This is the round-up of pieces about St Mary’s parishioners from the 21 December 1918 edition of the 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.
Even though the country was over a month into the Armistice, deaths of those in the military continued to reach home. This week it was parishioner Walter James Hughes.
Batley Sergeant-Major Dies in Central Africa
Mr. and Mrs. James Hughes, 9, Coal Pit Lane, Carlinghow, have received official news that their son, Sergt. (Acting-Sergt. Major) Walter James Hughes (29), South African Rifles, died of influenza on December 12th at Fort Johnston, Nyasaland. Sergt.-Major Hughes enlisted in 1914 and went to Africa 15 months ago as musketry instructor to native soldiers. He saw much fighting in German East Africa. For eight years prior to the war he was a conductor on the Dewsbury and Cleckheaton trams. An accomplished player of the double bass, he had played with several local orchestras.
There was one parish death in the Family Notices. The surname spelling variation is as per the newspaper. The correct form is Chappell:
BATLEY
Chappel. —Dec. 13, aged 58, Bridget, wife of John G. Chappell, 42, Cobden Street.
Past To Present Genealogy 