This is the round-up of news about St Mary’s parishioners from the 27 July 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 newspaper contained details of yet another parishioner, Fred Byrne, posted missing following the German Spring Offensive:
Missing Batley Miner
Nothing has been heard of Pte. Fred Byrne (33), K.O.Y.L.I., whose wife lives at 23, Villiers Street, Batley, since he was posted missing on March 22nd. He enlisted nearly four years ago, and has seen a great deal of foreign service. He previously worked at Low Laithes Colliery. His brother, Pte. Percy Byrne, is serving in Italy.
The newspaper reported that Mary Cairns was before the magistrates.
To-day’s Police Court
Mary Cairns, rag sorter, Victoria Street, Carlinghow, was fined 15s. for using obscene language.
Amongst the almost 89 cases dealt with by Batley Military Tribunal on Monday was married-man Patrick Travers of 8, Jacob Street, classed as Grade 2. A bricklayer for Mr. Mortimer, his case was adjourned.
The military grades and their meanings at this point were:
Grade 1, Category A, general service. Grade 2, Categories Bi and Ci, general service after a period of training. Grade 3, Bii, Cii, Biii, Ciii, auxiliary, labour and sedentary services.
A “C.E.,” conditional exemption meant that a man was exempt from military service so long as he retained his present occupation.
A “T.E.,” temporary exemption meant that on its expiration the holder, or his employer, could make an application for its renewal.
Batley Continuation Schools published their lists of successful candidates. From St Mary’s these were as follows.
St. Mary’s Boys. —1st Industrial: Pass, Jas. Gleeson, Thomas McLoughlin (dist. In woodwork), John O’Brien (dist. in prac. maths, and drawing), Edward Jackson, Martin Cunnane.
St. Mary’s Girls. —1st Housecraft: Pass, Ellen Callaghan, Mary Dolan, Annie Freeman, Elizabeth Farrar, Ethel Leonard (dist. in needlework), Catherine Lyons (dist. in needlework), Mary E. Maloney, Kathleen Meagh, Catherine Mullins, Ellen Monaghan, Ellen Marshall, Bridget McIntyre, Catherine Gooder, Ellen Gavaghan.
Batley Technical Schools also published their list of succesful students. Unfortunately their originating schools were not named, but I have identified the following from St Mary’s.
- Housecraft 2nd Class – Ellen Cairns, Winifred Flanaghan, Mary McLoughlin.
- Dressmaking, Stage 1: Pass – Lily Elders, Marcella Flanaghan, Nellie Lynch, Ellen Prendergast.
- Dressmaking, Stage 2: Pass – Teresa M. Kilroy, Annie Morley.
- Millinery, Stage 1: Pass – Lily Elders, Marcella Flanaghan, Nellie Lynch, Annie Morley, Ellen Prendergast, Mary Ryan.
Others may have been from St Mary’s, for example Jane Coleman in dressmaking and millinery stage 1, but I have not been able to definitively confirm.
In other education news in connection with the new scale of salaries for head teachers, St Mary’s Girls was among the Class A schools, meaning it had above 210 Seniors (the alternative Class A criteria, which did not apply, was above 185 infants). In Class B was St Mary’s Infants, which met the above 125 Infants criteria. The alternative criteria was above 150 Seniors. In Class C was St Mary’s Boys which met the below 150 Seniors threshold (for Infants it was below 125).
Finally for this week, two deaths linked to the parish appeared in the Family Notices.
BATLEY
Brooksband [should be Brooksbank]. —July 18, aged 8 months, Jane, daughter of John Brooksband [sic], Belvedere Rd.
Lawley. —June 19, aged 37, Annie, wife of John Wm. Lawley, 7, Cross Cobden Street.
Past To Present Genealogy 