WW1 Sheffield men

[Daven]

Got him Daven, name on St Marks and the war memorial at Grenoside.

regards

Dean.

 

Have you heard the story of how in December 1916 , Charles Womersley cheated death when a piece of shrapnel hit his pocket watch and he survived.

I have a copy of the local newspaper report telling the story and a photograph of him

[dean1]

Daven i have this in his file,

image of him and his original wooden cross (Greno Hero's) also an image of the family headstone bearing his name at Ecclesfield cemetery, if you have more that would be good, especially all the details of the 'pocket watch' incident.

 

regards

Dean.

[Daven]

Daven i have this in his file,

image of him and his original wooden cross (Greno Hero's) also an image of the family headstone bearing his name at Ecclesfield cemetery, if you have more that would be good, especially all the details of the 'pocket watch' incident.

 

regards

Dean.

 

The newspaper article is dated Saturday 23rd December 1916 and reads -

Grenoside

WATCH SAVES LIFE

'There is little doubt but that Lce Corpl C Womersley.Y and L, eldest son of Mr Chas Womersley, Myrtle Villas, would recently have lost his life had it not been for the protection afforded him by his watch. A piece of shrapnel, about three-quarters of an inch long, penetrated the metal case of his watch, destroyed the works, but, fortunately, did not further harm him. The piece of shrapnel was found in his waistcoat pocket. It is worthy of remark that Lce Corpl Womersley was presented by his wife a wristlet watch, but this proving to be an unreliable timekeeper was disposed of, and the other, which has proved such a faithful friend, substituted. For many years Lce Corpl Womersley rendered excellent service as our village postman.'

 

I also have a copy of a photograph of him on his wedding day and one of him as a young boy with his family if this is of any interest or use to you.

Edited November 12, 2011 by Daven

[Daven]

My great uncle also died in WW1.

His name was John Thomas Taylor, born in Dore 1893 and died 15th April 1918

He married my Nans sister, Amy Dinsdale, on 24th February 1915

If you have any more information about him I would be very interested.

Also, Johns brother, Edwin Andrew Taylor, born Dore 1897 and died 5th November 1918 (very nearly made it).

Edited November 12, 2011 by Daven

[dean1]

Thank you for that Daven.

I have John Thomas and Edwin Andrew on the data base (Dore War Memorial)

I can tell you that there is an image of a 'J.T. Taylor, Pte. of Dore, wounded' in the 22/5/17 edition of the Sheffield Independent, of which you can view and print a copy off at Sheffield's Local Studies Library.

Yes please to any images/info you have, i'll PM you my email addy.

 

regards

Dean.

[hillsbro]

Here are two .photos of Charles Cecil Betts' grave in Gouzeaucourt New British cemetery - see post #71.

[Banker]

Here are two .photos of Charles Cecil Betts' grave in Gouzeaucourt New British cemetery - see post #71.

One young man of the millions who died. Such a waste...

[Chris_66]

I am trying to find out more information about Private James Wood, Service number 13712, who died in World War 1 on 18/04/1915. He was in the 2nd Battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and his memorial is on the Menin Gate. He was the brother of my grandmother and the family lived in Loxley, where they worked at the Green Wheel House Steelworks. He is listed as missing. Any help would be much appreciated.

[hellsbell]

Hi, my great grandfather was killed in WW1, his name was James Timmins, he was killed 09/10/17 and his service number was 32250, he was 21 when he died leavings nan at the age of 18 months, my nan told how he came home after braking his leg and was told he didn't need to return once healed, he went back to fight for his country and was killed in action. When he did return he brought a cameo ring for my great grandmother which has now become a family hairloom. I visited Tyne cot memorial cemetery a few years ago to see his name etched in the wall, it's such a sad experience but you do feel a sense of pride too.. If you could find anymore info it would be gratefully received.

[susie1]

Hello, I have two ancestors who were involved in WW1.

My great uncle, Frank Walter Fletcher (Service No 30925), served with 7th Battalion KOYLI and was killed on 18/9/1917, aged 20. His battalion served in the 61st Infantry Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division. The 61st Infantry Brigade fought in the Battle of Langemarck 16 August, 1917. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to find out where 7th Battalion KOYLI were between 18 Aug (when they came out of the line) and Sep 20th 1917 when they were involved in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Frank's name is listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial. I had visited Tyne Cot several times without realising that he is commemorated there, so, when I went again last year with some friends and my eldest son, we were able to say prayers for him and for all the others who lost their lives in that horrendous carnage. At the time of Frank's death, the Fletcher family were living at 20 Court, 12 House, Hammond St., Sheffield. My grandparents were Walter and Elizabeth, their other children were: Ada Beatrice, Lucy Ann (my gran), Ernest, Alice and Eliza - any other descendants out there?.

My mum's father, Lance Corporal Lawrence Sanders (Service No 32010 - he was married to Lucy, see above), was invalided out of the York and Lancs on 27 November 1917. He had originally enlisted with the Territorial Force in 1913, probably the 4th Battalion York and Lancs (The Hallamshires). He later served with the 13th (Service) Battalion Y&L known as the "1st Barnsley Pals". At some stage, (again not yet been able to identify exactly when) he was gassed and suffered schrapnel wounds resulting in his discharge. He never worked again, because of the effects of the schrapnel in his body and head, and the damage done to his lungs by the gas (he later contracted TB). He died 10 May 1948 aged 52; I have a photo of him taken a couple of years before his death and he looks like a man of 75 -80. By trade he was a table blade grinder, as were his father and several of his brothers. One of his brothers, Albert, was the Sanders in the cutlery firm at Globe Works on Penistone Rd called Sanders and Bowers and another brother, Ernest, (late Bellhouse Rd and Hyde Park Flats) was one of the last of the Sheffield grinders. Lawrence was never able to work again after the First WW, and because the Army Pension wasn't sufficient to support a family, they went from being reasonably well-off to nearly destitute. My mum said they were always hungry, had only the clothes they stood up in, and she never had new clothes until a couple of years after she started work - she was the eldest child in the family, so her wage was needed to support the rest of the family. Her brother, my Uncle Ernest (killed WW2) passed the Scholarship and got a place at King Edward VII Grammar School, but was not able to take it up, because the family could not afford the uniform etc.

I'm now 64 and, in my opinion, these days we "don't know we're born". Poverty, as experienced by my parents' and grandparents' generations is, I'm glad to say, a thing of the past. We owe such a large debt those who fought in both WWs, so thank you for taking the trouble to document the WW1 story and compile this data bank.