Tag Archives: Roll of Honour

St. Mary of the Angels, Batley: One-Place Study Update – 1 to 30 June 2026 Additions

With the addition of 12 new posts in June, the Batley St. Mary of the Angels One-Place Study now stands at 468 posts, including lots of new photographs. One other post has been updated. Those are the headlines for the month, which also included me giving a talk about the early history of the parish and Irish migration to Batley for Wakefield Family History Society.

The first new post is the parish history snippets piece for June 2026. These snippets cover a variety of events and people from the parish from years gone by, and can be found in the Bulletin for Batley St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick section. Even if you have seen them on the Bulletin, it is worth checking them here as some have links to more detailed pieces I have written.

One post has been added to the In the Spotlight: Am Dram, Opera and Concerts section, with part of programme from this production pictrured on the left.

And finally for this month a further 10 photos have been added to the School Photos section. The overarching subject post has been updated too. Through sharing on Facebook, these photos are bringing back memories, getting people talking and many of the children and teachers have been identified. But if you can help with the others do get in touch, either by commenting on the Facebook pages I’ve uploaded them to (predominantly Batley Photos Old and New and the St Mary’s (Batley) Former Pupils site. Or you can always contact me, details of how are at the end of this post.

Below is the full list of all the one-place study pieces to date. Simply click on the link and it will take you straight to the relevant page. I have annotated the *NEW* and “UPDATED” posts, so you can easily pick them out.

If you want to know the background, and what is involved in a one-place study, click here. Otherwise read on, to discover a wealth of parish, parishioner and wider local Batley history. 


Postscript:
I may not be able to thank you personally because of your contact detail confidentiality, but I do want to say how much I appreciate the donations received to keep this website going. They really and truly do help. Thank you.

The website has always been free to use, and I want to continue this policy in the future. However, it does cost me money to operate – from undertaking the research and writing it up which can be around 20-30 hours a month, purchasing resources and documents, visiting archives, right down to website hosting costs (which given the number of photos I include does add up). In the current difficult economic climate I do have to consider if I can afford to continue running it as a free resource, especially given this reduces the amount of time I devote to client work. 

If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated. 

Please click   here  be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all. 

As a professionally qualified genealogist, if you would like me to undertake any family, local or house history research for you do please get in touch. More information can be found on my research services page.

Thank you.


Finally, if you do have any information about, or photos of, parishioners from the period of the First World War please do get in touch. It does not have to be War Memorial men. It could be those who served and survived, or indeed any other men, women and children from the parish. 

I would also be interested in information about, and photos of, those parishioners who were killed in World War Two, or others from the parish who undertook any war service and survived. This can be as broad as serving in the military, or work in munitions factories, the Land Army, even taking in refugees. This is an area I’m looking to develop in the future.

I can be contacted at: pasttopresentgenealogy@btinternet.com


1. About my St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church War Memorial One-Place Study;

Batley’s Public Buildings and Institutions
2. Batley Hospital: The First 50 Years – 1878 to 1928 
3. The Early History of Batley’s Public Baths 

Batley St Mary’s Population, Health, Mortality and Fertility Information and Comparisons
4.  1914: The Health of Batley School Children Generally, with a Particular Focus on St Mary’s School Children

Batley Statistics and Descriptions – Population, Health, Mortality, Fertility etc.
5. 1914: Borough of Batley – Town Information from the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
6. Batley and the 1921 Census 
7. Batley Population Statistics 1801-1939

Biographies: Men Associated with St Mary’s Who Died but Who Are Not on the Memorial 
8. Thomas Gannon 

9. Michael Howley 
10. Reginald Roberts 
11. William Frederick Townsend

Biographies: The War Memorial Men
12. Edward Barber 
13. William Barber (Memorial name spelling) 
14. Herbert Booth 
15. Edmund Battye
16. Dominick (aka George) Brannan 
17. Michael Brannan 
18. John Brooks 
19. Michael Cafferty 
20. Patrick Cafferty 
21. John William Callaghan 
22. Lawrence Carney 
23. Martin Carney 
24. Thomas William Chappell 
25. William Colbeck
26.  Michael Cunningham 
27. Thomas Curley
28. Peter Doherty 
29. Thomas Dolan 
30. Thomas Donlan 
31. James Edwards 
32. John W. Enright 
33. Mathew Farrer 
34. Thomas Finneran 
35. Michael Flynn 
36. Thomas Foley D.C.M. 
37. Martin Gallagher 
38. James Garner
39. Harold Gaunt 
40. James Gavaghan 
41. Peter Gavaghan (1) 
42. Peter Gavaghan (2)
43. Thomas Gavaghan 
44. Henry Groark 
45. James Groark 
46. Michael Groark (also known as Rourke) 
47. James Griffin 
48. William Hargreaves 
49. Michael Hopkins 
50. Patrick Hopkins
51. Michael Horan
52. James Hughes 
53. Lawrence Judge 
54. John Leech 
55. Michael Lydon
56. John Thomas Lynch 
57. Patrick Lyons 
William McManus – See William Townsend below
58. Thomas McNamara 
59. Clement Manning 
60. Patrick Naifsey 
61. Austin Nolan 
62. Robert Randerson 
63. James Rush 
64. Moses Stubley 
65. William Townsend, also known as McManus
66. James Trainor 
67. Richard Carroll Walsh
68. Arthur William Bayldon Woodhead

Biographies: Those who Served and Survived (this includes a list of those identified to date and who will later have dedicated biographical pages) 
69. Patrick Cassidy 
70. James Delaney
71. Thomas Donlan (senior) 
72. Thomas Gannon 
73. Michael Rush 

Burials, Cemeteries, Headstones and MIs
74. Cemetery and Memorial Details  
75. War Memorial Chronology of Deaths 

