Here is this week’s rather full 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. The spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
On the Home Front James Callaghan was before the local magistrates.
Batley Borough Court – Monday
For being drunk and riotous in Upper Commercial Street at 11.30 on January 25th. Jas. Callaghan (17), hurrier, of Churchfield Street, was fined 20s. —Constable Fisher found him the worse for drink and using filthy language. When spoken to he said he had been having a drink with some soldiers. —The Chairman (Mr. J. S. Newsome): It is a pity to see a boy like you brought to Court for being drunk and riotous. We hope it will be a lesson to you.
There was news from a Carlinghow soldier who would later have parish associations, Gunner Walter Waite of the Indian Expeditionary Force:
Carlinghow Lad in Bagdad
Gunner Walter Waite, R.F.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Waite, Beck Lane, Carlinghow, who has been with the Indian Expeditionary Force for two years and who entered Bagdad the day after its capture, has sent his parents photos of the city, including one of a handsome mosque, whose five towers he says are if battered gold. He adds:—“I am now right away from the towns and about 60 miles beyond Bagdad. We have not had any rain here since last February. It is quite hot in the day-time, but very cold at night. You will have heard about us starting up again, but we have to say nothing as regards operations.”
The newspaper this week included information about another Carlinghow soldier, but this time it was bad news about Lance-Corporal James Hughes.
Carlinghow Catholic Dies in France.
The wife of Lance-Corporal James Hughes (30), South Staffordshire Regiment, who lives at 17, Victoria Street, Carlinghow, was informed last week that her husband lie seriously ill in a casualty clearing station in France, and she has since received an official telegram that he died on Jan. 28th from cerebro-spinal meningitis. A letter from the sister in charge says the soldier was admitted in an unconscious condition, and died two days later without regaining consciousness. “He will be buried,” she adds, “in the little British Cemetery beside this hospital, where lie so many brave lads who have given their lives in this dreadful war.”
Lance-Corpl. Hughes, who joined up in May last year, and had been in France about for months, was a native of Batley, and his mother resides in Hume Street. He attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, being a former day school scholar there. He was a member of Carlinghow Working Man’s Club and before joining up was foreman weftman at Messrs. Joseph Newsome and Sons, Batley Carr.
What James Hughes’ obituary failed to mention was his mother Ellen Hughes had also recently died. She was amongst the three deaths which appeared in the Family Notices column in this week’s newspaper where the Batley Cemetery burial services were conducted by St Mary’s parish priests.
BATLEY
HUGHES. —On the 7th inst., aged 66 years, Ellen Hughes, 38, Hume Street.
LEMMENS. —On the 2nd inst., aged 6 months, Hortensia, daughter of Leon Lemmens, Rock Farm.
PICKUP. —On the 4th inst., aged 70 years, Joseph Pickup, 29, Queen Street.
The newspaper contained more details of the death of Hortensia Lemmens, who had been baptised at St Mary’s the previous August:
Madame Lemmens, the wife of a Belgian soldier, has been staying at Rock Farm, Upper Batley, with a family of Belgian refugees who were maintained for a considerable time in Osborne Terrace by the members if Batley Conservative Club. Last Saturday Madame Lemmens lost her little six months’ old daughter, Hortensia, and the expenses of the child’s funeral have been defrayed by Club members.
I have omitted the 6 February Family Notices announcement of the death of 4-year-old Elsie Batty. Her burial was not conducted by a Catholic priest, and neither was she baptised at St Mary’s. But her mother Ellen Battye was baptised there, and was the sister of War Memorial man Edmund Battye. Elsie’s inquest was also covered in this week’s newspaper.
Carlinghow Girl’s Death From Burns
The four years’ old illegitimate daughter of Ellen Batty, single woman, 19 Coal Pit Lane, Carlinghow, was on Monday night taken to sleep at the house of an aunt, Mrs. Hannah Tillyer, 12, Coal Pit Lane, in a flannelette night-gown. Next morning Mrs. Tillyer went to the child’s home for its clothes, and when she returned she found the girl ablaze upstairs with three spent matches and a lighted candle beside her. She was taken to Batley Hospital suffering from extensive burns, and died there.
At an inquest to-day, the Coroner said it was careless of the mother to leave the child’s clothes behind when she took it elsewhere to sleep, as it was also careless of the sister to leave matches and candles where the child could get at them.
“Death from burns” was the verdict.
Finally for this week is a Batley Tribunal adjudication.
BATLEY TRIBUNAL
Another Sitting To-day.
Batley Tribunal resumed its sitting this morning under the Chairmanship of County Alderman J. W. Turner, who was accompanied by the Mayor (Alderman David Stubley), Alderman F. Priestley, and Mr. T. S. Parr.…
Martin Judge (21), 92, Brookroyd Lane, puttee weaver, s., Ci., has three brothers with the Forces. —Grace to April 15th.…
Although baptised at Batley St Mary’s, this was before the 1905 split when part of the parish was carved off to create St Patrick’s, Birstall. I believe Martin Judge was more likely to be from St Patrick’s parish, but I have included him for completeness. Ci meant he was deemed free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service in garrisons at home, and was able to march 5 miles, see to shoot with glasses, and hear well.
Past To Present Genealogy 