The plaque above is found inside St Marys Church Boston Spa, it remembers the men who gave their lives in WW1.
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COMPANY SERJEANT MAJOR PERCY GEORGE LATHAM
SERVICE NUMBER: 16/156. UNIT: 16th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa 17/04/1889 ENLISTED: Bradford. RESIDENCE: Bradford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 01/07/1916. AGED: 26.
CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial. PANEL: Pier and Face 2. A. 2. C. and 2. D
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
Percy was the son of Alfred George Latham Born New Brighton Cheshire in 1857 who was a School master at St Marys School and Alice Dean, Born Dorstone Herefordshire in 1859 they married in the Leominster District of Herefordshire in 1881.
Percy had a sister Alice Mary Born in Boston spa 1887.
Percy was educated at Bangor and was employed at the outbreak of war as a government valuer.
Percy enlisted in September 1914 and went to France in December 1915.
Percy married Jessie Wright on the 2nd of June 1913 at All Saints Church Bradford and had two children Jack Born 27/02/1914 and a daughter Janet was Born 13/07/1916 only 12 days after Percy gave his life on the 1st day of the Battle for Albert ( Somme).
Percy was living at No 80 Little Horton Lane Bradford when he enlisted.
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PRIVATE ALFRED LISTER.
SERVICE NUMBER: 203196. UNIT: 1/4 th Bn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
BORN: Walton nr Wetherby. ENLISTED: Doncaster.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 24/07/1917. AGED: 29.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
CWGC States:
"Husband of Mary A. Lister, of 29, Front St., Boldon Colliery, Co. Durham. Born at Moor Farm, Walton, Boston Spa, Yorks."
Found by mistake at this cemetery when looking for another Tadcaster man.
Alfred was the brother of brother of Norman.
Yorkshire Evening Post Leeds.
CEMETERY: Mont Houn Military Extension Le Treport. GRAVE: II. D. 2A
DRIVER NORMAN LISTER.
SERVICE NUMBER: 266655.
UNIT: "D" Bty. 311th Army Bde. Royal Horse and Field Artillery.
BORN: Walton nr Wetherby. ENLISTED: Wetherby. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 07/11/1918. AGED: 22.
CEMETERY: Tournai Communal Allied Extension. GRAVE: III. A. 12.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
Norman is not on the Memorial in Boston Spa but according to Soldiers Died was a resident at the time he gave his life, as a result he is included here.
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PRIVATE NATHAN LONGFELLOW
SERVICE NUMBER: 201780. UNIT: 2/5th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE:
GAVE HIS LIFE: 16/04/1918. AGED: 27.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CEMETERY: Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension Somme France. GRAVE: II. L. 7.
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SECOUND LIEUTENANT CECIL ARTHUR MARLOWE
REGIMENT: 1/2 nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.(Attached 1/7 Bn).
GAVE HIS LIFE: 18/10/1918.
BORN: Rathmines Co Dublin Ireland. AGED: 34.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
Cecil was the son of Edward who was a clerk in the four courts in Dublin and Sarah Ennis who in 1916 who residing at 14 Dromard Terrace, Sandy Mount Dublin.
Cecil was educated in Dublin and moved to the Tadcaster area working at the Tower Brewery Company in the town.
On the 15th of June 1916 Cecil joined the 4th West Yorkshire Regiment and was posted to France on the 13th of December 1917 having being transferred to the 10th West Yorkshire Battalion.
In August of that year Cecil returned back to England to train for his commision and was Gazetted the rank 2nd Lieutenent to the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment on the 30th January 1918.
Cecil went back to France on April the 22nd 1918 and on the 18th of October 1918 was involved in fighting near the village of Ivry, Cecil was wounded and transferred to the No 8 Clearing Station Hospital at Boulogne where he sadly passed away from his injuries.
His commanding officer wrote:
"Cecil was cool in danger,and quite fearless at all times,
and his loss is keenly felt by all his brother officers and men alike"
Cecil had married Mary Agnes Brown Born Hunslet Leeds in 1887 ( the daughter of John Brown ) at St Josephs Church in Hunslet Leeds in 1908.
The records i have seen describe Cecil and Mary has having Eight Children and i believe them to be the following. Josephine Mary 1908. Agnes Eileen 1910. Edward Born Hunslet 1912. Francis A 1913. Bernard 1914. Mary M 1916. John 1917 and finally Caroline 1918.
When Cecil passed away the family were living on Church Street Boston Spa hence the reason he his remembered on the memorial.
GRAVE: V. F. 34.
CEMETERY: Terlincthun British Cemetery Wimille Boulogne.
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PRIVATE GERALD HALTON MORRIS.
SERVICE NUMBER: 78501. UNIT/REGIMENT: 12th Bn Durham Light Infantry.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Harrogate. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 29/10/1918. AGED: 20.
CEMETERY: Tezze British Cemetery nr Venice Italy. GRAVE: 8. Plot 2. Row B.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CWGC States:
"Son of Arthur and Beatrice of Albion Hotel Clifford."