During This Week
76. During This Week Newspaper Index 
77. 1914, 8 August – Batley News 
78. 1914, 15 August – Batley News 
79. 1914, 22 August – Batley News 
80. 1914, 29 August – Batley News 
81. 1914, 5 September – Batley News 
82. 1914, 12 September – Batley News 
83. 1914, 19 September – Batley News 
84. 1914, 26 September – Batley News 
85. 1914, 3 October – Batley News 
86. 1914, 10 October – Batley News 
87. 1914, 17 October – Batley News 
88. 1914, 24 October – Batley News 
89. 1914, 31 October – Batley News 
90. 1914, 7 November – Batley News 
91. 1914, 14 November – Batley News 
92. 1914, 21 November – Batley News 
93. 1914, 28 November – Batley News
94. 1914, 5 December – Batley News 
95. 1914, 12 December – Batley News 
96. 1914, 19 December – Batley News 
97. 1914, 24 December – Batley News 
98. 1915, 2 January – Batley News 
99. 1915, 9 January – Batley News 
100. 1915, 16 January – Batley News 
101. 1915, 23 January – Batley News 
102. 1915, 30 January – Batley News 
103. 1915, 6 February – Batley News 
104. 1915, 13 February – Batley News 
105. 1915, 20 February – Batley News 
106. 1915, 27 February – Batley News 
107. 1915, 6 March – Batley News 
108. 1915, 13 March – Batley News 
109. 1915, 20 March – Batley News 
110. 1915, 27 March – Batley News 
111. 1915, 3 April – Batley News 
112. 1915, 10 April – Batley News 
113. 1915, 17 April – Batley News 
114. 1915, 24 April – Batley News 
115. 1915, 1 May – Batley News 
116. 1915, 8 May – Batley News 
117. 1915, 15 May – Batley News 
118. 1915, 22 May – Batley News 
119. 1915, 29 May – Batley News 
120. 1915, 5 June – Batley News 
121. 1915, 12 June – Batley News 
122. 1915, 19 June – Batley News 
123. 1915, 26 June – Batley News 
124. 1915, 3 July – Batley News 
125. 1915, 10 July – Batley News 
126. 1915, 17 July – Batley News 
127. 1915, 24 July – Batley News 
128. 1915, 31 July – Batley News 
129. 1915, 7 August – Batley News 
130. 1915, 14 August – Batley News 
131. 1915, 21 August – Batley News 
132. 1915, 28 August – Batley News 
133. 1915, 4 September – Batley News 
134. 1915, 11 September – Batley News 
135. 1915, 18 September – Batley News 
136. 1915, 25 September – Batley News 
137. 1915, 2 October – Batley News 
138. 1915, 9 October – Batley News 
139. 1915, 16 October – Batley News 
140. 1915, 23 October – Batley News 
141. 1915, 30 October – Batley News 
142. 1915, 6 November – Batley News 
142. 1915, 13 November – Batley News 
144. 1915, 20 November – Batley News 
145. 1915, 27 November – Batley News 
146. 1915, 4 December – Batley News 
147. 1915, 11 December – Batley News
148. 1915, 18 December – Batley News 
149. 1915, 23 December – Batley News 
150. 1916, 1 January – Batley News 
151. 1916, 8 January – Batley News 
152. 1916, 15 January – Batley News 
153. 1916, 22 January – Batley News 
154. 1916, 29 January – Batley News 
155. 1916, 5 February – Batley News 
156. 1916, 12 February – Batley News 
157. 1916, 19 February – Batley News 
158. 1916, 26 February – Batley News 
159. 1916, 4 March – Batley News 
160. 1916, 11 March – Batley News 
161. 1916, 18 March – Batley News 
162. 1916, 25 March – Batley News 
163. 1916, 1 April – Batley News 
164. 1916, 8 April – Batley News 
165. 1916, 15 April – Batley News 
166. 1916, 22 April – Batley News 
167. 1916, 29 April – Batley News 
168. 1916, 6 May – Batley News 
169. 1916, 13 May – Batley News
170. 1916, 20 May – Batley News 
171. 1916, 27 May – Batley News
172. 1916, 3 June – Batley News 
173. 1916, 10 June – Batley News 
174. 1916, 17 June – Batley News 
175. 1916, 24 June – Batley News 
176. 1916, 1 July – Batley News 
177. 1916, 8 July – Batley News 
178. 1916, 15 July – Batley News 
179. 1916, 22 July – Batley News 
180. 1916, 29 July – Batley News 
181. 1916, 5 August – Batley News
182. 1916, 12 August – Batley News
183. 1916, 19 August – Batley News 
184. 1916, 26 August – Batley News
185. 1916, 2 September – Batley News 
186. 1916, 9 September – Batley News
187. 1916, 16 September – Batley News 
188. 1916, 23 September – Batley News 
189. 1916, 30 September – Batley News 
190. 1916, 7 October – Batley News
191. 1916, 14 October – Batley News 
192. 1916, 21 October – Batley News
193. 1916, 28 October – Batley News 
194. 1916, 4 November – Batley News
195. 1916, 11 November – Batley News
196. 1916, 18 November – Batley News
197. 1916, 25 November – Batley News 
198. 1916, 2 December – Batley News 
199. 1916, 9 December – Batley News 
200. 1916, 16 December – Batley News 
201. 1916, 23 December – Batley News 
202. 1916, 30 December – Batley News 
203. 1917, 6 January – Batley News 
204. 1917, 13 January – Batley News 
205. 1917, 20 January – Batley News 
206. 1917, 27 January – Batley News
207. 1917, 3 February – Batley News 
208. 1917, 10 February – Batley News 
209. 1917, 17 February – Batley News 
210. 1917, 24 February – Batley News 
211. 1917, 3 March – Batley News
212. 1917, 10 March – Batley News 
213. 1917, 17 March – Batley News 
214. 1917, 24 March – Batley News 
215. 1917, 31 March – Batley News
216. 1917, 7 April – Batley News 
217. 1917, 14 April – Batley News 
218. 1917, 21 April – Batley News 
219. 1917, 28 April – Batley News 
220. 1917, 5 May – Batley News 
221. 1917, 12 May – Batley News 
222. 1917, 19 May – Batley News 
223. 1917, 26 May – Batley News 
224. 1917, 2 June – Batley New
225. 1917, 9 June – Batley News
226. 1917, 16 June – Batley News
227. 1917, 23 June – Batley News
228. 1917, 30 June – Batley News
229. 1917, 7 July – Batley News
230. 1917, 14 July – Batley News 
231. 1917, 21 July – Batley News 
232. 1917, 28 July – Batley News 
233. 1917, 4 August – Batley News 
234. 1917, 11 August – Batley News 
235. 1917, 18 August – Batley News 
236. 1917, 25 August – Batley News 
237. 1917, 1 September – Batley News 
238. 1917, 8 September – Batley News 
239. 1917, 15 September – Batley News 
240. 1917, 22 September – Batley News 
241. 1917, 29 September– Batley News 
242.  1917, 6 October – Batley News 
243. 1917, 13 October – Batley News
244. 1917, 20 October – Batley News
245. 1917, 27 October – Batley News 
246. 1917, 3 November – Batley News
247. 1917, 10 November – Batley News
248. 1917, 17 November – Batley News 
249. 1917, 24 November – Batley News 
250. 1917, 1 December – Batley News 
251. 1917, 8 December – Batley News 
252. 1917, 15 December – Batley News 
253. 1917, 22 December – Batley News 
254. 1917, 29 December – Batley News 
255. 1918, 5 January – Dewsbury District News 
256. 1918, 12 January – Dewsbury District News 
257. 1918, 19 January – Batley News 
258. 1918, 26 January – Batley News
259. 1918, 2 February – Batley News 
260. 1918, 9 February – Batley News 
261. 1918, 16 February – Batley News 
262. 1918, 23 February – Batley News 
263. 1918, 2 March – Batley News 
264 1918, 9 March – Batley News 
265. 1918, 16 March – Batley News 
266. 1918, 23 March – Batley News 
267. 1918, 30 March – Batley News 
268. 1918, 6 April – Batley News 
269. 1918, 13 April – Batley News 
270. 1918, 20 April – Batley News 
271. 1918, 27 April – Batley News 
272. 1918, 4 May – Batley News
273. 1918, 11 May – Batley News 
274. 1918, 18 May – Batley News 
275. 1918, 25 May – Batley News 
276. 1918, 1 June – Batley News 
277. 1918, 8 June – Batley News 
278. 1918, 15 June – Batley News 
279. 1918, 22 June – Batley News
280. 1918, 29 June – Batley News 
281. 1918, 6 July – Batley News 
282. 1918, 13 July – Batley News 
283. 1918, 20 July – Batley News
284. 1918, 27 July – Batley News
285. 1918, 3 August – Batley News 
286. 1918, 10 August – Batley News 
287. 1918, 17 August – Batley News 
288. 1918, 24 August – Batley News 
289. 1918, 31 August – Batley News 
290. 1918, 7 September – Batley News 
291. 1918, 14 September – Batley News 
292. 1918, 21 September – Batley News 
293. 1918, 28 September – Batley News 
294. 1918, 5 October – Batley News 
295. 1918, 12 October – Batley News 
296. 1918, 19 October – Batley News 
297. 1918, 26 October – Batley News 
298. 1918, 2 November – Batley News 
299. 1918, 9 November – Batley News 
300. 1918, 16 November – Batley News 
301. 1918, 23 November – Batley News 
302. 1918, 30 November – Batley News 
303. 1918, 7 December – Batley News 
304. 1918, 14 December – Batley News 
305. 1918, 21 December – Batley News 
306. 1918, 28 December – Batley News 

