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PRIVATE HAROLD BLAKE.
SERVICE NUMBER: 7441. UNIT/REGIMENT: 1st Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Tadcaster. GAVE HIS LIFE: 28/02/1919. AGED: 32.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
Harold was the only son of Walter Born Thetford 1848 and Sarah Ann Tindall they married 1877 in Bradford.
In 1881 Harolds father was a rent collector living on York Road Tadcaster, then as a bill poster in 1891.
In 1901 Harold was living with his sister and grandparents Thomas and Eliza Tindall at no 20 High Street Tadcaster and Harold aged 15 was a general labarour.
Harold married Ethel M Dowsland at Tadcaster in 1908 they had daughters Lillian Blake Born 1909 and Vera in 1911.
Before joining the army in 1914 Harold worked at John Smiths brewery as a traction driver.
YORKSHIRE HERALD 1916
The above newspaper article below explains why Harry lies at peace in Tadcaster Cemetery.
Being a prisoner of war was a traumatic experiance and he posibly passed away from an illnes contracted whilst in Germany.
When Harold passed away the family were living at Hodgsons Terrace in Tadcaster.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster Cemetery. GRAVE : C2.I.6
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AIRMAN 2nd CLASS THOMAS JOHN COLLIHOLE.
SERVICE NUMBER: 62859. UNIT: Royal Flying Corps.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 13/03/1917. LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
Air Mechanic Class II Thomas John Collihole was serving with No 28 Reserve Squadron Royal Flying Corps.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster Cemetery. GRAVE: C2. F. 10.
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CAPTAIN STEARNE TIGHE EDWARDS.
SERVICE: Royal Air Force.
BORN: Carleton Place Ontario Canada . ENLISTED: Ontario Canada.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 21/11/1918. AGED: 25.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster England.
MEMORIAL: Presbetarian Church Carleton Place Canada.
AWARDS: Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Service Cross.
Stearne was born in Franktown Ontario Canada on the 13 February 1893 to Edwin Dennis and Annie Caroline Tighe and had a brother called Edward.
The family lived in Carleton Place a town on the mississipi river in Ontario Canada.
At the outbreak of war it was reported that Stearne walked 200 miles from Port Nelson where he was working as a Railway Construction worker to join up with three of his pals including his best friend Arthur Roy Brown who was credited with shooting down the Red Barron.
Stearne joined the Royal Naval Air Service and attended the Wright Brothers flying training school in Dayton Ohio US, where he attained his ACA certificate on the 13th October 1915, and on the 31st was given the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in Otttowa Canada.
Stearne was posted in April 1916 to Eastchurch Airfield in Kent this airfield was used by the RNAS for training their pilots in target practice.
Stearne moved around squadrons throughout the war included a posting for a short time with his best friend Arthur Roy Brown, attaining 16 kills to become one of the top Canadian Aces of the war.
He was given the DSC being mentioned in the London Gazzette on 17 November 1917 for recognition of services including:
"driving an aircraft into the sea and on the same day he attacked three more aircraft inflicting damage to another aircraft shooting its wings off."
Eventually the pressure told on Stearne and in May 1918 he suffered a nervous breakdown and he was sent home to Canada on leave to recouparate and rest.
On the 18th June 1918 in the London Gazzette on the same page as his best friend Arthur Roy Brown, Stearne was awarded the DSC Bar for conspicuous bravery and brilliant leadership of fighting patrols against enemy aircraft.
"On the 2nd May 1918 Stearne was leading a patrol of four aircraft when they encountered a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts and drove one enemy plane out of control.
Soon afterwards Stearne encountered another formation of six enemy aircraft driving one down only breaking off when he ran out of ammunition."
Stearne was posted back to No 38 Training Squadron at Tadcaster Bramham Moor Airfield in October 1918 as a trainer.
On the 12th November 1918 one day after the war ended Stearne was injured in a flying accident whilst controlling a Sopwith Camel.
Stearne passed away on the 22nd November 1918 from injuries received. (Can you help with details of this crash)
Arthur Roy Brown survived the war and never forgot his best friend dedicating a plaque to Stearne in the Presbyterian Church in Carleton Place Canada, he is also remembered on the Carleton Place War Memorial.
Stearne lies in Tadcaster Cemetery (SEE BELOW) near to another airman 2nd Lt E.F.Reynolds who crash landed in the local area around Tadcaster in December 1918.
News of Stearnes tragic accident was reported in the Perth Courier Ontario Canada on the 20th December 1918.
The final resting place of Stearne Tighe Edwards in Tadcaster.
"In loving memory of Captain Stearne Tighe Edwards DSC RAF
son of Mr and Mrs Edwards, Carleton Place Ontario Canada who died of injuries received on Armistace Day."
"A Brave and Gallant Gentleman."
The saddest note for me personally was that when i visited Stearnes grave all the other graves with Commonwealth War headstones had been visited and a poppy placed on each one, including a grave right next to Stearnes.
The aim of this site is to ensure that we do "Remember Them" and while Stearne may be remembered in his homeland his grave as been left untouched.
All the men who gave their lives were heros but Stearne was in every sense of the word a true Canadian hero and he deserves better and next rememberance day we will remember him.
