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 punctuation are identical to those in the newspaper.
The Foley family received notice that their son Thomas Foley had died of wounds whilst serving with the 1st Cheshire Regiment.
DIED FROM WOUNDS.
Batley Carr Soldier Who Had Been in Boer War, India and CanadaNews has been received at his home, New Street, Batley, of the death of Private Thomas Foley, of the Cheshire Regiment. A communication from the War Office states that he died on March 11th (from wounds received in action) at a clearing station. The same letter conveys the sympathy of the King and Lord Kitchener.
Private Foley, who was a soldier for many years, serving in the West Yorkshire Regiment besides the Cheshires, was in the Boer War, and also served his country in India in 1902. After coming home from the East, he followed his occupation as a miner at Messrs. Crawshaw and Warburton’s Shaw Cross Colliery.
Later he went to Canada, being engaged on various works. He was there about two years before being called up as a Reservist to go to France.
He was with the Allies about five months, and his last letter home was written on March 2nd, when he initiated he was in the best of health.
Foley, who was a Roman Catholic, attended St. Mary’s Church, Cross Bank.
There was one civilian parish death which featured in this week’s family notices, as follows:
ROTCHFORD. —On the 12th inst., aged 75 years, Ann, wife of James Rotchford, Zion Street,
More generally, the Commanding Officer of the 1st/4th KOYLI in which a number of of parishioners served, wrote to the paper as follows:
1st/4th K.O.Y.L.I.
COMMANDING OFFICER’S THANKS AND REQUEST.Sir, – On behalf of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the 1st/4th K.O.Y.L.I., I should like to take this opportunity of thanking all those who have so generously subscribed to the fund for providing socks, shirts, handkerchiefs, and other woollen articles, and also all those who have so willingly helped in the making of these comforts so much needed and appreciated by the men.
The men of the Battalion have already received over 2,000 pairs of socks, about 1,400 shirts, nearly 1,000 mufflers, mittens and handkerchiefs and body belts where required. They are, therefore, well fitted up for active service, but will need additional supplies sent out from time to time.
Further contributions, either of money or other gifts, will gratefully be acknowledged, and forwarded as required: they should be addressed to my wife, c/o the Depot, 1st/4th K.O.Y.L.I., Vicarage Street, Wakefield. —
Yours, etc.,
H. J. HASELGRAVE,
Lieut.-Colonel Commanding
1st/4th K.O.Y.L.I.
York, April 12th, 1915
This letter is significant in that it was written in preparation for their imminent deployment overseas.
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