Private. 2nd Battalion. Coldstream Guards. Service Number: 22182

Private Wilfred Hotson

Early life:

Wilfred was born in Keighley on 1st October 1894. His parents were Arthur Hotston and Ellen Hotston née Mundy who were married in 1889 at Burnley. They were living at 4, Alpha Street in Parkwood at the time of Wilfred's birth and Arthur was employed as a gas meter inspector.
On the 1st November of the same year, Wilfred was baptised at St. Mary's Church on Dalton Lane.

In the 1901 census they were still residing at 4, Alpha Street, Arthur was a 38 year old gas meter inspector and Ellen was 33 and caring for the family and their home. They had two children, Florence aged nine and Wilfred aged six.

Tragedy struck the family when Arthur died in 1906. His death was registered in Keighley in the last quarter of the year.

Wilfred had number of written references to his good character and these are in the archives at Keighley Library, presumably they were for him to obtain worthwhile employment:

Letters of reference:

Letter dated 7th April 1908 states:
Dear Sir,
This is to certify that I have known Wilfred Hotston all his life and has always found him a straight forward honest and obedient young lad and one I am sure will always please you.
Your truly,
Henry Bottomley,
33, Parkwood Street, Keighley, Yorks.

A letter of reference dated 4th July 1910 states:
11, Victoria Park View, Keighley.
Testimonial to the Character of Wilfred Hotston.
It is with pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Wilfred Hotston.
I believe him to be honest at trustworthy in character.
He is a member of our youth's Bible Class and I have had opportunity of observing his moral character which I consider good.
Yours faithfully,
Rev. John Martin, St. Paul's Mission Church, Parkwood Street.

Another letter of reference dated 4th July 1910 states:
18, Devonshire Street, Keighley.
This is to certify that I have known Wilfred Hotston 162, Parkwood Street, Keighley for about five years.
I have always found him a well behaved & steady lad & believe he bears a good character.
John R. Berry MD(?)

Wilfred was working for the Great Northern Railway and contributing to their sick fund. He was enrolled on it on 13th November 1910 as a class E contributor and was paying a 2 pence per week subscription, deducted from his wages.
By the time of the 1911 census, Ellen a 43 year old widow and her family of four children had moved around the corner to 162, Parkwood Street. Florence Elsie was aged 18 and a worsted spinner, Wilfred was 16 years old and a 'weigh lad' for the Great Northern Railway, almost certainly working at the Keighley Railway Station. Charles Redvers Hotston was ten years old and at school as was the youngest child Clarissa Grace Hotston, aged seven.
[note: The census records that Ellen and Arthur had produced eight children, four of whom had died. In the 1891 census they had one child Sydney J. aged two, recorded in the 1891 census, so he must be one of those who died.]

Wilfred's name is recorded in the Trade Union registers (December 1914 to March 1915) employed as a porter at Keighley. He was admitted to the union on 19th February 1915. The record shows he was struck off the list in June 1918 with arrears owing. (this was after he'd been killed in the war.)

War service:

Wilfred had voluntarily attested for the Army at Keighley on the 11th December 1915, he was 21 years old at the time. The enlistment register for the Coldstream Guards shows he was a goods porter at Keighley. His next of kin was his mother Ellen, living at 164, Parkwood Street in Keighley showing that they'd moved next door from 162, as seen in the last census.
He was in receipt of a Military service exemption certificate (number 1936.) and was exempted until 15th February 1917 by the Military Service Tribunal. This was only temporary and subject to no further renewal. It stated he was in group 4, was 22 years old and a Railway Goods Porter and that he had attested at Keighley. The form was signed by Keighley Town Clerk Smith Terry and dated 22nd January 1917.
He was released from service with the London and North Eastern Railway goods department at Keighley Railway Station on 7th April 1917 to join the Army on 12th April. At that time his weekly wage was 54 shillings.

Artwork:

At Christmas 1917 Wilfred drew a couple of drawings which were with the family papers, now with Keighley Library archives.
One was of 'The Master Cook, Coldstream Guards' holding up a Christmas pudding on a plate. Another undated drawing was of a Coldstream Guards soldier marching with his rifle at the slope and the words 'Second to None.'

Post war and Remembrance:

Ellen was in receipt of an allowance from Wilfred's Army Pay of 3 shillings and six pence per week from 17th April 1917. This amount was raised to 15 shillings per week from 3rd July 1917 as an 'extra allotment by government.' This was likely due to him now serving overseas.

The enlistment register shows Wilfred was a Private with the British Expeditionary Force from 14th March 1918 to 27th March 1918 when he was killed in action at St. Leger. His mother Ellen was informed of his death in action, in a letter (Army form 104-82.) dated 14th September 1918. The Reverend G. Binns at 30, Ashley Street in Keighley had written to the War Office and he received a reply letter from them informing him of Wilfred's burial in the vicinity of St. Leger, which he passed on to Ellen. A further letter dated 7th January 1919 confirmed his burial at Mory Street British Cemetery, St. Leger, South East of Arras and that it was marked with an inscribed wooden cross.

