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17 August 1916 : Pte William Nettleton

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William Nettleton was born in Ossett, Yorkshire 15 July 1891, the eight child of Robert (a woollen cloth binder) and Elizabeth 'Betsy' née Roling. At the 1901 England Census, his parents, their 10 children and a grandchild, lived at 13, Ventor Cottages, Back Lane, Ossett - a three roomed dwelling. All those over the age of 13 worked, with four o...

23 September 1918 : Chief Mot Mech William Howson

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William Howson was born in Hellifield, Yorkshire 31 August 1888. His father was a railway engine driver. He had six siblings at the 1891 census and ten years later were joined by a nephew. All lived together at 37 Midland Terrace, Hellifield. William worked in the gas department of Hellifield Station before becoming a motor mechanic at Ilkley...

15 October 1914 : Pte Arthur William Heptinstall

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Arthur Heptinstall was born in Batley, Yorkshire in 1878, the son of James (a joiner) and Ann Heptinstall. Arthur was the seventh of their children born between 1864 and 1878. He enlisted in Bradford on 10 November 1899, joining 2nd Bn Royal Scots (Infantry) at the age of 21. He served in South Africa from 1900 to 1902 and in India from 1902 to...

26 October 1917 : Pte George Towler

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George Towler was born at Horton in Ribblesdale, Yorkshire on 22 April 1891, the son of John (farmer) and Rose (née Thwaite), the fourth child of seven. Age 20 at the 1911 Census George was working in Lancaster as a grocer's apprentice. He then emigrated to Canada. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a grocer's clerk in Alberta. H...

28 November 1917 : James Metcalfe

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James Metcalfe was born at Cray, Yorkshire on 5 November 1883. Aged 17, he emigrated to Masterston, New Zealand. At the outbreak of war in 1914 he was employed as a labourer in Whakatane. He enlisted into the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 12 October 1915 and embarked for Egypt on 5 February 1916. After several weeks in Egypt, he was transferred...

21 July 1916 : Pte Thomas R. Rigby

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Thomas Rigby was born in Slaidburn, Yorkshire in 1890, the son of Thomas E Rigby (a farmer) and Ellen (née Nutter) At the 1901 Census, age 11, Thomas (junior) was on the farm with his parents, his five brothers, sisters and a general servant at Lawson's House, Sawley, Grindleton, Yorkshire. Ten years on Thomas was working on the farm alongside t...

29 October 1914 : Fred Cockett

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Frederick (Fred) was born in Hawes, Wensleydale, in 1886. He was the son of Elizabeth Cockett and (it is presumed) Joseph Moore (they married in 1891). Frederick was the eldest brother of Gunner John Moore, who is also recorded on this site, who died from his wounds in 1918. In the 1891 Yorkshire Census, Fred, aged 4 years, was living with his g...

Leeds Pals Memorial

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The Yorkshire Dales can be one of the most picturesque spots in the UK. They can also be cold, windswept, wet and inhospitable. On the road out of Masham (pronounced Massam), which is a small town north of Ripon, are a couple of reservoirs, Leighton and Roundhill. The first of these – Roundhill – was commissioned by Harrogate Corporation in the...