Electoral Registers 1918-1921 
307. 1918 Batley Electoral Register, North Ward, Polling Districts A and B – Naval and Military Voters

Guest Contributions
308. Memories of Skelsey Row – by Brian Foley 

In the Spotlight: Am Dram, Opera and Concerts
309. 1901 – St. Mary’s Schools’ St. Patrick’s Day Concert 
310. 1948 – St. Mary’s Amateur Operatic Society Presents “Our Miss Gibbs” *NEW*
311. 1952 – The Bohemian Girl, St. Mary’s Schoolboys 
312. The St Mary’s Amateur Operatic Society 1950 Production of The Gondoliers
313. The 1951 St Mary’s School Production of Maritana for Fr. O’Brien 

Maps and Photographs
314. A Description of the Parish Boundaries 
315. Aerial View of St Mary’s Church and the Surrounding Streets 
316. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1894 
317. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1907 
318. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1922 
319. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1933 

Miscellany of Information
320. A Tale of Three Pigs, a Headstone and The Longest-Lived Parishioner
321. A Bitter-Sweet Remarriage 
322. A Colliery Accident with Tragic Consequences
323. A Description of the Parish of St Mary of the Angels in 1950 
324. A Grave Disturbance in Batley 
325. A Part of St Mary of the Angels in Batley Cemetery 
326. A “Peace” of Batley History
327. An Appeal to Ireland to Build a Catholic Church in Batley 
328. A Potted Early History of the Irish in Batley, the Building of St Mary of the Angels Church, and the Parish Priest’s Fatal Accident 
329. A St Mary’s Parishioner in the Holy Land 
330. A St Mary’s School Sensation
331. A St Mary’s School Trip Souvenir 
332. Batley’s Secret Irish Society and the Ammunition Seizure 
333. Batley St Mary’s First Torchlight Procession 
334. Batley St Mary’s Second Torchlight Procession 
335. Buffalo Bill and A Right Royal Celebration for Batley’s Schoolchildren
336. “Daddy’s Death and then Triplets” 
337. Heritage Impact Assessment: St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Convent, Batley 
338. Hot-Cross Buns and the Yorkshire Tea-Cake Dilemma. Plus A Suggested Meal Planner for Batley Families in 1917 
339. Into the Valley of Death – One of the Six Hundred
340. Is Your Female Ancestor Amongst Those Invited to the 1915 Event for Wives and Mothers?
341. “I’ve Done it for Love” – A Batley Murder 
342. St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church – 1929 Consecration Service
343. The Consequences of a Refusal to Work in 1918
344. The Controversial Role Played by St Mary’s Schoolchildren in the 1907 Batley Pageant
345. The Deaths of the Smallpox Hospital Caretakers 
346. The Debate Over Grave-Diggers’ Holidays 
347. The Earliest Published Account of Batley St Mary’s Church and Schools 
348. The Great War: A Brief Overview of What Led Britain into the War 
349. The Horrific Death of Little Mary Leach 
350. The Unholy row between St Mary’s Church and the Batley and Birstall Irish Clubs 
351. Thomas Ate My Rat 
352. William Berry – A Beautiful Voice Stilled 
353. Willie and Edward Barber – Poems

Occupations and Employment Information
354. Occupations: Colliery Byeworker/Byeworkman/Byworker/Bye-Worker/By-Worker 
355. Occupations: Confidential Clerk 
356. Occupations: Lamp Cleaner 
357. Occupations: Limelight Operator 
358. Occupations: Mason’s Labourer 
359. Occupations: Office Boy/Girl 
360. Occupations: Piecer/Piecener 
361. Occupations: Rag Grinder 
362. Occupations: Willeyer

School Log Books 
363. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1913 
364. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1914 
365. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1915 
366. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1916 
367. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1917 
368. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1918 
369. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1919 
370. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1920 
371. Infant School – Log Book, 1913 
372. Infant School – Log Book, 1914
373. Infant School – Log Book, 1915
374. Infant School – Log Book, 1916 
375. Infant School – Log Book, 1917
376. Infant School – Log Book, 1918 
377. Infant School – Log Book, 1919 
378. Infant School – Log Book, 1920 
379. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1913 
380. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1914 
381. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1915 
382. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1916 
383. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1917
384. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1918 
385. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1919
386. Mixed Department- Log Book 1920

School Photos *UPDATED*
387. Photo No1 
388. Photo No2 
389. Photo No3 
390. Photo No4 
391. Photo No5 
392. Photo No6 
393. Photo No7 
394. Photo No8 
395. Photo No9 
396. Photo No10
397. Photo No11 
398. Photo No12 
399. Photo No13 
400. Photo No14 
401. Photo No15 
402. Photo No16 
403. Photo No17 
404. Photo No18 
405. Photo No19 
406. Photo No20 
407. Photo No21 *NEW*
408. Photo No22 *NEW*
409. Photo No23 *NEW*
410. Photo No24 *NEW*
411. Photo No25 *NEW*
412. Photo No26 *NEW*
413. Photo No27 *NEW*
414. Photo No28 *NEW*
415. Photo No29 *NEW*
416. Photo No30 *NEW*