You can find more details of Stearnes life by visiting www.theaerodrome.com click on Aces then by nation click on Canada and go to page two click on Stearnes name details will follow. Or to read about Roy Arthur Brown Stearns best friend who shot down the Red Barron try www.constable.ca/brown.htm (be aware this will take you away from this site )
If you have any pictures or information please contact me .
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SECOUND LIEUTENANT ERNEST FULTON REYNOLDS.
UNIT: Royal Air Force.
BORN: Canada. ENLISTED:
GAVE HIS LIFE: 10/12/1918. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
2nd Lieutenant Reynolds was flying a Sopwith Camel E7149 from no 46 Training Depot South Carlton.
On the 10th of December 1918 Ernest he got lost in fog crashing somewhere near Tadcaster.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster Cemetery. GRAVE: B4. F. 24.
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PERCY WILLIAM SINGLETON.
BORN: Matlock Derbyshire. AGED: 32.
LOST HIS LIFE: February 21st 1920.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
Percy was the son of William Born Leeds in 1845 and Janet Born Matlock in 1860.
In 1901 the family lived on Bridge Street and William was described as a wool merchant, his wife Janet was a Draper/ Shopkeeper living on her own means.
Percys brothers Harold aged 12, and Willie aged 1 with Percys sisters Mabel and Dorothy both aged 7, Gladys 9, Hilda 12, and Jessie 14.
Percy lies at rest in Tadcaster Cemetery after losing his life due to injuries recieved during the war.
He lies next to his wife Edith Ann Milsom Born York 1885 they were married between April and June 1915 Edith passed away on January 28th 1945.
Percy and Edith lie next to Ediths family including her brother Frank who also lost his life in 1924 due to injuries recieved from the war.
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PRIVATE JOB SMITH.
SERVICE NUMBER: 243051. REGIMENT: Lancashire Fusiliers.
BORN: Helmsley. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 17/10/1918. AGED: 38.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
Job was the son of George Born at Leeds in 1845 and Mary Galloway Born at Helmsley North Yorkshire in 1849.
Job had originally enlisted into the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Service Number 24140.
When Job Died at home he had been transferred to 480 Company Labour Corps Service Number 468000.
YORKSHIRE HERALD 1916
"Private Job Smith and his brother Private H. G. Smith resided with their parents at Hill Side, and both joined up in May 1915.
The first named is in the Lancashire Fusiliers and his brother is in the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Job is now a bomb thrower, and has spent a couple of months in Egypt and about the same time in France, and has been wounded."
CEMETERY: Tadcaster Cemetery. GRAVE : C2. C. 14.
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FLIGHT CADET CHARLES SPURGEON THEOBOLD.
SERVICE NUMBER: 325044. UNIT: R. A. F. 38th Training Depot Squadron Bramham Moor.
BORN: Canada. RESIDENCE: Toronto.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 26/10/1918. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster. GRAVE: B. 4. G. 24.
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CORPORAL JOHN TULLETT.
SERVICE NUMBER: S/334031.
UNIT: Army Service Corps.
BORN: Bolton Percy. RESIDENCE: Tadcaster.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 13/06/1918. AGED: 21.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
CWGC States:
"Son of Walter and Florence Tullett, of The Cross, Tadcaster".
CEMETERY: Tadcaster Cemetery. GRAVE: C. 2. H. 5.
"To Live in the Hearts
of Those who Live
is Not to Die"
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GUNNER ERNEST WARD.
SERVICE NUMBER: 19174. REGIMENT: Royal Field Artillery.
BORN: Alston Yorks. ENLISTED: York. RESIDANCE: Tadcaster.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 29/10/1918. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
Ernest was transferred to the 406th Agriculteral Company being given the rank of Private and the service number of 523006.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster. GRAVE: B4. F. 12.
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PRIVATE TOM NOBLE WHINCUP
SERVICE NUMBER: 143176. REGIMENT: Machine Gun Corps.
BORN: Ingmanthorpe. GAVE HIS LIFE: 19/08/1919. AGED: 34.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
Son of Grafton Born Bramham 1847 and Mary Elizabeth Pullan Born Collingham nr Wetherby 1860 They married in 1877.
Grafton and Mary also had a sons Edward Oxley Born Tadcaster 1889 who married Nora Johnson in Knaresbrough 1910, and a daughters Annie (Born Bramham 1882) who married Richard Mason Freer in 1910 ( Richard Gave his life on the 12/04/1916 See Fisher-Grimes page for Richards details) and Millie and Mary Elizabeth.
Tom also had brothers Arthur who gave his life in 1917 and lies at peace at Canada Farm Cemetery.
George who lost his life at Gallipoli in August 1915, details of these men can be found on the Newton Kyme page.
In 1901 the family were living in Newton Kyme and Tom was working has a cattleman on a local farm they lived next door to Leonard Harland who gave his life in November 1919 in India. *(Leonard is remembered on the Church Fenton Memorial)
And Fred Barrs who fought in WW2 serving for the Australian Imperial Force.
Tom married in 1908 to Mary Anne Hobson and lived at Spring Hill Tadcaster where Tom passed away from wounds recieved in the war.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster. GRAVE: C5. B. 14.
