Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
The following report featured amongst the local police news, about the misdemeanours of absentee Thomas Foley:
Batley Court – Wednesday.
SPOILING BATLEY FEAST RECORD.—“You have spoiled Batley Feast record, besides spoiling yourself at the same time,” was the observation of the Mayor when Thomas Foley (47), miner, of no fixed residence, was before the magistrates for a double offence. The first charge was of being an absentee from a Provisional Battery of the R.F.A. stationed in Norfolk. —Inspector Ripley said this man joined the Army, and, like many other miners, was sent home to work while being still retained on reserve. Apparently he had not attended to his work at Soothill Pit properly, and papers had been sent recalling him from reserve. The papers reached him on Saturday, and the police received a telegram on Monday instructing them to arrest him.—Prisoner: The papers came to my sister’s and I did not know I had to be back on the 16th.” He added that he was a sufferer from nystagmus. He had “played” one week because he was stiff and sore with work. —The Mayor said Foley would be remanded to await an escort. —There was a further charge against the man of being drunk and riotous on Monday. —Constable Seycell said that at 10.30 p.m. on Monday, in the company of Constable Bentley, they visited Bankfoot Lodging-house, where they found Foley. They called him out and told him their mission. He became disorderly, and used filthy language. He was drunk and very obstinate, and they had great difficulty in taking him to the police station. —Constable Bentley corroborated, and said prisoner commenced kicking and spitting at the police station. —Foley: I was drunk, I’ll admit. —Inspector Ripley said there were 18 previous convictions, all for drunkenness and obscene language, the last being on August 28th. —A fine of 10s. was imposed, or in default six days; imprisonment.
The following parish death was amongst the Death Notices:
BATLEY
GALLAGHER. —On the 18th inst., aged one year, John, son of Patrick Gallagher, 16, Birch Street.
The following St Mary’s casualties appeared in the War Office lists for this week:—
KILLED
Batley. —Lance-Corpl. J. GAVAGHAN, West Yorks. Regt.WOUNDED.
Batley. —M. MALONEY, K.O.Y.L.I.
It is probable the Private Gannon referred to here is John William Gannon, of the KOYLI who lived in Spa Street.
A smoking concert was held at the Talbot Hotel, Batley, on Saturday, in aid of the soldiers’ fund, and £2 8s. was forwarded to members serving abroad. Private Gannon has been shot through the ankle, and is Beckett’s Park Hospital, Leeds.
The death of Michael James O’Hara (O’Hora on the St Mary’s War Memorial) reached the newspaper this week. The piece also referred to his brother Thomas O’Hara.
A Howley Park Banksman
Another Batley home has been thrown into mourning by the death on the battlefield of Private Michael James O’Hara, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. Michael and Mrs. O’Hara, 8, East Street. The official notification came through from York on Tuesday, with the announcement “Killed in action on September 3rd.”
Private O’Hara, who was 21 years of age, joined the Army as a Derby recruit, and went to the Front eight weeks ago. Before joining up he was a banksman at Howley Park Colliery. He was an old boy of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School.
His brother, Driver Thomas O’Hara, R.F.A., has been in the Army almost from the outbreak of war. He was injured by a kick from a mule in April last, and was invalided from the Front for two months. He has since returned to his unit.
Past To Present Genealogy 