BRIGADIER GENERAL NORMAN TOM NICHALLS
UNIT: Commanding 63rd Infantry Brigade. ( Formerly 17th Lancers)
BORN: RESIDENCE: West London.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 26/09/1915. AGED: 51
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CEMETERY: Loos Memorial. PANEL: 1.
CWGC States:
"Son of Late Tom Nickalls of Patterson Court Red Hill Surrey Husband of Evirild of 61 Elm Park Gardens West Brompton London."
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PRIVATE GEORGE NELSON PALLISTER
SERVICE NUMBER: C/12168. UNIT/REGIMENT: 21st Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: York. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 17/09/1916. AGED: 23.
CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial. PANEL: 13A. and 13B.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
Yorkshire Evening Post October 1916 Reported:
"Rifleman George Pallister of the 22nd Kings Royal Rifles, the son of George Pallister The High Street, West Boston Spa.
Has been reported Killed in Action on September the 15th 1916.
Rifleman Pallister was formely employed by F.W.Dixon of Boston Spa."
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RIFELMAN WILLIAM PALLISTER.
SERVICE NUBER: C/12357. REGIMENT: 18th Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Harrogate. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/04/1918. AGED: 31.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa, Bramham.
The commonwealth graves gives date as 17/04/1918 however those who died gives it has the 20/04/1918.
GRAVE: B. 58.
CEMETERY: Denain Communal Cemetery nr Cambrai France.
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PRIVATE WILLIAM PARNABY.
SERVICE NUMBER: 57886. UNIT: 2/5th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Harrogate. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/07/1918. AGED: 19.
CEMETERY: Marfaux British Cemetery. GRAVE: V. C. 11.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
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PRIVATE ERNEST WILLIAM PEACOCK.
SERVICE NUMBER: 235822. UNIT: 1st Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Northalerton. ENLISTED: York. RESIDENCE: Castle Eden Durham.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 14/07/1918 AGED: 22.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CWGC States:
"Son of William and Ellen Ann of Grove Road Boston Spa."
CEMETERY: Lijssenthoek Military. GRAVE: XXVIII. G. 3.
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PRIVATE EDWARD RICHARDSON
SERVICE NUMBER: 4968.
UNIT: 16 th Queens Lancers Household Cavelery.
BORN: Dublin. ENLISTED: Ballincolling
RESIDENCE: Dalkey Co Dublin Ireland.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 12/10/1914. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CEMETERY: Tirlincthun British Cemetery Wimille.
GRAVE: Joint Grave XV. F. 13.
The Boston Spa Memorial gives Richards Unit as the 17th and in all other records it is shown as the 16th.
Note how ironically C. A. Marlowe mentioned above was buried in this graveyard fours years nearly to the day Edward gave his life.
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PRIVATE GEORGE ROBINSON.
SERVICE NUMBER: 13810. UNIT: 11th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 04/07/1916. AGED: 22.
CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial. PANEL: 2A 2C and 2D.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
Yorkshire Herald York July 1916.
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CAPTAIN THOMAS SCATCHARD
REGIMENT: Royal Army Medical Corps.
BORN: Boston Spa 6th July 1878. GAVE HIS LIFE: 08/09/1914. AGED: 36.
CEMETERY: Bellot Communal Cemetery France. GRAVE: 3.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
Thomas was theYoungest son of Dr Thomas Edward Born Boston Spa 1845 (His father had been a surgeon living in Clifford near Boston Spa) and Mary Born Boston Spa 1846.
Thomas attended collage in Epsom Surey and was a medical student in Leeds in the 1901 census.
On July 5th 1905 Thomas enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps and was promoted to Captain on th 31st of January 1909.
In 1907 he married Ada Mary Hervey the daughter of Colonel De La Motte Hervey of the 13th Bengal Lancers, Thomas and Ada had one daughter Phyllis May Lindsay.
Thomas was serving at Aldershot at the outbreak of war and was part of the British Expeditionary Force sent out to France at the beginning of the war.
He is buried with 8 other men who all gave their lives on the same day at Bellot.
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PRIVATE ARTHUR STEPHENSON
SERVICE NUMBER: 15869. UNIT: 9th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Leeds.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 22/08/1915. AGED: 22.
CEMETERY: Helles Memorial. PANEL: 47 to 51.
LOCAL MEMORIAL:
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PRIVATE ERNEST STEPHENSON
SERVICE NUMBER: 40153. REGIMENT: 6/7th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Harewood.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 11/04/1917. AGED: 29.
CEMETERY: Arras Memorial. PANEL: Bay 5.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
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PRIVATE ERNEST. A. SIMKIN
SERVICE NUMBER: 33412. UNIT: 9th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Ashford Kent. ENLISTED: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 09/10/1917. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CEMETERY: Tyne Cot Cemetery Belgium. PANEL: 42to 47 and 162.
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SERJEANT FRANK HARDWICK SMITH
SERVICE NUMBER: L/5577.
UNIT: "A" Battery 164th Brigade. REGIMENT: Royal Horse and Field Artillery.
BORN: Slingsby. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 01/07/1916. AGED: 23.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CWGC States:
"Son of John Richard and Sarah Jane of Slingsby.
Husband of Hilda the Grove Boston Spa."
