This is the round-up of pieces relating to the parish of St Mary’s from the 12 May 1917 Batley News. 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.
Following on from the death of Ann Lyons, reported in last week’s paper, her son James Lyons was in trouble with the authorities for taking unauthorised leave to attend her funeral.
James Lyons, sailor, 19, Back Richmond Street, Cross Bank, pleaded guilty to being an absentee from one of His Majesty’s ships. On April 5th he received a letter from home saying his mother was ill and not expected to live. He took the letter to the Commander, who said he was very sorry and would see if the Admiral would grant leave. Defendant never heard anything further. On May 3rd he received a telegram that his mother was dead. He took the telegram to the Engineer, and from him it passed to the Commander and the Admiral, but the latter refused the request. He went ashore that day and came home to go to his mother’s funeral. —The Chairman (Mr. G. Parker) said they sympathised with Lyons, but it was their duty to remand him to await an escort. If he mentioned the circumstances to his Commanding Officer when he returned, no doubt some consideration would be paid to him.
The 28 April edition of the Batley News reported the invitation to Batley’s soldier player Jimmy Lyons to play in a charity rugby match. This week’s paper had the match report.
FOOTBALL NOTES
NEW ZEALANDERS BEATEN.
Yorkshire Footballers’ Magnificent Triumph at Headingley.
Brilliant Play by Joe Lyman, Parkin8 and Lyons.Local players assisting Yorkshire in the charity match at Headingley on Saturday contributed largely to the downfall of the New Zealand Military Rugby team. In fact, all the Yorkshire points were shared by Joe Lyman and Parkin (Dewsbury) and Lyons (Batley); and while giving credit to their assistants, it must be said the players named took a prominent part in the victory.
In a keen, rousing, and highly enjoyable struggle Yorkshire triumphed by 19 points to eight. It was, however, an exceedingly tight and exciting game for supremacy, until Lyman and Lyons put the issue beyond doubt fifteen minutes from the close.
The game was started by Sir John Maxwell, Commander-in-Chief, Northern Command, and a large number of local enthusiasts were among the crown of 5,000 who contributed, in gross receipts, £187.
At the end of twenty minutes’ play Newman scored for the New Zealanders, but ten minutes later Yorkshire equalised. A great movement by Parkin, W. A. Davies (Leeds) and Campbell (Leeds) ended in the first-named touching down as the ball was rolling out of play. Lyons failed at goal, but two minutes later Yorkshire scored again.
After some passing between Godward and Rees (Leeds), Lyman was given the ball. The Dewsbury winger made for the line in characteristic style, was hurled back by three defenders, but, clinging to the ball, rebounded over the line before the defence could recover from the shock of the collision. It was a magnificent try. Although Lyons failed to improve, the Batley full-back Carter, kicked a splendid penalty goal. Just on the interval Pilkington scored a try for the Military team, and Langford kicked the goal.
Five minutes after the interval Brittain (Leeds) served Parkin, who won an exciting race to the line, and scored between the posts, Lyons placing a goal. Joe Lyman settled the fate of the visitors fifteen minutes from the close. After brilliant passing between Brittain, Parkin, W. A. Davies, and Campbell, the Dewsbury winger ran grandly alongside the touch line to score under the posts. Lyons again converted.
It was a grand game, and the successes of the local players were very popular. Parkin was in fine form, and only a player of his versatility could have outwitted the tenacious five-eighths, Roberts and McLeod. Campbell was brilliant as centre to Lyman, who developed the Yorkshire movements to a point of brilliance. Lyons had some particularly robust and speedy forwards to meet, but he never flinched. His judgment and coolness materially assisted the men in front.
After the match the teams were entertained to tea at the Grand Central Hotel, Leeds. The Lord Mayor of York (Alderman W. Foster Todd) presided, and among others present was Alderman Charles Preston (Dewsbury), who submitted the toast of “The Press.”
Finally for this week, the Irish composition of the parish, and surrounding parishes, came to the fore. May 1917 marked the first anniversary of the majority of the 16 executions which resulted from the event. These executions were commemorated by the local parishes, in a first for England.
A SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS for the sixteen insurgents who were executed at Dublin in connection with the Sinn Fein rising, was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, Birstall, on Saturday. This was the first service of the kind which has been held in England, but similar services have taken place in Ireland, the United States, and Australia. The celebrant was Father T. O’Connor, Batley Carr; Father P. McBride, Batley, was the deacon; and Father P. Russell, rector of St. Patrick’s, Birstall, was the sub-deacon. Father C. McGarvey, St Mary’s, Bradford, officiated as Master of Ceremonies, and the preacher was Father P. J. Ennis, Dewsbury. There was a large attendance of Irish Catholics from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, and the Heavy Woollen District.
PastToPresentGenealogy 