, but no children. He was the son of the late Mr Robert and Mrs Mary Sutcliffe, Washington House, Hubberton, Sowerby."

Robert Sutcliffe is buried at St Nicolas British Cemetery, in a village on the northern edge of Arras in France. His grave carries the inscription "Duty nobly done."

(1) The Roughs is not listed as a separate place name on either the 1901 or 1911 census; was it an alternative name for Ash Grove?

(2) The Commonwealth Graves Commission records state that he died on May 4th 1917

June 3rd 1917: Fred Lord (27)

Fred Lord was born in Norland in 1890. At the age of 21 he was a warehouseman in the worsted trade and living at Oaken Royd at the southern end of Norland just above Triangle (1911 census). He shared the house with an older brother James (27), a cotton twiner, and two older sisters, Mary (39) and Amy (23), who were both worsted twisters. On 21st March 1914 Fred married Sarah Hannah Howarth from Sowerby at Halifax Parish Church and he continued to live at Oaken Royd with his new wife. He enlisted in July 1916 and was a Private in the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers. His death was reported in the Halifax Courier on 23rd June 1917, together with his photo:

“Pte Fred Lord: News has been received by Mrs Lord that her husband, Pte Fred Lord (45868), Northumberland Fusiliers, Oaken Royd, Triangle, was killed in action on June 3rd. Aged 27, he was in civilian life employed at Messrs William Morris & Sons Ltd, Stansfield Mill, Triangle, as a warehouseman for the past 16 years. He was connected with the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Norland. He enlisted on July 27th 1916 and received his training at Hornsea Bridge Camp. After 6 months there, he was sent to France on January 15th 1917. He was of quiet disposition and respected by all who knew him.”

In the same edition of the Halifax Courier was a death notice inserted by Sarah:

“LORD – Killed in action, June 3rd1917, Pte Fred Lord (45868), Northumberland Fusiliers, dearly beloved husband of Mrs Fred Lord, Oaken Royd, Triangle, aged 27 years.

In a far-off grave my husband lies

No one near him to bid him good-bye:

But the angels of Heaven are guarding his soul

Tell him I’ll meet him again at the call of the roll.”

Fred Lord is also remembered on the Arras Memorial in France.

July 13th 1917: Willie Lumb (30)

It is not clear what the Norland connection was for Willie Lumb, for census records show that the Lumb family were long standing residents of Little London Farm at Cotton Stones, which is not in the parish of Norland. His father, George (b 1846), is shown as a “farmer of 8 acres” at the farm in 1881. However, 10 years later in 1891 his widow Eliza (b 1853) is now the head of the household with 6 sons to look after. The oldest son, John (14), was listed as a cotton operative, Joseph (12) was a part time cotton operative but also still attending school, while her other 4 sons, Fred (8), Ernest (6), Walter (6) and Willie (4) were totally dependent on her. It must have been a hard life. By 1901 John and Joseph had left the farm, but all 4 younger boys were still living at the farm and now earning their keep – Fred as a joiner, and the others in a cotton mill. Ten years later in 1911 Eliza was still running the farm but now had 5 of her sons, including Willie, living at home, all single, all out at work and presumably helping her when they could. Willie was recorded as being a cotton spinner, but perhaps he gave this up, for the report of his death states that he was a dairy farmer. Willie enlisted in June 1916 and was in 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (40563).

The Halifax Courier reported Willie Lumb’s death in its edition on Saturday 11th August 1917.

“Pte William Lumb: News has been received by Mrs Lumb, Little London Farm, Triangle, that her son Pte William Lumb, aged 30 years, Northumberland Fusiliers, died in hospital on July 13th from wounds received. He joined the colours on June 11th 1916 and had been in France several months. In civilian life he was a dairy farmer on his own account at Little London Farm, Triangle. He was highly esteemed in the district and attended Mill Bank Wesleyan Chapel, where on Sunday a memorial service was held. Mr W Thurman (Greetland) occupied the pulpit and made special reference to the fallen soldier. The deceased’s favourite hymns were sung and the solo was given by Miss R Holroyd entitled ‘O Rest in the Lord’. Deceased has a brother at present at the front.”