The Bulletin of St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick – Parish History Section 
417. March 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
418. April 2024 Bulletin History Pieces
419. May 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
420. June 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
421. July 2024 Bulletin History Pieces
422. August 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
423. September 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
424. October 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
425. November 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
426. December 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
427. January 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
428. February 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
429. March 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
430. April 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
431. May 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
432. June 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
433. July 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
434. August 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
435. September 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
436. October 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
437. November 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
438. December 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
439. January 2026 Bulletin History Pieces 
440. February 2026 Bulletin History Pieces
441. March 2026 Bulletin History Pieces
442. April 2026 Bulletin History Pieces 
443. May 2026 Bulletin History Pieces 
444. June 2026 Bulletin History Pieces *NEW*

The Families
445. A Death in the Church
446. St Mary’s Schoolboys Wreak Havoc in a Batley Graveyard

The May Queens of Batley St Mary of the Angels 
447. 1922 May Queen: Phyllis Doyle 
448 1923 May Queen: Katherine Phillips 
449. 1925 May Queen: Agnes Judge 
450. 1929 May Queen: Mary Collins 
451. 1931 May Queen Ceremony: Theresa Judge 
452. 1932 May Queen Ceremony: Agnes Kilgallon 
453. 1933 May Queen Ceremony: Winnie Colleran 
454. 1939 May Queen Ceremony: Kathleen Gooder 
455. 1940 May Queen Ceremony: Sheila Rowan 
456. 1941 May Queen Ceremony 
457. 1949 May Queen Ceremony: Moya Hill 
458. 1950 May Queen Ceremony: Catherine Heaps
459. 1951 May Queen Ceremony: Mary Harkin 
460. 1952 May Queen Ceremony: Patricia Anne Cain 
461. 1953 May Queen Ceremony: Mary O’Connor 

World War Two 
462. World War Two Chronology of Deaths 
463. Thomas Egan
464. Michael Flatley
465. Frank Higgins 
466. Edward Lynch 
467. William Smith
468. Bernard Stenchion

St Mary of the Angels, Batley: One-Place Study Update – 1 to 31 December 2025 Additions

The Batley St. Mary of the Angels One-Place Study ended 2025 on a total of 421 posts, with two new posts being published in December.

The first post of the month was all about the 1953 May Queen ceremony (photograph on the left), which was added to the May Queen section. Mary O’Connor took the starring role, but the piece includes names of many others involved in the procession that day.

The final post of 2025 was the parish history snippets piece for December. These snippets cover a variety of events and people from the parish from years gone by, and can be found in the Bulletin for Batley St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick section. Even if you have seen them on the Bulletin, it is worth checking them here as some have links to more detailed pieces I have written.

Below is the full list of pages to date. I have annotated the *NEW* posts, so you can easily pick these out. Click on the link and it will take you straight to the relevant page.

If you want to know the background, and what is involved in a one-place study, click here. Otherwise read on, to discover a wealth of parish, parishioner and wider local Batley history. 

Finally, I’d like to end with a thank you for reading my Batley St. Mary of the Angels one-place study posts in 2025. Your support, additional information, photographs and many lovely comments throughout the year have all really been appreciated. I look forward to what 2026 will bring to this parish history collection. Hopefully the first of these will be published next week.


Postscript:
I may not be able to thank you personally because of your contact detail confidentiality, but I do want to say how much I appreciate the donations already received to keep this website going. They really and truly do help. Thank you.

The website has always been free to use, and I want to continue this policy in the future. However, it does cost me money to operate – from undertaking the research to website hosting costs. In the current difficult economic climate I do have to regularly consider if I can afford to continue running it as a free resource. 

If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated. 

Please click 👉🏽here👈🏽be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all. 

Thank you.

As a professionally qualified genealogist, if you would like me to undertake any family, local or house history research for you do please get in touch. More information can be found on my research services page.


Finally, if you do have any information about, or photos of, parishioners from the period of the First World War please do get in touch. It does not have to be War Memorial men. It could be those who served and survived, or indeed any other men, women and children from the parish. 

I would also be interested in information about, and photos of, those parishioners who were killed in World War Two, or others from the parish who undertook any war service and survived. This can be as broad as serving in the military, or work in munitions factories, the Land Army, even taking in refugees. This is an area I’m looking to develop in the future.

I can be contacted at: pasttopresentgenealogy@btinternet.com


1. About my St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church War Memorial One-Place Study;

Batley’s Public Buildings and Institutions
2. Batley Hospital: The First 50 Years – 1878 to 1928 
3. The Early History of Batley’s Public Baths 

Batley St Mary’s Population, Health, Mortality and Fertility Information and Comparisons
4.  1914: The Health of Batley School Children Generally, with a Particular Focus on St Mary’s School Children

Batley Statistics and Descriptions – Population, Health, Mortality, Fertility etc.
5. 1914: Borough of Batley – Town Information from the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
6. Batley and the 1921 Census 
7. Batley Population Statistics 1801-1939

Biographies: Men Associated with St Mary’s Who Died but Who Are Not on the Memorial 
8. Thomas Gannon 
9. Reginald Roberts 
10. William Frederick Townsend

Biographies: The War Memorial Men
11. Edward Barber 
12. William Barber (Memorial name spelling) 
13. Herbert Booth 
14. Edmund Battye
15. Dominick (aka George) Brannan 
16. Michael Brannan 
17. John Brooks 
18. Michael Cafferty 
19. Patrick Cafferty 
20. John William Callaghan 
21. Lawrence Carney 
22. Martin Carney 
23. Thomas William Chappell 
24. William Colbeck
25.  Michael Cunningham 
26. Thomas Curley
27. Peter Doherty 
28. Thomas Dolan 
29. Thomas Donlan 
30. James Edwards 
31. John W. Enright 
32. Mathew Farrer 
33. Thomas Finneran 
34. Michael Flynn 
35. Thomas Foley D.C.M. 
36. Martin Gallagher 
37. James Garner
38. Harold Gaunt 
39. James Gavaghan 
40. Peter Gavaghan 
41. Thomas Gavaghan 
42. Henry Groark 
43. James Groark 
44. Michael Groark (also known as Rourke) 
45. James Griffin 
46. William Hargreaves 
47. Michael Hopkins 
48. Patrick Hopkins
49. Michael Horan
50. James Hughes 
51. Lawrence Judge 
52. John Leech 
53. Michael Lydon
54. John Thomas Lynch 
55. Patrick Lyons 
William McManus – See William Townsend below
56. Thomas McNamara 
57. Clement Manning 
58. Patrick Naifsey 
59. Austin Nolan 
60. Robert Randerson 
61. James Rush 
62. Moses Stubley 
63. William Townsend, also known as McManus
64. James Trainor 
65. Richard Carroll Walsh
66. Arthur William Bayldon Woodhead

Biographies: Those who Served and Survived (this includes a list of those identified to date and who will later have dedicated biographical pages)
67. Patrick Cassidy 
68. James Delaney
69. Thomas Donlan (senior) 
70. Thomas Gannon 
71. Michael Rush 

Burials, Cemeteries, Headstones and MIs
72. Cemetery and Memorial Details 
73. War Memorial Chronology of Deaths .

