Wednesday 10 August 2016

George Donald Gray 1883 - 1917

George Donald Gray Barnsley Independent 5th December 1917
  with thanks to Barnsley Archives 
Born:
1883

Military Service:

Enlisted: October 1914
Regiment and Battalion:  York and Lancaster Regiment 2nd/4th Battalion
Service number and rank: Lieutenant 
Awards: The British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Death:  1917 age 34

Buried at: Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave Reference: I.A.6

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

George Donald Gray was the son of James and Elizabeth Gray late of Barnsley
  
Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial
Family gravestone in St George's Churchyard, Barnsley
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Memorial, Wakefield 

Links & Notes:

Lives of the First World War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

It was the practice of families to remember their loved ones who had been killed and/or interred in another country, on the family gravestone. 

Doncaster 1914-1918
FindaGrave - France
FindaGrave - Barnsley
Yorkshire Indexers


Harry Valentine Inwood Wicks 1880 - 1917

Harry Valentine Inwood Wicks Barnsley Independent 28 April 1917
with thanks to Barnsley Archives
Born:
1880
 

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion: East Surrey Regiment 11th Battalion (previously in the 13th Kensington Battalion of the London Regiment)
Rank: Second Lieutenant (previously Corporal 1435)

Entered Theatre of War:  France 3 November 1914
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914 Star.
 

Death:  2nd April 1917 age 27
CWGC Remembered: Arras Memorial

Panel Reference: Bay 6

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Henry Thomas and Constance Janetta Wicks, of "Danecote", Barnard's Green, Great Malvern, Worcs. Enlisted in 1914.
 

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Barnsley, St Paul's Church, Old Town, WW1 memorial

Links & Notes:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lives of the First World War
Imperial War Museum WW1 Portraits Collection

Barnsley Chronicle 28th April 1917 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

"Much sympathy is felt in Barnsley and district with Mr. and Mrs. H T Wicks of "Danecote" Barnsley, who have suffered a sad bereavement by the death in action of their only son, Second-Lieut. H.V.I. Wicks.  The gallant officer, who was 27 years of age, had seen much service in France, having left for the front on November 3rd 1914.  When war broke out he was a corporal in the Kensington London Territorials, and at once signed on for foreign service.  After nearly a year's service he was, on September 9th 1915 gazetted Second-Lieut. in the East Surrey Regiment.  On April 10th 1916 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and took part in the fighting on the Somme at Delville Wood, High Wood and Flers, during August and September.  He was on the Great Push near Arras, and April 9th took part in the successful advance on the south end of Vimy Ridge.  Three days later (April 12th) he was firing his machine-gun to support a further advance when he was shot through the head.  He was taken to the village of Fampoux where he died, having never regained consciousness.  His body was laid to rest in the village."

It is noted on 2nd Lieut. Wicks medal record that his father applied for his late son's medals and later for his 1914 clasp.


Henry (Harry) Bradley c 1885 - 1916

Henry ( Harry) Bradley Barnsley Independent 2nd March 1917
 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born:
1885

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion: York and Lancaster, 14th Battalion (2nd Barnsley Pals)
Service number and Rank: 14/1182 Private
Awards: The British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Death:  1st July 1916 aged 32
CWGC Remembered: Thiepval Memorial, France
Panel Reference:
Pier and Face 14A and 14B
 

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial
Barnsley, Somme Centenary Artwork, Barnsley Town Hall

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

From the Barnsley Chronicle 10th February 1917 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

ONE OF FOUR SONS
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley of 42 Rich Lane, Barnsley, gave four sons to active service.  They have now received news confirming their fear that one of them, Private Harry Bradley (32) was killed last July, since when he had been reported missing.



Tuesday 2 August 2016

Ernest Calvert Blackburn 1891 - 1915

Ernest Calvert Blackburn Barnsley Chronicle 5th June 1915
with thanks to Barnsley Archives
Born: 1891

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment 1st/5th Battalion
Service number & Rank: 2411
Entered Theatre of War: France on 13th April 1915
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1915 Star

Death:     24 May 1915 aged 24
Buried atY Farm Military Cemetery Bois - Grenier
Grave Reference: G 28

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of the late W.G. Blackburn and E.M. Blackburn of Barnsley

Remembered: 

Links & Notes:
Lives of the First World War

Ernest Calvert Blackburn lived at 72 Sackville Street, Barnsley