John W. Sharpe 1897 - 1917

John Sharpe Barnsley Chronicle 27th October 1917
with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born:
1897

Military Service:
Regiment: 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
Service number and rank: 36995 Private
Awards: The British War Medal, The Victory Medal

Death: 23 September 1917 aged 20
Buried at: Mendringham Military Cemetery in Belgium
Grave Reference:  VII.D.7

Information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

John W. Sharpe was the son of George Henry and Mary Annie Sharpe of 16 Berry Row, Westgate, Barnsley.

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

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

John Sharpe was also known as John W. Sharpe. It is interesting that my mother lived on Berry Row, Westgate, Barnsley.  It was sometimes called Back High Street.

William Scaife 1895 - 1917

William Scaife Barnsley Chronicle 16th June 1917
with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1895

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion York and Lancaster 14th (Service) (2nd Barnsley) Battalion
Service number: 14/199 Private
Awards: The Victory Medal and the British War Medal

Death: 13th April 1917 age 22
Buried at: Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension in France
Grave Reference: E. 32.

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

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

Joseph Patrick Chambers 1880 - 1917

Joseph Patrick Chambers Barnsley Chronicle 5th January 1918
with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1880

Military Service:
Enlisted: October 1914
Entered Theatre of War:  15th January 1915
Regiment and Battalion: Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 1st/4th Battalion  
Service number and rank:  3/2760 Lance Corporal

Awards:  The Victory Medal, The British War Medal and the 1915 star.
Death: 20th October 1917 aged 37
CWGC Remembered: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel Reference: 108 to 111

Remembered:
St. Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

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

A BARNSLEY LANCE - CORPORAL KILLED AFTER THIRD VISIT TO FRANCE.
Lance-Corporal Joseph P. Chambers K.O.Y.L.I. whose home was at 16 Westgate, Barnsley has fallen in action at the age of 37 years and he leaves a wife and three children. The deceased soldier enlisted in 1914 and had twice invalided home from France, the last time he returned being the latter end of July last.  Before the war Lce-Cpl., Chambers worked for Mr. Wm. Shaw, botanical brewer, of this town.

From the Barnsley Chronicle  with thanks to Barnsley Archives

CHAMBERS - In affectionate remembrance of Lce-Cpl Joseph Patrick K.O.Y.L.I., the beloved husband of Clara Chambers, who was killed in action October 20th 1917. aged 37 years.


From the Barnsley Chronicle 5th January 1918 with thanks to Barnsley Archives


  

Charles Frederick Barham 1886 - 1917

Charles Frederick Barham Barnsley Independent 28th April 1917
with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1886

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion
Service number and Rank: 31258 Private
Awards: The British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Death: 9th April 1917 age 31
Buried at : Cemetery Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport) Farm
Grave Reference: VII. L.18.

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Charles Frederick was the son of Charles Robert and Elizabeth Barham and the husband of Eva Mary Barham of 8 Minden Street, Irlams-O'-th'-Height, Manchester.

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial
Barnsley Co-operative Funeral Care Memorial Tablet and the Barnsley Co-operative Funeral Care Roll of Honour 

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

From the Barnsley Chronicle 28th April 1917  with thanks to Barnsley Archives

WELL-KNOWN CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYEE PRIVATE C.F. BARHAM KILLED.
The death in action on April 9th of Private Chas. F. Barham, aged 31 years is deeply deplored by his many friends in Barnsley and Ardsley.  He was the eldest son of Mr. C. R. Barham and before enlisting last year in the Y and L he had for nine years been engaged on the clerical staff of the Barnsley Co-operative Society's grocery distributing depot.  His wife was a daughter of Mr. J. H. Bagshaw of Stairfoot, the newly-appointed chairman of the Ardsley Urban District Council, and they resided at 64 Gawber Road, Barnsley.  Mrs. Barham has been the recipient of many tokens of condolence in her sad bereavement.  Captain and Adjutant H. Hind wrote " Dear Mrs. Barham - it is my painful duty to have to inform you of the death of your husband who was killed in action on 9th April, during an intense bombardment.  Death was caused by shellfire and was instantaneous  It may be some comfort  for you to know that the body was afforded a decent burial.  Sympathy, I know, will not alleviate your grief but I venture to offer it as a friend, having been in close touch with your husband as his Platoon Commander.  He was a splendid soldier and stuck to his post displaying the greatest courage and coolness despite the almost super human nerve strain I again, offer my sincerest condolences.

Barnsley Chronicle 28th April 1917 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Frank Bakel 1892 - 1917

Frank Bakel  Barnsley Chronicle 2nd June 1917 
With thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1892

Military Service:
Regiment: York and Lancaster Regiment 14th Battalion
Service number and rank:  No Service number due to rank  2nd Lieutenant.
Awards: The Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Death: 20th May 1917 aged 25
Buried at: Baileul Road East Cemetery St. Laurent Blangy, Calais.
Grave Reference: I.K.3

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
The husband of Constance Priscilla Bakel. who lived at "Oaklea", Westville Road, Barnsley. He was the son of widowed Robert Bakel.

