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PRIVATE FRED GAMBLE BANKS.
SERVICE NUMBER: 36736. UNIT: 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Boston Spa. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 16/08/1917. AGED: 35.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
CEMETERY: Tyne Cot Memorial. PANEL: 42 to 47 and 162.
Son of Joseph Born Clifford 1854 who was the son of Edwin and Mary Jane and Ellen Gamble Born Clifford 1854 daughter of William and Elizabeth.
Joseph and Ellen married in 1882 in Clifford and Ellen passed away in 1890.
In 1901 Fred was living and working at Bramham Park as a Groom, and in 1902 married Maria Jakeman born Bramham 1879 daughter of George and Mary.
Maria was the sister of George William who gave his life in 1916.
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GUNNER CHARLES OXTERBY BARKER.
SERVICE NUMBER: 733. REGIMENT: Royal Garrison Artillery West Riding Heavy Battery.
BORN: Tadcaster. ENLISTED: York. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 01/03/1916. AGED: 25.
CEMETERY: Clifford St Lukes Church. GRAVE: Enterance to Church.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
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WILLIAM BAXTER.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
There are so many William Baxters who gave their lives more details needed before i place on this site.
Can you help?
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PRIVATE ALFRED BERRY.
SERVICE NUMBER: 28074. UNIT: 12th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Leeds. ENLISTED: York. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 18/08/1916. AGED: 24.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
CEMETERY: Corbie Communal Cemetery.
GRAVE: Plot 2 Row A Grave 120.
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WILLIAM BIRCH
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
There are so many men who gave their lives having this name that more research needed before any details can be placed on this site.
Can you help.
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PRIVATE HAROLD BURNS.
SERVICE NUMBER: 25459. UNIT: 13th Bn Alexandria Princess of Wales Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Clifford. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 30/01/1917. AGED: 23.
CEMETERY: Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery. GRAVE: II. C. 18.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
Son of Patrick Harold Born Belfast 1864 and Emily Holmes Born Clifford 1864 they married at Cliffford in 1887.
Emily passed away aged 31 in 1895 and Patrick remarried in 1896 to Anne Jane Hyde Born Clifford 1871.
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PRIVATE PERCY CAYGILL
SERVICE NUMBER: 40304. UNIT: 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Clifford. ENLISTED: Garforth. RESIDENCE: Garforth.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 03/05/1917. AGED: 21.
MEMORIAL: Arras France. PANEL: Bay 4.
FATHER: Joseph Born Skidby Hall nr Hull 1857. MOTHER: Jayne Potter Born Boston Spa 1857. MARRIED: Clifford 1876.
BROTHERS: George Born 1877, John Thomas Born 1897, Ernest Born 1880.
SISTERS: Ellen Louisa Born 1882, Lillian Born 1890, Clara Gertrude Born 1898, all born at Clifford.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
Picture kindly provided by Christine Thompson (nee Caygill) Grandaughter of Percy's brother Ernest.
On the 3rd of May 1917 Percy along with the 18th Bn West Yorks 2nd Bradford Pals the 15th Bn West Yorks Leeds Pals and the 16th Bn West Yorks 1st Bradford Pals, attcked the Germans at Fresnoy north of St Quentin France.
Here is the reported timeline of events from that evenings attack
03.00 Germans lay heavy barrage for 17 minutes.
03.45 all three battalions leave trenches behind creeping British barrage.
03.49 Germans bombard British troops accompanied by heavy machine gun fire and rifle fire.
06.13 All Officers reported killed. Other ranks depleted (down to 20 in some sections)
07.35 Germans counter attack.
12.00 German barrage stops.
It is difficult to estimate what time paercy gave his life but many men were mown down easily due to the battlefield being heavily lit by the moon making the German machine gunners task easier.
(Above information taken from Bradford Pals Book click here to link)
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ACTING CORPORAL RICHARD ELLIOT CRYER.
SERVICE NUMBER: 26168. UNIT: 10th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 14/10/1918. AGED: 28.
CEMETERY: Underhill Farm Cemetery Belgium. GRAVE: Special Memorial 1.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
Son of Richard Born Clifford 1841 who was a butcher by trade as was his father Richard Born Thorner 1793 and Mercy Pickering Born Pickering 1845 who married at Clifford in 1869.
Indeed their other son Edwin was the Butcher and landlord at the Crown Inn in 1891.
Richard married Annie Ellen Midgley Born 1891 Horsforth, at Horsforth in 1909.