During This Week
74. During This Week Newspaper Index 
75. 1914, 8 August – Batley News 
76. 1914, 15 August – Batley News 
77. 1914, 22 August – Batley News 
78. 1914, 29 August – Batley News 
79. 1914, 5 September – Batley News 
80. 1914, 12 September – Batley News 
81. 1914, 19 September – Batley News 
82. 1914, 26 September – Batley News 
83. 1914, 3 October – Batley News 
84. 1914, 10 October – Batley News 
85. 1914, 17 October – Batley News 
86. 1914, 24 October – Batley News 
87. 1914, 31 October – Batley News 
88. 1914, 7 November – Batley News 
89. 1914, 14 November – Batley News 
90. 1914, 21 November – Batley News 
91. 1914, 28 November – Batley News
92. 1914, 5 December – Batley News 
93. 1914, 12 December – Batley News 
94. 1914, 19 December – Batley News 
95. 1914, 24 December – Batley News 
96. 1915, 2 January – Batley News 
97. 1915, 9 January – Batley News 
98. 1915, 16 January – Batley News 
99. 1915, 23 January – Batley News 
100. 1915, 30 January – Batley News 
101. 1915, 6 February – Batley News 
101. 1915, 13 February – Batley News 
103. 1915, 20 February – Batley News 
104. 1915, 27 February – Batley News 
105. 1915, 6 March – Batley News 
106. 1915, 13 March – Batley News 
107. 1915, 20 March – Batley News 
108. 1915, 27 March – Batley News 
109. 1915, 3 April – Batley News 
110. 1915, 10 April – Batley News 
111. 1915, 17 April – Batley News 
112. 1915, 24 April – Batley News 
113. 1915, 1 May – Batley News 
114. 1915, 8 May – Batley News 
115. 1915, 15 May – Batley News 
116. 1915, 22 May – Batley News 
117. 1915, 29 May – Batley News 
118. 1915, 5 June – Batley News 
119. 1915, 12 June – Batley News 
120. 1915, 19 June – Batley News 
121. 1915, 26 June – Batley News 
122. 1915, 3 July – Batley News 
123. 1915, 10 July – Batley News 
124. 1915, 17 July – Batley News 
125. 1915, 24 July – Batley News 
126. 1915, 31 July – Batley News 
127. 1915, 7 August – Batley News 
128. 1915, 14 August – Batley News 
129. 1915, 21 August – Batley News 
130. 1915, 28 August – Batley News 
131. 1915, 4 September – Batley News 
132. 1915, 11 September – Batley News 
133. 1915, 18 September – Batley News 
134. 1915, 25 September – Batley News 
135. 1915, 2 October – Batley News 
136. 1915, 9 October – Batley News 
137. 1915, 16 October – Batley News 
138. 1915, 23 October – Batley News 
139. 1915, 30 October – Batley News 
140. 1915, 6 November – Batley News 
141. 1915, 13 November – Batley News 
142. 1915, 20 November – Batley News 
143. 1915, 27 November – Batley News 
144. 1915, 4 December – Batley News 
145. 1915, 11 December – Batley News
146. 1915, 18 December – Batley News 
147. 1915, 23 December – Batley News 
148. 1916, 1 January – Batley News 
149. 1916, 8 January – Batley News 
150. 1916, 15 January – Batley News 
151. 1916, 22 January – Batley News 
152. 1916, 29 January – Batley News 
153. 1916, 5 February – Batley News 
154. 1916, 12 February – Batley News 
155. 1916, 19 February – Batley News 
156. 1916, 26 February – Batley News 
157. 1916, 4 March – Batley News 
158. 1916, 11 March – Batley News 
159. 1916, 18 March – Batley News 
160. 1916, 25 March – Batley News 
161. 1916, 1 April – Batley News 
162. 1916, 8 April – Batley News 
163. 1916, 15 April – Batley News 
164. 1916, 22 April – Batley News 
165. 1916, 29 April – Batley News 
166. 1916, 6 May – Batley News 
167. 1916, 13 May – Batley News
168. 1916, 20 May – Batley News 
169. 1916, 27 May – Batley News
170. 1916, 3 June – Batley News 
171. 1916, 10 June – Batley News 
172. 1916, 17 June – Batley News 
173. 1916, 24 June – Batley News 
174. 1916, 1 July – Batley News 
175. 1916, 8 July – Batley News 
176. 1916, 15 July – Batley News 
177. 1916, 22 July – Batley News 
178. 1916, 29 July – Batley News 
179. 1916, 5 August – Batley News
180. 1916, 12 August – Batley News
181. 1916, 19 August – Batley News 
182. 1916, 26 August – Batley News
183. 1916, 2 September – Batley News 
184. 1916, 9 September – Batley News
185. 1916, 16 September – Batley News 
188. 1916, 23 September – Batley News 
187. 1916, 30 September – Batley News 
188. 1916, 7 October – Batley News
189. 1916, 14 October – Batley News 
190. 1916, 21 October – Batley News
191. 1916, 28 October – Batley News 
192. 1916, 4 November – Batley News
193. 1916, 11 November – Batley News
197. 1916, 18 November – Batley News
195. 1916, 25 November – Batley News 
196. 1916, 2 December – Batley News 
197. 1916, 9 December – Batley News 
198. 1916, 16 December – Batley News 
199. 1916, 23 December – Batley News 
200. 1916, 30 December – Batley News 
201. 1917, 6 January – Batley News 
202. 1917, 13 January – Batley News 
203. 1917, 20 January – Batley News 
204. 1917, 27 January – Batley News
204. 1917, 3 February – Batley News 
206. 1917, 10 February – Batley News 
207. 1917, 17 February – Batley News 
208. 1917, 24 February – Batley News 
209. 1917, 3 March – Batley News
210. 1917, 10 March – Batley News 
211. 1917, 17 March – Batley News 
212. 1917, 24 March – Batley News 
213. 1917, 31 March – Batley News
214. 1917, 7 April – Batley News 
215. 1917, 14 April – Batley News 
216. 1917, 21 April – Batley News 
217. 1917, 28 April – Batley News 
218. 1917, 5 May – Batley News 
219. 1917, 12 May – Batley News 
220. 1917, 19 May – Batley News 
221. 1917, 26 May – Batley News 
222. 1917, 2 June – Batley New
223. 1917, 9 June – Batley News
224. 1917, 16 June – Batley News
225. 1917, 23 June – Batley News
226. 1917, 30 June – Batley News
227. 1917, 7 July – Batley News
228. 1917, 14 July – Batley News 
229. 1917, 21 July – Batley News 
230. 1917, 28 July – Batley News 
231. 1917, 4 August – Batley News 
232. 1917, 11 August – Batley News 
233. 1917, 18 August – Batley News 
234. 1917, 25 August – Batley News 
235. 1917, 1 September – Batley News 
236. 1917, 8 September – Batley News 
237. 1917, 15 September – Batley News 
238. 1917, 22 September – Batley News 
239. 1917, 29 September– Batley News 
240.  1917, 6 October – Batley News 
241. 1917, 13 October – Batley News
242. 1917, 20 October – Batley News
243. 1917, 27 October – Batley News 
244. 1917, 3 November – Batley News
245. 1917, 10 November – Batley News
246. 1917, 17 November – Batley News 
247. 1917, 24 November – Batley News 
248. 1917, 1 December – Batley News 
249. 1917, 8 December – Batley News 
250. 1917, 15 December – Batley News 
251. 1917, 22 December – Batley News 
252. 1917, 29 December – Batley News 
253. 1918, 5 January – Dewsbury District News 
254. 1918, 12 January – Dewsbury District News 
255. 1918, 19 January – Batley News 
256. 1918, 26 January – Batley News
257. 1918, 2 February – Batley News 
258. 1918, 9 February – Batley News 
259. 1918, 16 February – Batley News 
260. 1918, 23 February – Batley News 
261. 1918, 2 March – Batley News 
262 1918, 9 March – Batley News 
263. 1918, 16 March – Batley News 
264. 1918, 23 March – Batley News 
265. 1918, 30 March – Batley News 
266. 1918, 6 April – Batley News 
267. 1918, 13 April – Batley News 
268. 1918, 20 April – Batley News 
269. 1918, 27 April – Batley News 
270. 1918, 4 May – Batley News
271. 1918, 11 May – Batley News 
272. 1918, 18 May – Batley News 
273. 1918, 25 May – Batley News 
274. 1918, 1 June – Batley News 
275. 1918, 8 June – Batley News 
276. 1918, 15 June – Batley News 
277. 1918, 22 June – Batley News
278. 1918, 29 June – Batley News 
279. 1918, 6 July – Batley News 
280. 1918, 13 July – Batley News 
281. 1918, 20 July – Batley News
282. 1918, 27 July – Batley News
283. 1918, 3 August – Batley News 
284. 1918, 10 August – Batley News 
285. 1918, 17 August – Batley News 
286. 1918, 24 August – Batley News 
287. 1918, 31 August – Batley News 
288. 1918, 7 September – Batley News 
289. 1918, 14 September – Batley News 
290. 1918, 21 September – Batley News 
291. 1918, 28 September – Batley News 
292. 1918, 5 October – Batley News 
293. 1918, 12 October – Batley News 
294. 1918, 19 October – Batley News 
295. 1918, 26 October – Batley News 
296. 1918, 2 November – Batley News 
297. 1918, 9 November – Batley News 
298. 1918, 16 November – Batley News 
299. 1918, 23 November – Batley News 
300. 1918, 30 November – Batley News 
301. 1918, 7 December – Batley News 
302. 1918, 14 December – Batley News 
303. 1918, 21 December – Batley News 
304. 1918, 28 December – Batley News 