Remembered:   
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial
St Pauls Church Old Town Barnsley
Barnsley Holgate Grammar School Old Boys WW1

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

NB Lieutenant Frank Bakel's brother Walter served too, he survived.

Joseph Bly 1896 - 1917

Joseph Bly Barnsley Chronicle 24th November 1917
with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born 1896

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion: York and Lancaster 6th Battalion
Service number and Rank: 14/891 Private
Awards: The British War Medal, The Victory Medal

Death: 9th October 1917 age 21
CWGC Remembered: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel reference: 125 - 128

Additional Information from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission:
Joseph Bly was the son of John and Susan Bly, 16 Old Mill Lane Barnsley.

Remembered:
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial

Links & Notes:
Lives of the First World War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
York and Lancaster Regiment
Every Man Remembered

It is very sad to note that Joseph had a brother named Patrick, who fell a month before Joseph.  So very sad for their parents. Every Man Remembered

Charles William Davidson 1869 - 1917

Charles W Davidson Barnsley Chronicle 3rd November 1917
with thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born : 1869

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion: 11th (Prince Albert's Own Hussars) 
Service number and rank: 513093 Corporal.
Awards: The British War Medal, The Victory Medal

Date of death: 11th October 1917 aged 48
Buried at: Malo-Les-Bains Communal Cemetery in France
Grave Reference:  I.A.26

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Richard and Rebecca Davidson, the husband of Charlotte Davidson of 38 Kingsbury Place Cwmaman, Aberdare, Glamorgan. He was born in Barnsley.

Remembered: 
St Marys Church Barnsley Combined War Memorial
Barnsley, St Paul's Church, Old Town, WW1 memorial 

Links & Notes:
Lives of the First World War
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Every Man Remembered

From the Barnsley Chronicle 3rd November 1917 with thanks to Barnsley Archives

WELL-KNOWN BARNSLEY MAN KILLED

Corporal C.W. Davidson who was well-known in Barnsley, has given his life in the struggle for freedom.  Before the war, Cpl. Davidson was the caretaker of Barclay's Bank, Church Street, and prior to that he was the caretaker at the Beckett Hospital.  He was an old army man, having seen seen service in the South African campaign, and when the present war broke out he made several attempts to rejoin, being finally accepted in a Cavalry Regiment.  He leaves a wife and three children who reside at 25 Church Street and with whom much sympathy has been expressed.  Evidence of the esteem in which deceased was held in the service contained is a large number of letters which Mrs. Davidson has received, said below we were given extracts from some of them.

The Archdeacon of Lewes, the Rev. H.K Southwell, who is now the Assistant Chaplain General at the headquarters of the Fourth Army B.E.E. wrote under date date October 19th :-  "Dear Mrs. Davidson,- I am most deeply sorry that I have to send you this letter with news that you are unprepared for and I wish I could have done something to break it to you more gently, but if I hesitate about writing, the news must come to you from others.  I am grieved to say that your husband, Corporal Charles William Davidson was killed her last night by a bomb.  It may be a help to you to know he could not have suffered, as death must have been instantaneous.  He was with his horses when a bomb fell close by, wounding him in five places and he died immediately.  He has been a most faithful man and was respected by all here who knew him, and he died when he was about to do his duty.  I am laying him to rest tomorrow morning at 10.30 in the French Cemetery and we shall place a cross over his grave and in due time I hope to be able to send you a photograph of it.  We here are all sorry for you and the children and I pray that God may comfort and strengthen you in your great loss and sorrow.  No words can help much at such times as this, the sorrow seems too great for comfort, but God knows this and I am sure will give you strength and help you in your care of the children he has left to you".  The rev. gentleman two days later wrote informing Mrs. Davidson that the interment had been carried out as promised.  "The Army Commandant and his A.D.C's were present and the Camp Commandant and many of his own Regiment and other cavalrymen were the bearers and escort.  The grave is a single one and the cross will be up this week.  The Rev. T.H. Masters. C.F., assisted me at the service and all was as reverent as you would wish.  I will put flowers on his grave and it will be well cared for"  H. Rawlinson wrote from headquarters ex-pressing his sorrow and added " Corporal Davidson has been with me for so long and has always done his duty so exceedingly well that I feel his loss very deeply.  No one else at my headquarters was even wounded on that night and your husband was the only casualty.  The bomb fell some 30 or 40 yards away from him, but a fragment struck him in the chest and he died in a few moments.
Pte. W.H. Balch also sent a letter conveying the sympathy of himself and two comrades - Privates Brennan and Clarke.  "Your husband was liked and respected by all ranks,from the highest to the lowest and I can assure you that he is greatly missed.  I and a few more men were severely shaken but otherwise escaped injury and his old horse is going on quite well, though he was slightly wounded.  His children can always remember that their father died doing his duty for England and "home".