In the same edition Mrs Lumb had inserted the following death notice:

“LUMB: At the First Casualty Clearing Station on July 13th 1917, Pte William Lumb (40563), Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 30 years, youngest son of Mrs Lumb, Little London Farm, Triangle.

He did his bit for Britain

But, oh! The fearful cost;

The blackness and the loneness,

I gave him and I’ve lost.

The birds sing and the sun shines,

And flowers bloom as before;

And people eat and drink still,

And time goes as of yore.

He did his bit for Britain,

He gave it full and free;

And fame has marked his name, but

The sun went out for me.”

From his sorrowing mother and family."

Willie is buried at Adinkerke Churchyard Extension, near De Panne on the coast in Belgium. Willie's brother, Walter, was also killed four months later on November 26th 1917, but he is not recorded on the Norland war memorial.

 August 6th 1917: Maurice Fleming Heap  (19)

Maurice was born in 1898 in the parish of Sowerby, probably at Thorpe near Triangle , which is the address his parents Squire and Elizabeth were living at in 1901. His father was a cotton spinner and his mother a loom weaver. Both his mother and grandmother (also Elizabeth) were born in Norland. His father died in 1906, followed by his mother in 1908. Maurice and his sister Annie (b 1899) went to board at the Blue Coat School on Harrison Road, Halifax. This was a charitable institution, set up by the legacy of Nathaniel Waterhouse (d 1645), which educated orphans. The 1911 census shows that there were 39 pupils at the school aged between 7 and 15. After leaving the school, Maurice worked for the Halifax Dyeworks Co. Ltd. (location?). It is not known where he was living (possibly on Spark House Lane) but he must have had some connection to Warley as he is also remembered on the memorial at St John's Church. He enlisted with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, but transferred to the 32nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, along with two friends, Clement Haigh and Fred Jagger, who had enlisted with him and who also both died in the war in 1917.

In 1921 his sister, Annie, married a Norland man from Clough Head, Selwyn Rawnsley.

The Halifax Courier of August 3rd 1918 published two In Memoriam notices from the family: The first was from his sister and aunt: "HEAP: In loving memory of Pte. Maurice F Heap, Royal Fusiliers, killed in action on August 6th 1917 'Somewhere in France'. From his loving sister and aunt, Spark House Lane, Norland."  The second, with similar wording, was from Mrs Waterhouse and family, 7 Spark House Farm, Norland, and Tom Waterhouse 'Somewhere in France. Mrs Waterhouse was his aunt Martha.

Maurice is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (photo)  south of Poperinge in Belgium. This is in a village that was behind the lines and was used for casualty clearing stations. It is a very large cemetery with 10,000+ graves.

March 9th 1917: Thomas Arthur Berry (29)     

Thomas Berry (b 1888) grew up at the Albion Inn at 26 Scar Head Road, which was run by his parents James and Mary. His grandfather, John, who was a blacksmith, had also lived there. He had three sisters, Emma (b 1884), Mary (b 1887) and Nellie (b 1890). In the 1901 census 13 year old Thomas was described as a woollen piecer, but 10 years later he was "assisting in the business", ie helping to run the pub. His sisters were also still single and at home, with one of them, Mary, working as an elementary teacher. Thomas played rugby for the Sowerby Free Wanderers club, with a Courier report (Aug.12th 1916) saying that he had "rendered good service".

Thomas enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery and at the time of his death was a gunner with B Battery, 312th Brigade (786151). The Halifax Courier reported his death on 24th March 1917:

"News has been received that Gunner Tom Berry, R.F.A.., son of Mr Jim Berry, Scarr Head, Norland (the well-known billiard player), was killed in action on March 9th. He was with Gunner Albert Cross, Chapel St., Sowerby Bridge, when a shell burst, killing them both. Gnr. Berry was a well-built young fellow, standing over 6ft, and was well-known in Sowerby Bridge district." 

