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.
John William McManus’ celebrations of his son’s christening landed him in trouble this week
NEW YEAR REVELS. —John Wm. McManus, miner, Peel Street, Batley, was summoned for using obscene language, and Ernest Arthur Summers, miner, Colbeck’s Yard, Mount Pleasant, for being drunk and riotous at 12.40 a.m. on New Year’s Day. —Constable Saycell said he was on duty at the bottom of Peel Street when he saw Summers coming down the street, assisted by McManus, in a very drunken condition. —Seven previous convictions were reported against Summers, and he was fined 10s. —The constable added that as he was assisted down the road McManus used very filthy language. —Sergt. Tomlinson, who was at the bottom of the street, stopped the men, and defendant said to him, “Now, look here, sergeant, we have had a christening to-day. I was just taking this chap home, and we have never said a word to anybody.” —McManus told the Bench he had been having a christening, and had had a few friends at his house, seeing it was New Year’s Eve. He was not quite sober, but knew what he was doing. —Mr. Collett: You had been what you call washing the bairn’s head, I suppose? —Defendant: Yes. —Two previous convictions were reported, and McManus had to pay 10s.
The family notices contained two parish deaths, as follows:
HOLMES. On the 8th inst., aged 75 years, Honora Holmes, 25, Fleming Street.
HORAN. —On the 10th inst., aged 73 years, Honor Horan, 89, New Street
A parishioner, Thomas O’Hara,1 in receipt of a Soothill Christmas parcel, sent his thanks.
NEARLY 300 GIFTS TO SOOTHILL UPPER SOLDIERS
Parcels Worth £120 Sent to Men on Service
Thanks From Far and Near
(Special to the “News.”)Probably one of the largest efforts that has been made by the people of the district to send Christmas parcels to soldiers and sailors has been carried through successfully by a committee of Hanging Heaton and Soothill gentlemen on behalf of 277 men who have gone from the Batley portion of the old Soothill Upper urban district. The Committee raised money sufficient to send a substantial parcel to each man. These were packed by the members and their wives, and despatched as follow: Seven parcels to men on leave, 102 to France, 133 to various training camps throughout the United Kingdom, one parcel given to dependants of a missing man, ten parcels of 500 cigarettes to men in Salonika and Mesopotamia, six money-orders to India, and 18 money-orders to hospital patients. In addition it is intended to give similar parcels in deserving cases to children of soldiers who have been killed in action. This effort has been carried out at a cost of £120, and already £79 has been received. It is hoped to realise the remainder by efforts which are to be made for that purpose….
The parcels each contained a circular letter conveying the well wishes of the people of Soothill Upper and a tastefully arranged greeting card which contained the following verse:—
Sons of Britain, staunch and true,
In deeds of valour brave,
Take the love we owe to you,
Where’er our Flag May wave.About 170 letters have already been received from grateful recipients….
Pte. T. O’Hara, France. —We were all looking forward to our Christmas parcels, and we had a good Christmas under the circumstances, but things are a bit warm here. Never mind. I think we have got the Hun beaten, and shall soon be all home again…
Footnote:
1. This Thomas O’Hara was born in 1886, the husband of Lily. It is not Thomas Martin O’Hara, brother of Michael James O’Hara.
Past To Present Genealogy 