Electoral Registers 1918-1921 
305. 1918 Batley Electoral Register, North Ward, Polling Districts A and B – Naval and Military Voters

Guest Contributions
306. Memories of Skelsey Row – by Brian Foley 

Maps and Photographs
307. A Description of the Parish Boundaries 
308. Aerial View of St Mary’s Church and the Surrounding Streets 
309. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1894 
310. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1907 
311. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1922 
312. Batley St Mary’s – Map Published in 1933 

Miscellany of Information
313. A Bitter-Sweet Remarriage 
314. A Colliery Accident with Tragic Consequences
315. A Description of the Parish of St Mary of the Angels in 1950 
316. A Grave Disturbance in Batley 
317. A Part of St Mary of the Angels in Batley Cemetery 
318. A “Peace” of Batley History
319. An Appeal to Ireland to Build a Catholic Church in Batley 
320. A Potted Early History of the Irish in Batley, the Building of St Mary of the Angels Church, and the Parish Priest’s Fatal Accident 
321. A St Mary’s Parishioner in the Holy Land 
322. A St Mary’s School Sensation
323. A St Mary’s School Trip Souvenir 
324. Batley’s Secret Irish Society and the Ammunition Seizure 
325. Batley St Mary’s First Torchlight Procession 
326. Batley St Mary’s Second Torchlight Procession 
327. Buffalo Bill and A Right Royal Celebration for Batley’s Schoolchildren
328. “Daddy’s Death and then Triplets” 
329. Heritage Impact Assessment: St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Convent, Batley 
330. Hot-Cross Buns and the Yorkshire Tea-Cake Dilemma. Plus A Suggested Meal Planner for Batley Families in 1917 
331. Into the Valley of Death – One of the Six Hundred
332. “I’ve Done it for Love” – A Batley Murder 
333. St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church – 1929 Consecration Service
334. The Consequences of a Refusal to Work in 1918
335. The Controversial Role Played by St Mary’s Schoolchildren in the 1907 Batley Pageant
336. The Deaths of the Smallpox Hospital Caretakers 
337. The Debate Over Grave-Diggers’ Holidays 
338. The Earliest Published Account of Batley St Mary’s Church and Schools 
339. The Great War: A Brief Overview of What Led Britain into the War 
340. The Unholy row between St Mary’s Church and the Batley and Birstall Irish Clubs 
341. Thomas Ate My Rat 
342. William Berry – A Beautiful Voice Stilled 
343. Willie and Edward Barber – Poems

Occupations and Employment Information
344. Occupations: Colliery Byeworker/Byeworkman/Byworker/Bye-Worker/By-Worker 
345. Occupations: Confidential Clerk 
346. Occupations: Lamp Cleaner 
347. Occupations: Limelight Operator 
348. Occupations: Mason’s Labourer 
349. Occupations: Office Boy/Girl 
350. Occupations: Piecer/Piecener 
351. Occupations: Rag Grinder 
352. Occupations: Willeyer

School Log Books 
353. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1913 
354. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1914 
355. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1915 
356. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1916 
357. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1917 
358. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1918 
359. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1919 
360. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1920 
361. Infant School – Log Book, 1913 
362. Infant School – Log Book, 1914
363. Infant School – Log Book, 1915
364. Infant School – Log Book, 1916 
365. Infant School – Log Book, 1917
366. Infant School – Log Book, 1918 
367. Infant School – Log Book, 1919 
368. Infant School – Log Book, 1920 
369. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1913 
370. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1914 
371. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1915 
372. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1916 
373. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1917
374. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1918 
375. Mixed Department – Log Book, 1919
376. Mixed Department- Log Book 1920