The following week a fuller report appeared in the Courier:

"Mrs Berry, Scarr Head, Norland, has received the following letters of sympathy and of tribute to her son, Gunner Tom Berry, R.F.A., who was killed in action on March 9th. Major T A Arnold-Forster, officer commanding the battery in which Gnr. Berry was:- 'It is with the very deepest regret that I have to write to inform you that your son, Gnr.T A Berry, was yesterday killed in action in this battery. As you probably know, he was acting as cook for the gunners of the battery and yesterday morning at about 8.30 am, he and his assistant were both hit by a bursting German shell as they were coming out of the cook-house and were both instantly killed. I can assure you that the whole battery, officers NCOs and men, sympathise sincerely with you. Gnr. Berry had been in the battery since the formation and had won everyone's respect by the way in which he carried on his work, often under the most trying and difficult conditions. We buried him in the cemetery at Miraumont and it was my sad duty to read the burial service. The wound which caused his death was a bit of shell about the heart'.    Gnr. Robinson:- 'I understand that Major Arnold-Forster has already written to you about the death of your son, but I feel that, as his section commander, I must really write and express my greatest sympathy. Your son had been in my section since it was formed and I must say that he was one of the best and most cheerful men I had, and his loss will be greatly mourned by the whole battery. I was not present at the time of his death, but understand he was killed at once and suffered no pain."

Thomas was re-buried at Queen's Cemetery, Bucquoy in France, about 15 km south of Arras and not far from Miraumont. He is also remembered on his parents' grave, which is in St Luke's churchyard, and on the St George's Church memorial, which is now in St Peter's Church, Sowerby.

 September 20th 1917: Richard Longbottom (26)

Richard was born in Norland in 1891, when his parents Richard and Nanny lived at Clough Head. His father was a mason contractor, who may have been involved in building the Co-op and Sandal Terrace in 1895-96, for the 1901 census has the family living at 14 Harper Royd Lane (aka14 Sandal Terrace) which they owned. Richard Jnr. had four older brothers, Charlie, Fred, Irvine and Albert, and a younger brother, George, but census records sadly show that his mother, Nanny, also lost a further four children in infancy.  Richard trained to be an engineer and at the age of 20 had gone down to London, working as an engineer in a flour mill. The 1911 census shows that he was lodging at 48 Boxley Road, Victoria Docks, West Ham in the home of Eugene and Jane Spooner. At some point he returned to Norland and began working as an engineer in Sowerby Bridge. His mother Nanny died in the latter half of 1912, and his father on January 3rd 1916 (1), so the other brothers must have been devastated to lose him as well in 1917.

Richard had enlisted in November 1915 and become a rifleman in 21st Royal Rifle Corps. The Halifax Courier reported his death on October 20th 1917:

"Official information has been received of the death in action of Rifleman Richard Longbottom (7752), King's Royal Rifles, Rose Cottage (2), Norland. He was killed on Sept. 20th during an early morning attack, death being instantaneous. He was the son of the late Mr Richard Longbottom, builder and contractor, of Sowerby Bridge. 26 years of age, he enlisted in November 1915, going to France the following June. He was slightly wounded in August. Severely wounded again in Sept., he was sent back to England. He returned to France in March 1917, and went through some very severe fighting near Ypres. In civil life he was an engineer in the employ of Mr A Siddall, engineer and millwright, Sowerby Bridge. He attended St Luke's Church, Norland, his name being on the Roll of Honour there."  

Richard is also remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial at Zonnebeke near Ypres in Belgium and on his parents' grave in St Luke's churchyard.

(1) Richard Longbottom Senior's death merited the following Halifax Courier report on January 8th 1916: 

Death of a Norland Contractor: A familiar figure and an esteemed resident in Norland, Mr Richard Longbottom died on Monday at his residence, 14 Sandal Terrace. Although not  a native of that district (Ed. he was born in Barkisland!!) he had been resident in Norland for many years. A contractor by trade, he had the supervision of a good many local jobs, and was considered to be a very capable man at his work. He did not take any active interest in public affairs. Mr Longbottom was 63 years of age. He leaves a grown-up family to mourn his death, Mrs Longbottom's death occurring about two years ago. The internment took place on Thursday afternoon at St Luke's Church, Norland." 