Wilfred died on 27th August 1918 and was buried in grave 8 of row C at Mory Street Military Cemetery which is at St. Leger in France. He was 23 years of age at death. His parents requested an addition inscription on his headstone which reads: WORTH OF REMEMBRANCE.
He is named locally on the St. Paul's Church war memorial, a white marble plaque which is has been on the wall at St. Andrew's Church after St. Pauls Church closed and was demolished in the early 1970s.
He is also named in the Borough of Keighley Roll of Honour book held on permanent display at Keighley Library.

His photograph appears on page 3 of the Keighley News, dated 21st September 1918.

Keighley News 28th September 1918, page 3:

Private Wilfred Hotston, Coldstream Guards, and of 154, Parkwood Street, Keighley, has been killed in action.
He was 23 years of age, and had been in France since March.
He was formerly employed in the Great Northern Railway goods depot at Keighley.

His friend Tom Wheater:

Tom Wheater was a friend of Wilfred Hotston and was in training with him. Tom wrote a letter to Wilfred's mother after the war, offering to come and see her. He was wounded and in hospital at Glasgow when he heard about Wilfred being killed. This matches with his army service record (pension record) which shows Tom was in hospital at that time.

Works and Office:
NAPIER ROAD.
Joseph Wheater,
General Contractor, Plastering, Concreting, and Asphalting in all its Branches.
Telephone 5773.
781, Leeds Road, Thornbury, Bradford October 11th 1918.

Dear Madam,
I received the letter which you had written to my father respecting myself & I am pleased to say I am at present at home for a short while.
I received the news about Wilfred, while in Hospital at Glasgow & I was very sorry about it as we had been very good friends since we joined the Army. The last time I saw him was Tuesday August 27th about 7 am, just as my Company was going into action, we had a few cheery words with each other as I passed & having the good fortune to get wounded & not serious the same morning, I don't know how most of the other boys got on. I am very pleased to hear from you and it will be a very great pleasure to me to come out & see you tomorrow afternoon (Sat) & give you any comforting news I can.
Kindly accept my sincere sympathy in your sad bereavement.
Yours faithfully,
Tom Wheater.

Keighley News 2nd November 1918 page 6

Details of the St Paul's Church memorial service for him:
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
A service was held at St. Paul's Church, Parkwood, on Sunday evening in memory of Private Wilfred Hotston (Coldstream Guards), who was killed in France recently. The deceased soldier, who was 24 years of age, was an employee of the Great Northern Railway, and had been in France six months when the call came for higher service. The church was filled with relatives, friends, and co-workers of the deceased. In an appropriate sermon, the Rev. G. H. Binns referred to the active churchmanship of the deceased and the great loss the church had sustained. Bugler Edwin Hutchinson sounded the Last Post and Miss Margaret Pollard played the Dead March on the organ.

Wilfred was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service. These would have been sent to his parents after the war, probably in early 1921. There would also have been a bronze war memorial plaque and King's certificate inscribed with his name.

His mother Ellen received his remaining Army pay of £6 16s 5d on 13th February 1919.
The Army pension records show that she also received a dependant's pension of 12 shillings and 6 pence per week for life, beginning on 18th March 1919. At that time she was living at 164, Parkwood Street.
A large archive of documents donated by a relative of Wilfred is in the archives at Keighley Library.
One letter states that Ellen Hotston received a payment of ten pounds from the Great Northern Railway Sick and Funeral Allowance Fund on 14th March 1919.
Ellen also received a war gratuity payment of £5 10 shillings which was paid to her on 11th December 1919 as the sole legatee in Wilfred's will.

Ellen was aged 54 and living at 164 Parkwood Street in the 1921 census. She was on home duties.
Her children at that time were Florence Elsie aged 28 and a worsted twister working for Hattersley & Sons & Co Ltd, Worsted Spinners;
Charles Redvers aged 20 and an out of work Weigh Clerk for the Great Northern Railway at Keighley; Clarissa Grace aged 17 and a worsted spinner for Hattersley & Sons & Co Ltd, Worsted Spinners.

In 1939 Ellen was recorded in the National Register and was aged about 73. She was on home duties. Living with her were her two daughters Florence and Clarissa at their home of 180, Parkwood Street in Keighley.

She died in 1940, registered at Keighley in the second quarter of the year.

Information sources:

England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
Britain, Trade Union Membership Registers 1914-1915.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
On St Paul's Church War Memorial - in St. Andrew's Church, Keighley.
Borough of Keighley Roll of Honour 1914 - 1918.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929.
British Army, Coldstream Guards 1916 Enlistment Register.
1921 Census Of England & Wales.
1939 England and Wales Register.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.