This week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News was heavy on news of those from St Mary’s parish serving in the military. As usual I have put military names in bold. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
Away from his military service, Batley’s Northern Union (rugby league) player Jimmy Lyons had received a different type of call-up. He was one of the players invited to play in the Yorkshire v New Zealanders military charity match at Headingley, on 5 May.
Following on from last week’s paper more details appeared about Patrick Gallagher’s death:
KILLED BY A BOMB FROM AN AEROPLANE.
How a Carlinghow Man Met His Death.Mrs. Patrick Gallagher, 16, Birth Street, Carlinghow, whose husband, Pte. P. Gallagher, K.O.Y.L.I., was officially reported killed in last week’s “News,” has a letter from a captain stating how her husband met his death. He writes:—
“As I am home for a short time, information has been sent to me that your husband was killed on April 14th by aeroplane bombs near St. Quentin. He was buried on the spot and a cross will be erected to his memory. In this sudden great sorrow may I offer you my deepest sympathy. May God give you strength to bear your loss.”
Pte. Gallagher, who was 27 years of age, leaves a widow and two children. Before the war he was employed at Messrs. Critchely’s West End Colliery. He attended Batley Roman Catholic Church, and was also a member of Batley United Irish League Club.
Finally this week I have included news of Thomas Edward Skelly, who although baptised at St Mary’s, as an adult does not appear to have been associated with the church. He was related to Birstall’s Military Medalist, Private Francis Scally, who was also in this week’s paper, wounded in the left hand and in hospital in Cumberland. Although Francis was at one point was linked to St Mary’s, he was a St Patrick’s parishioner.
LOCAL MEN WOUNDED
Pte. Thos. Edward Skelly, Duke of Wellington’s, whose wife and two children reside at 22, Back Brearley Street, Mount Pleasant, has been badly hurt. His wife last week received a field card stating that he had been wounded and admitted to hospital, and this was followed by a letter from a chaplain who wrote:—
“Your husband is in this hospital wounded in the face. I trust he will have his sight saved, at any rate in one eye. I think I am right in saying that so much is certain.”
One of the wounded soldier’s comrades has also written to say that there is a “faint hope” of saving the sight of one eye.
Pte. Skelly, who is 25 years of age, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Skelly, Taylor’s street, Batley. He was formerly employed as a piecer for Messrs. G. and J. Stubley. Later, he worked for Messrs. Mark Oldroyd and Sons, Dewsbury, and for some little time previous to enlisting was employed by Messrs. Newsomes, Batley Carr. He was called up in June last year, and went to France in October.
Past To Present Genealogy 