(2) 14 Sandal Terrace and its furniture were put up for sale in May 1916 (HXC 6/05/1916). It is not clear how many of the brothers moved across the road to Rose Cottage.

October 9th 1917: Edgar Binns  (30)

Edgar was the son of Smith and Emma Binns and was born in Norland, with the family recorded as living at Moor Bottom in 1891. His father, Smith, had also been born in Norland, but his mother came from Kidderminster. He was the only son, but he had two older sisters, Sarah and Amy, and three younger sisters, Margaret, Gertrude and Ivy, all born in Norland. In 1901 the family were living at Scar Head and, aged 13, Edgar is listed as a Warehouse Boy. Ten years later Edgar is still living at home at Scar Head, but his job is now described as a packer in a dyer's warehouse. He enlisted in July 1916 in 1st/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

On November 3rd 1917 the family published the following death notice in the Halifax Courier: 

"BINNS: Killed in action on October 9th 1917, Pte. Edgar Binns (21848) West Riding Regiment, the beloved son of Mr & Mrs Smith Binns, Scarr Head, Norland, Sowerby Bridge, aged 30 years.

          He that giveth his life for another shall have everlasting life

          Not now, but in the coming years;

          It may be in the better land

          We'll read the meaning of our tears,

          And then, some time, we'll understand."  

The Halifax Courier reported one week later:

"Mr & Mrs Binns, Scar Head, Norland, have received official news that their only son, Pte Edgar Binns (21848) West Riding Regiment, has been killed in action in France on October 9th. He was 30 years of age and unmarried. He joined the army in July 1916, going out to France on January 1st 1917. After being out two months, he was invalided to Scotland with trench feet. He went out again in June. Prior to joining up he was employed by Washer Lane Dyeworks, and was a former scholar at Mount Zion Primitive Methodist Chapel, Norland."

Edgar is also remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial at Zonnebeke, near Ypres in Belgium.

February 22nd 1918: James Ramsden (32)

James was born in Batley in 1886. It is not clear when he moved to our area (1), but in 1911 he was lodging with and working for Richard and Sarah Habergham, who lived at Great House Farm, Soyland. James is recorded as both a servant and farm labourer. Later he worked as a carter for William Morris & Sons Ltd. at Stansfield Mill in Triangle. On October 12th 1912 he married Clara Walker at St John's Church in Cragg Vale and they then lived at 4 Stansfield Mill Lane. They had two children, Selwyn (b 1913) and Irene (b 1915). James enlisted in May 1917 and was a Private in the 8th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment (50660).

The Halifax Courier reported his death on March 2nd 1918:

"The death is announced at the Canadian General Hospital, France, from pneumonia, of Pte. James Ramsden of the North Staffordshire Regiment, aged 32, and married. His home was at Stansfield Mill Lane, Triangle, and before joining the colours he was a carter for Messrs Morris. He enlisted in May last year, and had been at the front about six months." It is not known whether he had been moved to the hospital because he had been wounded or because he was ill.

His wife inserted her own tribute in the same edition of the Courier: 

"RAMSDEN: Pte. James Ramsden (69069) died of pneumonia, February 22nd 1918 at Canadian General Hospital, Le Tréport, France.

          'We little thought when we said good-bye

           That we parted for ever and you were to die;

           But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow

           None but an aching heart can know.'

From his loving wife and children, Stansfield Mill Lane, Triangle."

He is buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery at Le Tréport, near Dieppe on the coast in northern France. His grave carries the inscription:

          'Christ will link the broken chain closer when we meet again.'

Clara moved to live in Hubberton.

He is also remembered on the War Memorial  at Triangle (a stone tablet on the outside wall of the old Triangle Inn).

(1) Does anyone have any information about his early years?