Newspapers also reported Bradford men serving in regiments based far beyond their home city from the Highlands of Scotland to all parts of England. In addition men originally from Bradford served with Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African battalions that were also engaged in the Battle of the Somme.
The men shown here are but a small proportion of those who sadly became casualties.
Adanac Cemetery. Buried here are Bradford men who served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, West Yorks and Border Regiments. Edward Welsh, born in Goitside in 1886, is one of the Canadian Infantrymen buried here.
LEACH, Pte. F., who was attached to the Canadian Contingent, has been killed in action. His mother , Mrs. Leach, lives at 26, King’s Court, Bingley, and she received intimation of his death only yesterday, the official notification having been sent to her daughter-in-law in Canada.
DURKIN, Private Frank, 20, Free Street, Otley Road, of the Yorkshire Regiment, has been reported killed in action on July 11th. He was 21 years of age, and was educated at St. Mary’s School. A second son rejoins his regiment next week, after being home wounded, and a third son is now in France after serving through the Dardanelles campaign. A fourth son is ready to leave England shortly for active service. These four brother are the sons of Mrs Durkin, a widow, of 20, Free Street.
DURKIN, Pte. Thos., 20, Free Street, Otley Road, was killed in action on the 5th August. He was educated at St. Mary’s School, East Parade. He was one of four brothers who enlisted at the outbreak of war, and he served through the Dardanelles campaign. Pte. Frank Durkin was killed on the 11th July, the day his brother landed in France. Pte. Michael Durkin is in hospital wounded, and Pte. James Durkin is ill in hospital in Cambridge.
Pte. Michael Durkin, 20, Free St., Otley Road (Wounded).
BEAUMONT, Pte. G. A., K.O.Y.L.I., of 20, Upper Mosscar Street, whose parents reside at 4, Arthur Street, Bolton Road, was wounded on July 1st in the right shoulder, and is in hospital in Burton-on-Trent. He was an old chorister of the Bradford Parish Church, and was employed at Messrs. Longbottom’s warehouse, Clarence Street.
Pte Harry Barker, Rock Terrace (Missing).
Gunner T. Roper, 49, Weston Street, (Wounded).
ROSS, Pte. David of the Australian Imperial Force, has been admitted into hospital in England suffering from shell shock. Prior to his going to Australia three years ago, he was employed at the Manningham Mills. His brother Pte. John M. Ross, of the 1st “Pals”, is also in hospital suffering from shell shock.
Bombardier Steel, 5 Arncliffe Terrace (Killed).
OSBOURNE, Private William, 41 Park Gate, of the New Zealand contingent has been killed in action. He was 27 years of age, and educated at Usher Street School. He was formerly employed in the counting-house at A. and S. Henry’s, Ltd., Bradford, and went to New Zealand in May, 1913. On the out break of war he joined the New Zealand contingent. A Bradford comrade, in a letter to his aunt, writes:- “Your nephew went out with a party towards the enemy’s lines on the night of the 13th inst , and with many others of our battalion, met his death like the true Briton he was. As a fellow townsman of his, and one who was with him in many tight corners, I feel a big piece rising in my throat when I think of so true a friend being lost to his many friends and relations. Will was a true and respected comrade, and every man in our signal section, from the officer down mourns the loss of a good man.”
McKECHNIE, Luther, 23, R.F.A., and of Garden St., Cross Roads, has been killed in action. He had been at the front about nine months. He was educated at the Keighley Trade and Grammar School. After leaving school he was employed by the Shipley Tank Company at St. Dunstan’s, and subsequently at the Keighley Corporation Electricity Works. He was later selected from 156 candidates by the Barrow Corporation for a position at their electrical power station. His eldest brother is serving with the colours.
BISH, Rifleman Claude, 36, Hanover Square, of the King’s Royal Rifles, has been killed in action on the 8th July. He was 26 years of age, and previously employed by Samuels, jewellers. He was educated at Christ Church Schools, Bradford. The elder brother, Private Charles Bish, was killed in action on 14th September 1914. A lieutenant connected with the K.R.R. has written to the mother of the deceased as follows:- “His loss will indeed be a heavy one to you, as I believe you have had other losses. He did his duty well to his King and country. He died immediately and did not in any way suffer. Please accept my deepest sympathy.” Another brother is in the R.F.A., whilst still another is attested as a Derby recruit.
WAITE, Pte. Willie, 57, Mount Avenue, Eccleshill, who was in the Manchester Regiment, was killed in action on August 25th. A comrade, writing to his mother, said: “Your son was killed while on sentry duty early in the morning. A shell burst behind him, and killed him instantly. All the lads in the platoon send their sympathy to you, as he was well like by all.” Pte. Waite was an only son, and 20 years of age, and a member of the Eccleshill Congregational Sunday School.
PULLAN, Pte. Walter, of 5, Arthur Street, Bolton Road, Bradford, formerly of the West Riding Regiment and now of the Northumberland Fusiliers, has been wounded a second time, and is in hospital at Warrington. He was a reservist of the West Riding Regiment, and went out to France on the outbreak of war. He was first wounded nearly two years ago, but recovered, and went out again with the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was again wounded last Wednesday.
Lance-Cpl. J. Cowburn, West Bowling (Wounded).
JAGGER, Sapper Arthur, of the New Zealand Engineers, was gassed on August 30th, and is recovering in hospital in France. His father Mr. J. C. Jagger, lives at 17, Pepperhill, Queensbury, and his brother Pte. Horace B. Jagger, of the 18th West Yorks., is at a Red Cross Hospital near Swansea, suffering from wounds received on July 1st. Sapper Arthur Jagger enlisted in November, 1914, in the N.Z., Mounted Rifles as a trooper, and served in the trenches at Gallipoli. After the evacuation he found himself in Egypt, where he met his brother Horace, whose he had not seen for more than four years, as he went to New Zealand in 1911. he was transferred from the Rifles to the Engineers, and came to France in March, 1916. He paid a visit to his family in June. Sapper Jagger is 27 years of age.
SUTCLIFFE, Pte. Frank, 5, Spate Lane, Thornton of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 3rd Sept. He was previously in the West Yorkshire Regiment. He was married and had one child. A letter from Second Lieutenant Wilkinson states that Pte. Sutcliffe was a good soldier, and died nobly doing his duty.
STEWARD, Pte. J., 62, Wood Street, off White Abbey, Bradford, and of the Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action of July 14th. He was well known as a local footballer, and played with the Heaton Par, Club. Prior to the was he was employed at Thwaites Forge in Thornton Road. Pte. Steward, who was twenty-five years of age leaves a widow.
Pte. W. Pullan, 5, Arther Street (Wounded).
Pte. C. Lockyer, 19, Thirkhill Terrace, West Bowling (Wounded).
GROVES, Pte. T.H., Canadian Mounted Rifles, whose parent reside at 67, Dudley Street, Tyersal, died of wounds in France on September 14th.
Wounded men at one of the many Casualty Clearing Stations near Albert.
Eric Bosher of Crossflatts, serving with the Seaforth Highlanders, was wounded at High Wood in mid-July but died in a similar CCS at Dernancourt four days later.
