This is the round-up of news about St Mary’s parishioners from the 30 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.
There was one death in the Family Notices:
Fitzpatrick. —Nov. 22, aged 68, Thomas Fitzpatrick, 13, Back Jacob Street.
Richard Carrol Walsh, initially reported missing, was now presumed to be dead:
First Reported Missing, Now Presumed to be Killed
Able-Seaman Richard Carrol Walsh (23), Royal Naval Division, whose wife and child reside at 45, Hume Street, Batley, has been missing since March 24th, but is now officially presumed to have been killed in action. Enlisting six months before the war commenced he saw the earliest fighting and took part in the memorable retreat from Antwerp. He was afterwards wounded in the thigh, and had been back in France only a few months when he was reported missing. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Walsh, 55, Brownhill Road, Batley, he attended Birstall St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church and Schools, and worked at Howden Clough Colliery. His brother Stephen is in France with the R.F.A.
Many of those who returned home had life-changing injuries. Thomas Skelly wrote to the Editor about the invaluable work carried by St Dunstan’s for those blinded in the war. Born into a Catholic family, the son of Thomas and Mary Ellen Skelly, it appears he was no longer practising. I have included him because he was baptised a Catholic.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
A Blind Soldier’s Appeal.
Sir. —Having had read to me a note by Sir Arthur Pearson, and being the only totally blind soldier in the town, I think it is my duty to do something for the benefit of St. Dunstan’s Hostel, Regent’s Park, London. There are over three thousand soldiers like myself, who are cared for by thus splendid institution, and as I have already benefited by it, I should like to do my best to help others who have lost the most precious thing given to mankind. I should like someone to come forward and start a fund, or even a flag day, for the benefit of these blind heroes. The public should understand that after a man leaves St. Dunstan’s, he is started in a trade, fitted up, and always gets his material from St. Dunstan’s After-Care Department. So this means that while ever there is a blind soldier or sailor living he will be cared for by the institution. —Yours truly,
THOMAS E SKELLY
(The Blind Soldier).
22, Back Brearley Street,
Mount Pleasant, Batley.
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