The Bulletin of St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick – Parish History Section 
377. March 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
378. April 2024 Bulletin History Pieces
379. May 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
380. June 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
381. July 2024 Bulletin History Pieces
382. August 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
383. September 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
384. October 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
385. November 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
386. December 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
387. January 2024 Bulletin History Pieces 
388. February 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
389. March 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
390. April 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
391. May 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
392. June 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
393. July 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
394. August 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
395. September 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
396. October 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
397. November 2025 Bulletin History Pieces 
398. December 2025 Bulletin History Pieces *NEW*

The Families
399. A Death in the Church
400. St Mary’s Schoolboys Wreak Havoc in a Batley Graveyard

The May Queens of Batley St Mary of the Angels 
401. 1922 May Queen: Phyllis Doyle 
402. 1923 May Queen: Katherine Phillips 
403. 1925 May Queen: Agnes Judge 
404. 1929 May Queen: Mary Collins 
405. 1931 May Queen Ceremony: Theresa Judge 
406. 1932 May Queen Ceremony: Agnes Kilgallon 
407. 1933 May Queen Ceremony: Winnie Colleran 
408. 1939 May Queen Ceremony: Kathleen Gooder 
409. 1940 May Queen Ceremony: Sheila Rowan 
410. 1941 May Queen Ceremony 
411. 1950 May Queen Ceremony: Catherine Heaps
412. 1951 May Queen Ceremony: Mary Harkin 
413. 1952 May Queen Ceremony: Patricia Anne Cain 
414. 1953 May Queen Ceremony: Mary O’Connor *NEW*

World War Two 
415. World War Two Chronology of Deaths 
416. Thomas Egan
417. Michael Flatley
418. Frank Higgins 
419. Edward Lynch 
420. William Smith
421. Bernard Stenchion

St Mary of the Angels, Batley: One-Place Study Update – 1 to 31 October 2022 Additions

This is the latest Batley St Mary’s one-place study update. If you want to know more about the background to this one-place study click here. Otherwise read on to discover all the posts, new and old, containing a wealth of parish, parishioner and wider local Batley history.

St Mary’s Church – photo by Jane Roberts

October 2022 saw the addition of seven new posts, bringing the total number for the study to 189. Two other pages were updated.

The additions included four weekly newspaper pages for October 1916. I have accordingly updated the surname index to these During This Week newspaper pieces, so you can easily identify newspaper snippets relevant to your family.

I have written one new War Memorial biography, that of Patrick Hopkins.

More men who served and survived have been identified. I have updated that page accordingly. No new biographies were added here in October.

The Infant School log book for 1915 has been added to the School Log Books section.

Finally for this month there is one new piece in the Miscellany of Information section, about the Batley Peace Medal. Although written from a St Mary’s perspective, this is of far wider Batley local history interest.

Below is the full list of pages to date. I have annotated the *NEW* and *UPDATED* ones, so you can easily pick these out. Click on the link and it will take you straight to the relevant page.


1. About my St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church War Memorial One-Place Study;

Batley Descriptions – Directories etc.
2. 1914: Borough of Batley – Town Information from the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health.

Biographies: Men Associated with St Mary’s Who Died but Who Are Not on the Memorial
3. Thomas Gannon
4. Reginald Roberts
5. William Frederick Townsend

Biographies: The War Memorial Men
6. Edward Barber
7. Herbert Booth
8. Edmund Battye
9. Dominick (aka George) Brannan
10. Michael Brannan
11. John Brooks
12. Michael Cafferty
13. Patrick Cafferty
14. Lawrence Carney
15. Martin Carney
16. Thomas Curley
17. Peter Doherty
18. Thomas Donlan
19. Thomas Finneran
20. Michael Flynn
21. Thomas Foley D.C.M.
22. James Garner
23. Thomas Gavaghan
24. Michael Groark (also known as Rourke)
25. James Griffin
26. Patrick Hopkins *NEW*
27. Michael Horan
William McManus – See William Townsend below
28. Thomas McNamara
29. Patrick Naifsey
30. Austin Nolan
31. Robert Randerson
32. James Rush
33. Moses Stubley
34. William Townsend, also known as McManus
35. James Trainor
36. Richard Carroll Walsh

Biographies: Those who Served and Survived (this includes a list of those identified to date and who will later have dedicated biographical pages) *UPDATED*
37. Patrick Cassidy
38. James Delaney
39. Thomas Donlan (senior)
40. Thomas Gannon
41. Michael Rush

Burials, Cemeteries, Headstones and MIs
42. Cemetery and Memorial Details
43. War Memorial Chronology of Deaths

Miscellany of Information
162. The Controversial Role Played by St Mary’s Schoolchildren in the 1907 Batley Pageant
163. The Great War: A Brief Overview of What Led Britain into the War
164. Willie and Edward Barber – Poems
165. A St Mary’s School Sensation
166. St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church – 1929 Consecration Service
167. A “Peace” of Batley History *NEW*

