The walk and ceremony: On Monday 11th November 2024 I was delighted to accompany the children from Oldfield School in the Worth Valley, to walk up to the Canadian War Memorial on Tewitt Lane. This is the site of the crash of a Wellington Bomber on 2nd January 1944 and the school held a Service…
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Sergeant Percy Hollings
Sergeant, 286th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Service number 338608. Early life: Percy was born on February 20, 1887 in Oakworth. Parents George and Eliza Hollings. He was baptised at Christ Church in Oakworth on August 14, 1887. His family were living at Dockroyd and his father George was working as a gardener. [caption id="attachment_12496" align="alignright"…
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Private Sam Rainford
Private. 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. Service no. 1646. also Labour Corps no. 252064. [caption id="attachment_10919" align="alignleft" width="239"] Private Sam Rainford[/caption] Early life: Sam was born in 1883 and his birth was registered in Keighley in the third quarter of the year. His parents were Ben and Emma Rainford. In 1891 he…
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Sapper Jim Emmott
Jim Emmott Sapper, Royal Engineers. 1010 Docks Operating Company. Service no. 2157659. Early life: Jim Emmott was born on 15th June 1916 at the family home at 11, Newsholme, near Keighley. His parents were Stephen Emmott and Alice Emmott née Ideson and Stephen was a farm labourer. They were married on 10th February 1906 and…
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Ordinary Seaman Smith Hanson Houldsworth
Smith Hanson Houldsworth Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy. Service no. P/JX 522102. HMS Penelope. [caption id="attachment_10826" align="alignleft" width="216"] Seaman Smith Hanson Houldsworth in Royal Navy Uniform[/caption] Early life: Smith was born on 15th June 1925. His parents were Arthur Houldsworth, a grocer's assistant and Hilda Mary Houldsworth née Hanson, a spinner. At the time of Smith's…
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