Monday 30 May 2016

James Rackley 1891-1915

Lac-Cpl James Rackley, Barnsley Chronicle 4th December 1915.
 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born:
26th February 1891 Reading, Berkshire

Military Service:

Enlisted: 6th September 1914  aged 23
Regiment: York and Lancaster 1st/5th Battalion.
Service number and rank: 2234 Corporal
Entered Theatre of War: France 13 April 1915
Awards: The British War Medal, The Victory Medal, The 1915 Star

Death: 26th November 1915 age 24   
Buried:  Bard Cottage Cemetery.
Grave Reference: I. L.15

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Links & Notes:

James Rackley lived at 24 Honeywell Lane Barnsley

Lives of the First World War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission


RACKLEY (FRANCIS) JAMES Corpl No 2234, C Coy., 1/5th (Territorial) Battn. 
The eldest son of William Rackley, by his wife, Amy Rachael) born Reading, Berkshire on the 26th February 1891, he was a collier (miner). He joined the 5th Battn., the York and Lancaster Regt. 6th September 1914, after the outbreak of war; served with the Expeditionary Force in Grance from 13th April 1915 and was killed in action on the 26th November following.  Buried at Meriner Farm.  Second Lieut. H.H,Morrell, Commanding C. Coy; wrote: "He was one of the most valuable N.C.O's in the company and no soldier could have worked more cheerfully or willingly than he. Everybody in the company will miss him, and I can assure that he received every possible attention that lay in our power."  He was recommended for the D.C.M. for gallant conduct in the field. He married at St. Hilda's Church West Hartlepool, Mary Elizabeth (52 Honeywell Street, Barnsley) daughter of Robert Featherstone and had a daughter, Violet Kathleen, born 26th Jan. 1914. 

From De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 on Ancestry.co.uk

John Wildman 1895 -1916 (John Wilman)

Pte J Wilman Barnsley Chronicle 20th July 1916
with thanks to Barnsley Archives (This man's surname could be Wildman.)
Born: 1895

Military Service:
Enlisted: December 1914 aged 19
Regiment and Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment 7th Battalion
Service number and rank: Private 14/220
Awards: The British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Death:  1st July 1916 age 21

CWGC Remembered: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 14A & 14B

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

John Wildman was the son of Mrs Lawton, (formerly Wildman)  5 Margaret Street, Warrington.
  
Remembered:   
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Links & Notes:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lives of the First World War

A BARNSLEY WIDOW'S PROUD DISTINCTION.

YOUNGEST SON KILLED IN THE GREAT ADVANCE.

Mrs. Wildman of 24 Pleasant View Street, Barnsley has been the recipient of the sad news that her youngest son Pte. John Wildman of A Co., Second Barnsley Battalion, has been killed in action.  The news was contained in a letter from another son, Pte. William Wildman of the First Battalion. who was informed of the sad occurrence by Sergeant Major Ashcroft and the latter conveyed his deepest sympathy to Mrs. Wildman.  The deceased soldier would have celebrated his 21st birthday on the 21st of next month.  He enlisted at the age of 19 in December, 1914.  Prior to that he worked at North Gawber Colliery.  Sergeant Major Ashcroft expressed his sorrow at losing him as he had always been a good lad.  Mrs. Wildman, who is a widow, having lost her husband through a colliery accident, has also lost another son in a similar accident at Glass Houghton.  Pte. William Wildman, in civilian life worked at Wharncliffe Woodmoor Colliery.  In addition to the two already mentioned, Mrs. Wildman has three more sons serving - one in the R.A.M.C.; one in the Scottish Rifles; and the other in the Navy, thus giving her the proud distinction of having no less than five sons in the service of their King and Country.

The Barnsley Chronicle. 20th July 1916 with thanks to Barnsley Archives



Ernest Riddiough 1893 -1915

Cpl Ernest Riddiough - Barnsley Chronicle 21st August 1915
with thanks to Barnsley Archives
Born: 1893

Military Service:

Regiment and Battalion York and Lancaster, "C" Coy 5th Battalion
Service number and rank: 1818 Corporal
Entered Theatre of War: Egypt 13th April 1915
Awards: The British War Medal and the Victory Medal and the 1915 Star


Death:    17th July 1915  age 22  

CWGC Remembered: Ypres Menin Gate Memorial
Panel Reference: 36 and 55

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

Son of John and Esther Annie Riddiough, 20 Summer Street Barnsley.
  
Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial (he is listed as a Private)

Links & Notes:

Lives of the First World War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Tuesday 24 May 2016

William Barraclough 1886-1916

2nd Lieut. William Barraclough
27th October 1916 Sheffield Independent
with thanks to Find My Past

Born: 1886

Military Service:
Enlisted: **
West Yorks Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) 1st/5th Battalion.
Service number and rank:  2nd Lieutenant.
Entered Theatre of War: 6th December 1915
Awards: The British War Medal, The Victory Medal, The 1915 Star

Death: 28 September 1916 age 30  

Buried at: Mill Road Cemetery Thiepval
Grave Reference:  XIV D.7

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Mr. W. and Mrs. E. J. Barraclough, of Rothesay Villa, Victoria St., Barnsley.  

Remembered:  
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Links & Notes:


Lives of the First World War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Lieutenant William Barraclough of Barnsley, was previously reported missing and afterwards killed.  Lieutenant Barraclough married Miss Freda Mary Hinchliff, in the summer of 1916, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs Hinchliffe, Nether Mill, Penistone

Sheffield Independent 27 October 1916 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Monday 9 May 2016

John Henry Davies 1880 - 1915

John Henry Davies
3rd July 1915 Barnsley Chronicle with thanks to Barnsley Archives


Born: 1880 Newcastle upon Tyne

Military Service:
Enlisted: 17th January 1916.

Regiment and Battalion: Royal Engineers 71st Tunnelling Company, previously the 13th York and Lancaster Regiment (1st Barnsley Pals)
Service number and rank:  86554 Sapper
Entered Theatre of War:  France on 19th March 1915
Awards:  The Victory Medal, The British War Medal and the 1915 Star

Death:    20th June 1915 age 35
John Henry Davies was buried in an underground explosion
CWGC Remembered: Ypres (Meningate) Memorial
Panel Reference: Panel 9

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Davies, of 1, Mount Gardens, Northampton; husband of Esther Ann Davies, of 15, Vernon St. North, Barnsley.

Remembered: 
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Links & Notes:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lives of the First World War

John Henry Davies was a soldier in the Barnsley Pals Regiment, shortly after he enlisted, he was transferred to The Royal Engineers.

From the 1911 census  
John Henry Davies was born in Newcastle on Tyne
He married  Esther Anne (nee Lee)  born in Warwickshire
They had three children.
John William age 6 born Surrey
Charles Henry 2 born Surrey
George Richard 6 months born Barnsley

Thanks to Ancestry.co.uk
With thanks to H for the additional research.


Monday 2 May 2016

William Edward Briggs 1895 - 1915

William E. Briggs 14 August 1915 Barnsley Chronicle.
With thanks to Barnsley Archives
Born:  1895 Howden, Yorkshire

Military Service:

Enlisted: 5 November 1914 at the age of 19 years
Regiment and Battalion: York and Lancaster Regiment  1st/5th Battalion
Service number and rank: 2632 Private
Entered Theatre of War: France on 13th April 1915
Awards: Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1915 Star

Death: 2 August 1915 age 20  Killed in Action

Buried at: Talana Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Grave Reference: II. F. 11.

Remembered:

St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Son of Jessie Craven (formerly Briggs), of 8, Bubwith Rd., Brightside, Sheffield, and the late Seth Briggs. Native of Barmby-on-the-Marsh, Howden, Yorks.

Links & Notes:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lives of the First World War

William Edward Briggs lived at 80 Harborough Hills Road, Barnsley when he enlisted.
1901 Seth Briggs (William's father) was in a convalescent home in Rustington, Sussex and visitors were Jessie and William.
Seth Briggs was a railway engine driver.
Seth died in 1901 in the Barnsley district and Jessie remarried William Henry Craven in 1902 in Haslington, Lancashire.

With thanks to Ancestry.co.uk and FreeBMD.

Thank you  to my friend H for helping with the research.