They had daughters Rose Ellen 1909 and Mary Jane 1910 and Annie M 1911, and in the CWGC database Annie is living at no 10 Town Street Horsforth.
Richard passed away from wounds recieved at the clearing station near Underhill cemetery.
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DRIVER JOHN EASTWOOD.
SERVICE NUMBER: 130751. REGIMENT: "R" Bty. 295th Bde. Royal Field Artillery.
BORN: Clifford. RESIDENCE: Harrogate. GAVE HIS LIFE: 15/12/1920. AGED: 37.
CEMETERY: Harrogate Stonefell Cemetery. GRAVE: 3. E. C. 1163.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
CWGC States:
"Son of Robert and Lizzie Eastwood; husband of Mary Elizabeth Eastwood, of 89, Regent Avenue, Harrogate. Born at Clifford, Boston Spa".
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DRIVER JOHN THOMAS EASTWOOD.
SERVICE NUMBER: 40782. REGIMENT: "B" Battery 107th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
BORN: Tadcaster. ENLISTED: York. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 23/10/1918. AGED: 25.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
CWGC States:
"Son of John Henry and Hannah Eastwood, of Clifford, Boston Spa, Yorks."
GRAVE: VIII. B. 58.
CEMETERY: Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
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GUNNER ALFRED FOWLER.
SERVICE NUMBER: 152820.REGIMENT: "B" Battery 312 Bde Royal Horse / Field Artillery.
BORN: Newton Kyme. ENLISTED: Tadcaster. GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/11/1917. AGED: 19.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford. Tadcaster.
CEMETERY: Hermies Hill British Cemetery. GRAVE: IV. A. 2.
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PRIVATE ALBERT GARRAD
SERVICE NUMBER: 27674. UNIT/REGIMENT: 9th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers.
BORN: Clifford. ENLISTED: Goole. GAVE HIS LIFE: 17/09/1916. AGED: 36.
CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial. PANEL:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
The CWGC states
"Husband of Maria Rose Garrad, of Haydon Wick, Swindon, Wilts."
Albert was the son of Thomas Born Thornden Suffolk and Annie Hall born Boston Spa 1857 they married in the Knaresbrough district in 1879.
Albert married Maria Rose Belcher Born Tadcaster 1883 who married at Tadcaster in 1903.
Thank You to Geoff Ackling Great Grandson of Albert who has furnished the following information.
Albert was born in Birkenhead and his surname was spelled Gerred to Thomas Born Thornden Suffolk 1856 and Annie Hall Born Boston Spa 1857, in the 1891 census Alberts mother Annie had remarried to Joseph Young.
Albert is not shown in the 1901 census however i believe this is becauce Albert was in South Africa fighting in the Boar War with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Service Number 3612.
In 1914 his youngest son Frederick was born in Bradford, my grandfather was born in Pontefract in 1904. (Joseph and Annie Alberts mother married in 1887)
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PRIVATE JOHN WILLIAM HARDCASTLE.
SERVICE NUMBER: 20541. REGIMENT: 10th Bn Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regt.
BORN: Brighouse ENLISTED: Brighouse. RESIDENCE: Clifford.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 07/06/1917. AGED: 36.
MEMORIAL: Ypres Menin Gate Belgium. PANEL: 20.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
CWGC States:
"Son of Robert and Emily Hardcastle, of Waggoner, Clifton Common, Brighouse, Yorks.
Husband of Ellen Nelson (formerly Hardcastle), of Albion St., Clifford, Boston Spa."
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RIFELMAN SAM ILLINGWORTH.
SERVICE NUMBER: 3916. UNIT: 1st/8th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Clifford. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Hunslet.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 02/07/1916. AGED: 22.
CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial. PANEL: Pier and Face 2 A. 2 C. and 2 D.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Clifford.
Sam was the son of Sam born Leeds1847 and Hannah born Heathtown Wolverhampton Staffordshire1858.
Sam and Hannah were married at St Mary the Virgin Church Hunslet Leeds in 1888.
Sam had a brother Joseph Edward born Leeds 1897 and sisters Sarah Elizabeth Born Leeds 1890 and Harriett born Leeds 1890.
Yorkshire Evening Post July 12th 1916
"Private Sam Illingworth Leeds Rifles has been reported Killed in Action on July 2nd.
Private Illingworth was 22 years of age and the Eldest son of Mr and Mrs Illingworth of Clifford Boston Spa.
Private Illingworth was of late 53 Alton Street Hunslet Leeds."
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