This week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s is varied. 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.
A parishioner, Michael Lyons, was involved in a mining accident this week.
As a result of a fall of coal at Howley Park Colliery on Tuesday, Michael Lyons, 4, Derby Terrace, Woodwell, was admitted to Batley Hospital suffering from a broken leg. He is going on favourably.
The death notices contained two relevant to the parish, as follows:
BATLEY
GANNON. —On the 22nd inst., aged 37 years, Thomas Gannon, 8, New Street.DEWSBURY
CRAYTON. —On the 19th inst., aged 56 years, Michael Crayton, Leeds Road
The latter was the subject of an inquest, which the newspaper covered in detail.
BATLEY MAN’S STRANGE DEATH. —The death in a Dewsbury Lodging-House on Friday of Michael Crayton, mason’s labourer, 2 Back New Street, Batley, was enquired into on Monday by Coroner P. P. Maitland. —Elizabeth Crayton, the widow, said her husband suffered from epileptic seizures, generally in the night, but he was all right the following morning. At times he appeared strange, and would leave home for days together, not telling her where he was going. He left home about three weeks ago, and later she heard he was with relatives at Castleford. Last Friday she was told he had died in Dewsbury. —Harry Bentley, manager of the Leeds Road Lodging House, said deceased entered the house on Thursday evening of last week. Early the following morning he had a fit, and witness attended him until he appeared to recover. At eight o’clock, however, he had another fit, so witness went to see the relieving officer, who said he would send Dr. Hall. Before the doctor arrived deceased had a third seizure, and died shortly after noon. —Dr. Beattie said the cause of death was suffocation, due to spasmodic breathing, brought on by a series of fits. —The Coroner observed that it was an unusual case. —A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.
This week’s newspaper provided an update on Thomas Edward Skelly, who was first mentioned in the 28 April 1917 edition of the newspaper. As I stated then, although he was baptised at St Mary’s, as an adult he does not appear to have been associated with the church. For completeness, however, I have included him. This week’s article read:
EYESIGHT LOST
Mount Pleasant Soldier’s Terrible Wounds.We regret to hear that Private Thomas Edward Skelly, Duke of Wellington’s, whose wife resides at 22, Back Brearley Street, Mount Pleasant, has been seriously wounded in the face, and lost the sight of both eyes. Private Skelly was wounded a month ago, and was later brought to a London hospital. The doctors then hoped that although he had lost the sight of one eye they would be able to preserve the sight of the other. Last week-end Skelly’s wife and parents visited him in London and learned it was feared he would remain totally blind.
The injured soldier, 25 years of age, has two children. Previous to joining the Forces he was employed at Messrs. Newsome’s, Batley Carr, as a piecener. He had previously worked for Messrs. G. and J. Stubley, Batley, and Messrs. M. Oldroyd, Dewsbury. It is expected that when sufficiently restored Private Skelly will be admitted to a special school for blind soldiers, where he will learn a trade.
Past To Present Genealogy 