CEMETERY: Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. GRAVE: I. C. 21.
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STOKER 1st CLASS WILLIAM HARDWICK SMITH.
SERVICE NUMBER: K/23064. FORCE: Royal Navy. H.M.S Pembroke.
BORN: Slingsby. GAVE HIS LIFE: 03/09/1917. AGED: 31.
CEMETERY: Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery. PANEL: Naval. 22. 1164.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
Older brother of F. H Smith mentioned above.
Yorkshire Evening Post Leeds September 1917.
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PRIVATE DAVID HENRY TEASDALE.
SERVICE NUMBER: 14/538.
UNIT: 14th (service) 2nd Barnsley Division York and Lancaster Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Barnsley.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 11/09/1916. AGED: 20.
CEMETERY: St Vaast Post Military Cemetery Richebourg-L'Avoue. GRAVE: II. Y. 6.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
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PRIVATE JOHN GEORGE TEASDALE.
SERVICE NUMBER: S/41866. UNIT: Gordon Highlanders 1/14th London Scottish Regiment.
BORN: Upper Emsley. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 29/08/1918. AGED: 19.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Boston Spa.
CWGC States:
"Son of Alfred H and Jane E of Moor End Boston Spa."
GRAVE: V. K. 22.
CEMETERY: H. A. C. Ecoust-St. Mein Pas de Calais France.
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PRIVATE JOHN THOMPSON.
SERVICE NUMBER: T/206845.
UNIT: 3/4th Bn Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Guildford Surrey. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 05/11/1917. AGED:
CEMETERY: Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium. PANEL: 14 to 17 and 162 to 162 A.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
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LIEUTENANT LIONAL ORMISTON VAVASOUR.
UNIT: 2nd Battalion.North Staffordshire Regiment.
BORN: Kilwick Hall Beverley. GAVE HIS LIFE: 24/07/1915. AGED: 25.
CEMETERY: Karachi 1914-1918 War Memorial. Pakistan.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: St Marys Church Boston Spa.
Son of Albert Carter Vavasour Born 1860 was the owner of Kilnwick Hall where Lionel was born and in the 1891 census is shown as living on own means.
However the surname is shown as Spence not Vavasour. Lionels mother was Elizabeth Dawson Born 1860.
In 1915 His father was shown as Albert Carter Vavasour of Weston Manor Otley, the manor was owned at one time by Elizabeths father.
(The Vavasours had been in posetion of Hazelwood Castle near Tadcaster and had sold up and moved to New Zealand)
Lionel had been educated at Rugby and had gained his comision to the north Staffordshires on the 28th of May 1910, and was duly promoted to Lieutenant in 1913.
Lionel went to India with his regiment in 1912 and passed away from a desease at Gharial whilst on active service.
Lionel was a keen sportsman who excelled at cricket and also was a keen runner especially in the eight mile race for which he won many silver cups.
It is reported that when he joined the regiment he found football and cricket had lacked any interest, but soon revived its fortunes and scored centurys on a regular basis.
Lionel was one of the top marksman in the regiment and it is reported he sent home the heads of three Urial and three Chinkara (Tigars) from the Kashmir region it was reported at the time that it was the biggest haul ever secured there.
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GUNNER HERBERT S WHITEHEAD
SERVICE NUMBER: 301740. UNIT: 10th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 08/04/1917. AGED: 20.
Harrogate Herald April 1917.
Driver G Milnes, of the Overseas Battery, Wrote :
I am sorry I cannot inform you of the exact place, as you are well aware that we are not allowed to mention the name of the front we are holding.
However, it happened on Sunday, April 8th, 1917, and by this time probably the English papers will be full of another big advance, also a very important hill taken by the Canadians; in fact, I may the strongest that Fritz held on the Western Front.
Our division of artillery were directly opposite this point. The day before the attack being Sunday, Fritz commenced to shell the battery position, and having no dugouts to go into, we built a narrow trench running in rear of the guns to go into in case Fritz discovered our position.
That is, of course, provided we had no orders for firing, at which time gunners cannot leave the guns on any consideration.
As it happened, at this time we had no orders to fire, so thinking they would be safer in the trench, the gunners clambered in and were somewhat crowded, when Fritz landed a 5.9 right into the trench, just between, Bert and a fellow called Longworthy being killed both instantly.
#Longworthy# and Whitehead were, I think, without doubt the two finest and well-respected boys we had in the battery.
The former received a piece of shell about as big as my fist through his back and coming out at his chest; while Bert, although not touched by any of the splinters, got completely buried, and the weight of the falling earth and rock broke his spine.
Seven others were wounded at the same time, but only one was at all serious.
# Gunner Harold Lamont Longworthy Service Number 301660 was 22 years of age and was from Regina Saskachewan.
GRAVE: VI. J. 19.
Harrogate Herald 18th April 1917
A Harrogate lad, of the Canadian Forces, has been killed at the Front. It is Herbert S Whitehead, younger son of Mr Jack Whitehead, formerly architect, of Harrogate, now of Canada.
The lad was in a dug-out, when a shell came and buried him. Death must have been instantaneous, for his spine was broken by the heavy debris.
CEMETERY: Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois.
