This is the round-up of news about St Mary’s parishioners from the 9 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.
Michael Cunningham’s death was reported this week:
Batley Youth and Step-Father Killed
Pte. Michael Cunningham (24), West Riding Regiment, whose mother, Mrs. Hardy, resides at 31, Balk Street, Batley, is reported by an officer to have fallen in action on Oct. 11th. He volunteered the month after the war broke out, and had served in France 32 months. He had been wounded twice. A old boy of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Schools, he was afterwards employed as a hurrier at Soothill Wood Colliery. His step-father, Pte. Herbert Hardy, was killed at Hill 60, in 1915. Sympathy will be felt with Mrs. Hardy, who is left with five children.
The Batley Tribunal met to consider the latest batch of cases for military service :
BATLEY TRIBUNAL
The list of 90 cases before Batley Tribunal yesterday included a large number brought under review at the instance of the National Service Representative….
Patrick Gallagher (38), 43, Cobden Street, s[ingle], warehouseman, is still awaiting eye and ear specialist’s report to complete medical grading.—Adjourned.…
Men Who Have Failed to Join the Volunteers
Several of the cases under review were those of men who were reported as having failed to fulfil their exemption obligation of drilling with the Volunteers….
John Frain, 75, New Street, was able to produce a note granting him sick leave from drill for a month from October 3rd. —The Chairman: Evidently you did not drill for a long time and the. You go and get this note. —T[emporary] E[xemption] Jan. 1….
Patrick Travers (50), 8, Jacob St., a discharged soldier, who on Aug. 22 was granted T.E. to Jan. 1, had a personal reason for not drilling. “I think I know as much as they can learn me down yonder,” said he. “I will go to the Army again before I drill with the Volunteers.” He put in a letter from the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, showing he has been discharged on October 19, 1915, and was still unfit for military service.”
The Chairman: As an old soldier you know you ought to have obeyed the decision of the Tribunal.
Travers: It is not the decision of the Tribunal; it is the party that’s there. I am against going to drill because those men should have been in the Army long ago and not at the Drill Shed.
The Chairman: In view of you being a discharged soldier and in receipt of a pension we shall adjourn your case for two months. You have made a great mistake in refusing to carry out our decision. If you had done so it would have looked much better of you.
Four parish deaths appeared in the Family Notices column.
Foley. —Aged 5, Kathleen, daughter of Michael Foley, 8, Ambler Street.
Townsend. —Aged 39, Wm. F. Townsend, 23, Henrietta Street.
Gavaghan. —Aged 3, Thomas, and aged 15, William, sons of James Gavaghan, 20, North Street.
A report of a Batley ‘Nash’ meeting illustrated the parish’s strong Irish bonds.
Local Irish Voters and the Coming General Election
There was a crowded audience at the United Irish League Club, Batley, on Sunday, to hear an address on “My Impressions of Ireland,” by the Rev. Julian Kestylen, of Batley. Mr. John Deasy, president of the club, spoke of the position of the Irish voters at the forthcoming general election, and advised all the members to refrain from pledging their votes of support to any party until nearer the election, when they would be better able to judge how their votes could be put to best advantage. Father Kestylen, in a splendid address, full of wit and pathos, described the beautiful scenery of Cork and surrounding country, in which he had lately spent his holidays. His account of the places of interest and his witty analysis of the sayings and doings of the people he came across, was thoroughly enjoyed. —In the motion of Mr. A. Cox, seconded by Mr. P. Scanlan, a vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer.
A resolution was moved by Mr. J. Brennan, seconded by Mr. J. E. Berry, and supported by Councillor A. J. Flynn (Birstall), Mr. P. Melvin (Birstall), Mr. J. Jordan (Dewsbury), and others, expressing confidence in Mr. J. Dillon and the Irish Party, and calling upon local Members of Parliament to support his motion on Tuesday in the House of Commons, a copy of the resolution was sent to Mr. Walter Runciman M.P., asking him to support the measure, and he did so.
Past To Present Genealogy 