This is the round-up of news about St Mary’s parishioners from the 23 November 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.
The Family Notices included more parish deaths this week, including an updated one for Margaret Maguire whose notice in the previous week’s paper had been published with the incorrect forename:
Maguire. —Nov. 14, aged 26, Margaret Maguire, 81, Cobden Street.
Brook. —Nov. 18, aged 53, Susannah Brook, 18, Cobden Street.
There was a larger Family Notice death announcement for William Berry.
BATLEY
BERRY. —At Birstwith, on the 17th inst., aged 27 years (of pneumonia), William, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Berry, Providence Terrace, Batley. Requiem Mass at St. Mary’s Church, Batley, at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 23rd, previous to interment at Batley Cemetery at 11.15.
There was also a larger piece about William Berry.
DEATH OF A BATLEY VOCALIST
Mr. William Berry, whose death at the early age of 27 years is recorded, furnishes a further sad instance of the virulence of the influenza epidemic, which has been the cause of so many deaths. Mr. Berry, who was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Berry, Providence Terrace, Batley, was in his early years very well known in many West Riding Towns as the possessor of a soprano voice of very high quality. From a very early age he developed a taste and aptitude for music, and as a boy singer was often heard both in church and on the concert platform. One year he carried off the Mrs. Sunderland musical competition at Huddersfield. Later he was appointed a principal soprano at St. Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds, a position which he held until the change of voice. It was naturally Mr. Berry’s wish to pursue a musical career, and it came as a source of gratification to his friends when he began to develop a tenor voice of remarkable promise. He studied under Mr. C. E. P. Wilson, of London, and rapidly fulfilled the expectations of his master. Notwithstanding offers of lucrative engagements, Mr. Berry preferred to continue to study until he had become complete master of his art. Competent judges were agreed that in a very short time he would have been fitted to take a high place amongst the tenor singers of the country, and are unanimous that his untimely death has deprived both the town of Batley and the whole musical world of a gifted artist of exceptional ability.
For more about William Berry click here.
Even though the Armistice had been signed, news of war deaths continued. William Colbeck‘s reached home this week. There was an obituary, as well as three tributes in the Roll of Honour column:
Batley Platelayer Dies in France
Sapper William Colbeck (31), Royal Engineers, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Colbeck, 5, Field Lane, Batley, died from pneumonia in hospital in France on November 6th. Prior to enlisting in March 1916, he was a platelayer at Batley G. N. Station
The tributes read:
COLBECK. –In loving memory of Sapper William Colbeck, Royal Engineers, beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. David Colbeck, 5, Field Lane, Batley, who died from pneumonia in the 41st Stationary Hospital, France, Nov. 6th, 1918, aged 31 years.
If I could have raised his head before he died,
Or heard his last farewell,
The blow would not have been so hard,
For one who loved him well.
With aching heart we shook his hand,
Teras glistened in our eye,
We wished him luck but never thought
It was his last good-bye.
From father and mother
And:
COLBECK.–In loving memory of Sapper William Colbeck, Royal Engineers, who died from pneymonia in the 41st Stationary Hospital, France, November 6th, 1918, aged 31 years.
There is in France a grave unknown,
Where our dear brother sleeps alone;
From memory’s page we will never blot
Three little words “Forget him not.”
We have pictured his safe returning,
And longed to clasp his hand,
But God has postponed that meeting,
‘Twill be in the Better Land.
From brother and sister.
And:
COLBECK. — In loving memory of Sapper William Colbeck, Royal Engineers, who died from pneumonia in the 41st Stationary Hospital, France, November 6th, 1918.
No one knows how much I miss him,
None but aching hearts can tell;
Forget him, no, I never will,
I loved him here. I love him still.
Ever in my thoughts.
From his loving fiancée, Elsie.
For more about William Colbeck click here.
Meanwhile, other parishioners were being repatriated from internment and prisoner of war camps. These included Michael Hannon:
HOME ONCE MORE
Batley Men Who Have Returned From the Privations of Internment and Prison Camps
Great receptions have this week been given in Yorkshire in honour of repatriated prisoners and interned men from Holland who have landed again on the shores of the Motherland. Motor Volunteers from the Heavy Woollen District rendered splendid service in Ripon on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in transporting from the station to the camp men who had arrived there from Hull. Captain G. R. C. Fox was in charge of the Volunteers from this district. One of his non-commissioned officers was Sergt. Clement Fearnside, who while conveying some of the happy home-comers to the camp heard one of them talking, “You’re a Yorkshireman,” he said, turning round. “Yes, I live at Batley,” was the quick reply. A hearty shake of the hand followed. The man turned out to be Seaman Michael Hannon (25), of the Royal Naval Division, whose address is 25, Balk Street, Batley. He was in the first load of freemen Sergt. Fearnside had charge of, and the last person the sergeant spoke to before leaving the camp for was Miss Carter, daughter of Mr. C. E. Carter, of Batley, who was engaged in the Y.M.C.A. hut.
Seaman Hannon’s period of internment in Holland dated from the fall of Antwerp in the first few weeks of the war, and his only sight of home in all the four years was twelve months ago, when he had a month’s leave. On the whole he has little to complain of in regard to his treatment in Holland, except that when food became scarce he and his comrades were put in very “short commons.” He says he will never forget the welcome given to the home-coming men at Hull and Ripon.
The thing I find amazing from this account is Michael was allowed leave at home for one month during his internment in Holland. This was because technically those detained here were not prisoners of war. After the defeat at Antwerp many the British combatants made their way to neutral Holland. In order to maintain its neutral status and protect itself from invasion the Dutch government had strict protocols around the the treatment of these refugees who were held in internment camps. The treatment of those interned though was far better than prisoners of war Amazingly, by 1916 home leave was being permitted, ostensibly granted on compassionate or medical grounds. After their leave, those granted this privilege did return to Holland. In a spirit of comradeship, and in order to maintain the privilege for others, they wanted to ensure that this benefit continued – and it only would do so if all granted it did return after their allotted leave period ended.
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