During This Week
44. During This Week Newspaper Index *UPDATED*
45. 1914, 8 August – Batley News
46. 1914, 15 August – Batley News
47. 1914, 22 August – Batley News
48. 1914, 29 August – Batley News
49. 1914, 5 September – Batley News
50. 1914, 12 September – Batley News
51. 1914, 19 September – Batley News
52. 1914, 26 September – Batley News
53. 1914, 3 October – Batley News
54. 1914, 10 October – Batley News
55. 1914, 17 October – Batley News
56. 1914, 24 October – Batley News
57. 1914, 31 October – Batley News
58. 1914, 7 November – Batley News
59. 1914, 14 November – Batley News
60. 1914, 21 November – Batley News
61. 1914, 28 November – Batley News
62. 1914, 5 December – Batley News
63. 1914, 12 December – Batley News
64. 1914, 19 December – Batley News
65. 1914, 24 December – Batley News
66. 1915, 2 January – Batley News
67. 1915, 9 January – Batley News
68. 1915, 16 January – Batley News
69. 1915, 23 January – Batley News
70. 1915, 30 January – Batley News
71. 1915, 6 February – Batley News
72. 1915, 13 February – Batley News
73. 1915, 20 February – Batley News
74. 1915, 27 February – Batley News
75. 1915, 6 March – Batley News
76. 1915, 13 March – Batley News
77. 1915, 20 March – Batley News
78. 1915, 27 March – Batley News
79. 1915, 3 April – Batley News
80. 1915, 10 April – Batley News
81. 1915, 17 April – Batley News
82. 1915, 24 April – Batley News
83. 1915, 1 May – Batley News
84. 1915, 8 May – Batley News
85. 1915, 15 May – Batley News
86. 1915, 22 May – Batley News
87. 1915, 29 May – Batley News
88. 1915, 5 June – Batley News
89. 1915, 12 June – Batley News
90. 1915, 19 June – Batley News
91. 1915, 26 June – Batley News
92. 1915, 3 July – Batley News
93. 1915, 10 July – Batley News
94. 1915, 17 July – Batley News
95. 1915, 24 July – Batley News
96. 1915, 31 July – Batley News
97. 1915, 7 August – Batley News
98. 1915, 14 August – Batley News
99. 1915, 21 August – Batley News
100. 1915, 28 August – Batley News
101. 1915, 4 September – Batley News
102. 1915, 11 September – Batley News
103. 1915, 18 September – Batley News
104. 1915, 25 September – Batley News
105. 1915, 2 October – Batley News
106. 1915, 9 October – Batley News
107. 1915, 16 October – Batley News
108. 1915, 23 October – Batley News
109. 1915, 30 October – Batley News
110. 1915, 6 November – Batley News
111. 1915, 13 November – Batley News
112. 1915, 20 November – Batley News
113. 1915, 27 November – Batley News
114. 1915, 4 December – Batley News
115. 1915, 11 December – Batley News
116. 1915, 18 December – Batley News
117. 1915, 23 December – Batley News
118. 1916, 1 January – Batley News
119. 1916, 8 January – Batley News
120. 1916, 15 January – Batley News
121. 1916, 22 January – Batley News
122. 1916, 29 January – Batley News
123. 1916, 5 February – Batley News
124. 1916, 12 February – Batley News
125. 1916, 19 February – Batley News
126. 1916, 26 February – Batley News
127. 1916, 4 March – Batley News
128. 1916, 11 March – Batley News
129. 1916, 18 March – Batley News
130. 1916, 25 March – Batley News
131. 1916, 1 April – Batley News
132. 1916, 8 April – Batley News
133. 1916, 15 April – Batley News
134. 1916, 22 April – Batley News
135. 1916, 29 April – Batley News
136. 1916, 6 May – Batley News
137. 1916, 13 May – Batley News
138. 1916, 20 May – Batley News
139. 1916, 27 May – Batley News
140. 1916, 3 June – Batley News
141. 1916, 10 June – Batley News
142. 1916, 17 June – Batley News
143. 1916, 24 June – Batley News
144. 1916, 1 July – Batley News
145. 1916, 8 July – Batley News
146. 1916, 15 July – Batley News
147. 1916, 22 July – Batley News
148. 1916, 29 July – Batley News
149. 1916, 5 August – Batley News
150. 1916, 12 August – Batley News
151. 1916, 19 August – Batley News
152. 1916, 26 August – Batley News
153. 1916, 2 September – Batley News
154. 1916, 9 September – Batley News
155. 1916, 16 September – Batley News
156. 1916, 23 September – Batley News
157. 1916, 30 September – Batley News
158. 1916, 7 October – Batley News *NEW*
159. 1916, 14 October – Batley News *NEW*
160. 1916, 21 October – Batley News *NEW*
161. 1916, 28 October – Batley News *NEW*

Occupations and Employment Information
168. Occupations: Confidential Clerk
169. Occupations: Lamp Cleaner
170. Occupations: Limelight Operator
171. Occupations: Office Boy/Girl
172. Occupations: Piecer/Piecener
173. Occupations: Rag Grinder
174. Occupations: Willeyer

The Families
175. A Death in the Church

School Log Books
176. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1913
177. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1914
178. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1915
179. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1916
180. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1917
181. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1918
182. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1919
183. Boys’ School – Log Book, 1920
184. Infant School – Log Book 1914
185. Infant School – Log Book 1915 *NEW*

Population, Health, Mortality and Fertility
186. 1914: The Health of Batley School Children Generally, with a Particular Focus on St Mary’s School Children

World War Two
187. World War Two Chronology of Deaths
188. Michael Flatley
189. William Smith


Postscript:
My website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I’m having to consider whether I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource.

If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.

Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.

Thank you.

Published: The Greatest Sacrifice – Fallen Heroes of the Northern Union

On Saturday I saw my book for the first time. The finished product looks amazing.

As the publisher said:

What began as an idea in the press box at Huddersfield is now one of the definitive history books about rugby league. Scratching Shed Publishing is honoured to publish a tribute to the 69 men who fell in WWI by Chris & Jane Roberts….

Chris and I echo these sentiments. It has been a real privilege to be able to research the lives of these men.

The publishers have done a fantastic job, supporting us throughout the process of writing this long overdue and important rugby league history book. But above all this is more than a rugby league book, a sporting history book, or a World War One book. It is the story of the impact of war on individual men and their families from across Great Britain.

I hope we’ve done them justice.

The book is available from Scratching Shed Publishing at £14.99.

I also have copies for sale, which can be signed if required. I can also drop off locally. If so the cost is £13.50. Post within the UK increases the cost to £14.50. Payment can either be via cheque (UK) or bank transfer. My contact email is pasttopresentgenealogy@btinternet.com.

The book will also shortly be available from the usual book retailers.

If any family history, rugby league or local history groups would like Chris and I to do a talk, please contact me on the above email address.

WW1 Remembrance in Verse: “In Memoriam” and “Roll of Honour” Newspaper Columns

This is the last of my three blog posts in this period of Remembrance. It focuses on the WW1 period.

Batley War Memorial

Batley War Memorial

As the Great War progressed and the anniversaries of the Fallen came and went, the local newspaper “In Memoriam” and, later, dedicated “Roll of Honour” columns were increasingly filled with moving tributes to lost husbands, sons, fathers, brothers and fiancées. Although less frequent in late 1915 and throughout 1916, this phenomenon became particularly notable from 1917 onwards and endured in the years beyond the end of the conflict.

Many were recurrent standard verses, or variations on standard themes: grief; absence; young lives cut short; a mother’s pain; religious sentiments; Remembrance; doing one’s duty; sacrifice; wooden crosses; graves overseas far from home, or no known grave; not being present in their loved one’s dying moments; occasionally the difficulty of seeing others return; and even reproach for those who caused the war.

Although not war poetry, they are powerful representations of family grief and loss which echo across the ages.

My mother’s brother died in Aden whilst on National Service in 1955. These family tributes from another era are the ones which, in all my St Mary’s War Memorial research, left the greatest impression on her, resonating with her emotions 60 years later.

These “In Memoriam” and “Roll of Honour” notices provide an accessible window into this aspect of the War, the emotions of those left behind. They are also a continuing legacy for family historians. They can provide service details, place and even circumstances of death, names and addresses of family members (including married sisters) and details of fiancées all of which can aid research.

Here is a selection from the local Batley newspapers[1].

Remembrance 1

Remembrance 2

Remembrance 3

Remembrance 4

Remembrance 5

Remembrance 6

Remembrance 7

Remembrance 8

Sources:

  • Batley News – various dates
  • Batley War Memorial photo by Jane Roberts

[1] These are not confined to those servicemen on the St Mary’s War Memorial