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.
Two pieces of school news this week:
Miss Julia Reilly, St. Paul’s Convent, Skelly Park, Birmingham, and a former student at Skelly Park Training College has been appointed assistant at St. Mary’s Roman. Catholic Girls’ School, Batley.
Also, there was a case involving the widow of Pte. Lawrence Judge, who died the previous summer :
For not sending his children regularly to school, Harry Turner, tailor, Ambler Street, was to-day fined 20s. Arthur Turner, rag grinder, North Street, and Margaret Judge. Hume Street, were ordered to pay 10s. each for similar offences.
Two more parishioners, John Lyons and Mark Brennan were in German captivity. The pair had brothers who had died during the war – Patrick Lyons and Dominick (alias George) Brannan (as his surname is spelled on St Mary’s War Memorial).
A Prisoner and Wounded
Lance-Corporal John Lyons (25), Royal Irish Fusiliers, whose mother resides at 16, New Street, Batley, writes that he is a wounded prisoner at Stuttgart, having been captured on March 24th. He enlisted in August, 1914, having previously worked at Soothill Wood Colliery. His eldest brother died of wounds last December.
And:
The Fighting Brennans of Batley.
Another Batley soldier in captivity is Pte. Mark Brennan (31), late K.O.Y.L.I., and now of the Royal London Fusiliers, who, having been missing since April 24th, now informs his relatives that he is wounded and a prisoner. As a Reservist he was recalled to the Colours when war commenced, and saw a good deal of foreign service. Before the outbreak of hostilities he was working at Howley Park Colliery.
A brother, Signaller Donald Brennan [this is incorrect, it was Dominick alias George Brannan], was killed in France three years ago. Another brother, Private Martin Brennan died of illness whilst serving in the regular army eight years ago, and two others have been discharged after serving with the Forces during the present war.
Past To Present Genealogy 