This is a round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parishioners of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military.
Spellings and punctuations are as per the newspaper.
The first piece was about Lawrence Carney, another soldier up in court for overstaying his leave. His wife had given birth to a daughter on the day he was due back in camp.
OVERSTAYED HIS LEAVE.
How to Get Back Free.“I do not think it is fair that defendant’s wife should have received relief from the War Fund, and separation allowance, for about a month during which time defendant has been an absentee,” said Inspector Ripley, when Lawrence Carney, trammer, Peel Street, Batley, admitted being an absentee from the 6th K.O.Y.L.I., stationed in the south since December 30th.
Defendant said that when his five days’ leave was up he stayed a little longer. Then, having no money to return with, he knew that by waiting to be fetched he would be taken back free. He delayed returning owing to his wife being confined.
Mr. J. Auty (magistrate) agreed with the Inspector, and Carney was remanded to await an escort.
There was one other court appearance.
TO-DAY’S BATLEY POLICE
“I think you may as well pay money to the Court as drink it,” said Alderman Akeroyd to Elizabeth Kilroy, rag-sorter, Carlinghow Lane, Batley, who admitted being drunk and riotous. She had 12 previous convictions. —Fined 10s. and costs.
This week’s death notices had two relevant to St Mary’s, as follows:
KELLY. —On the 8th inst., aged five months, Thomas, son of Thomas Kelly, 12, Fleming Street.
MULLINS. —On the 9th inst., aged 72 years, Patrick Mullins, 94, New Street
And Walter Hughes, now enlisted with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, received another letter from his uncle, resident in France.
LIVING WITHIN SOUND OF CANNONS’ ROAR.
Interesting Letter to Carlinghow.
“The Germans have 1,500 French People in the Trenches.”Mr. James Karney, of Senlis, Aisne, whose home is near the firing line, writes to his nephew, Mr. Walter Hughes, Coalpit Lane, Carlinghow (who until enlisting in the 4th Reserve K.O.Y.L.I. recently was well-known on the Dewsbury-Heckmondwike trams):-
Our soldiers have had a very hard time in the trenches lately, and the Germans are said to be sending up fresh men every day. They have been close to my place for the last four months, and we cannot shift them. They have got all the people of one village (about 1,500) in the trenches with them, so if we blow them up we shall kill our own friends. We can still hear the cannon going.
I hope with all my heart that England will win, so that we can live in peace and quietness, for those Germans are a bad lot. I see Austria wanted to ask for peace, but Germany would not hear of it. When the Russians come a bit nearer, things may be a little brighter.
Everything has gone up. Coal is £2 12s. the ton (and you cannot burn it!); tea and bread are also higher; and meat is 2s. per pound. If the banks would pay, we would not mind all that. And all because of that rotten Kaiser! I do hope, if ever the Allies catch him, they will give him something.
We can hear the cannon quite plainly, night and day. They are about 40 miles from my house, yet they make the place shake. I have found some pieces of bomb shells stuck in the top of my house. You remember, soldiers fought all one day at the back of my garden, and there are some German soldiers buried in the field round here. It is so sad to see their graves, with a piece of stick or an old tin to mark out the place.
PastToPresentGenealogy 