Sutton-in-Craven Village Website

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From	Subject/message
Andrew Monkhouse Sunday, July 20, 2008 10:00	Percy Hargreaves, Died of Wounds 20th July 1918 Hi Roger, that�s a magnificent photo of your father�s cousin Percy Hargreaves newly added to the gallery. I'm very pleased to be able to highlight the following information on the 90th anniversary of the death of Percy's Hargreaves The sparse information on the Index Card for Percy Hargreaves shows he entered the theatre of war sometime after Jan 1st 1916 as he was entitled to the British War & Victory medals (minus the 1914/15 star) It also shows that he Died of Wounds on 20/7/1918. �Soldiers Died in the Great War� confirm the same detail Incidentally he served with the West Riding Regiment rather than the West Yorkshire Regiment, I�m sure you�re aware of this and it was just a typo� on your part. The West Riding Regiment 2/4th Battalion: Formed at Halifax in September 1914 as a home service ("second line") unit. They moved to Derbyshire 1st March 1915 : attached to 186th Brigade, 62nd Division. Moved again to Thoresby Park (Ollerton) in May 1915. Moved in October 1915 to Retford, then again in November 1915 to Newcastle. Moved again in January 1916 to Salisbury Plain, then again June 1916 to Halesworth and finally in October 1916 to Bedford. They landed in France in January 1917. It looks like your father�s cousin Percy Hargreaves almost certainly died on the First day of the Battle of the Tardenois which was fought between 20th July � 2nd August 1918. Reason I say this is because the the 2/4th West Ridings were part of 62nd (West Riding) Division and because Percy is buried in ST IMOGES CHURCHYARD which is is situated 16 kilometres south of the town of Reims in France � read on : The enemy launched another offensive in Flanders in May, but the 62nd was not involved. However, when a third huge enemy attack opened in the area held by the thinly-stretched French Army south west of Reims, Sir Douglas Haig agreed to send a British Corps, consisting of 15th (Scottish), 34th, 51st (Highland) and 62nd (2nd West Riding) Divisions, to assist. The 51st and 62nd had several days of very heavy fighting, which is now officially known as The Battle of the Tardenois - 20th - 31st July 1918 Hope this helps Roger, this is kind of very coincidental because I'm currently involved in a project to research all 40 names on the Sutton memorial - please refer to my message in the forum
Roger Davy Ben Rhydding, Ilkley Sunday, July 20, 2008 22:55	Hello Andrew, Many thanks for all the information about Percy Hargreaves and thanks for correcting my typing error! It's all very interesting. Percy does not appear on those photos I sent to the Gallery a few months ago showing that group of boy-hood friends sitting on the steps of the Baptist Chapel, and the other one showing some of them already in army uniforms at the beginning of the war, Percy was that bit younger. Do the regiment records give any further more detailed information as to the particular incident in which individual soldiers were injured or died? Of that Chapel group, I believe nearly all retuned safely. One them, wearing a kilt, is Arthur Bottomley one of father's closest friends, I always knew him as my 'courtesy' Uncle Arthur. My Dad used to tell me that Arthur served with his Scottish regiment in the trenches in France and even in the worst of fighting conditions in foul weather and seas of dirt and water, he was obliged to wear his kilt until it was completely stiff with caked-on mud. After the war Arthur returned to Sutton and eventually became the chief designer at T & M Bairstow's Mill. Twice a year he had to produce about one hundred new cloth designs from which a choice would be made for production by the mill. I have photos of him later in life looking very well dressed and a good advertisement for the cloth he designed. Interestingly my father joined the Navy and was eventually stationed in Falmouth in Cornwall, serving as a fairly primitive radio telegraphist listening for German submarines on board one of a flotilla of five trawlers converted to minesweepers, and the diaries he wrote throughout the war mention him visiting injured friends from Sutton who had served in France, who were recovering in hospital in London, as he travelled home on occasional leave to Yorkshire. I'm interested in your project to learn more about those whose names appear on the Sutton memorial.
Janet Hargreaves Harrogate Monday, August 11, 2008 17:14	Hi Andrew I have two photos of Willie Hargreaves as he was the son of my grandfathers brother. I understand from Roger D that you would like photos of him? I note you already have a copy of my photo of Percy. I have scanned the other photos and can send them to you if you contact me (webmaster has been authorised to release my details to you)? Good luck with your project. If you think I can provide further info please ask. Webmaster (not for publication) my email address can be released to Andrew.
Andrew Monkhouse Monday, August 11, 2008 22:53	Hi Janet, thanks for your response to my request for photo�s of any of the fallen servicemen listed on the Sutton memorial. Yes pictures of Willie Hargreaves would be fantastic and any other documentation on him you may happen to have. I�ve already included the photo of Percy Hargreaves (previously submitted by Roger Davy to the gallery) into Percy�s profile. I referenced the photo as being provided by Roger, however should I have perhaps referenced it yourself, as you mention that the photo belongs to you? Thanks again.
Janet hargreaves Harrogate Tuesday, August 12, 2008 06:19	Hi Andrew Just to clarify - Roger may well have had a copy of the same photo as Percy is related to both of us. Photos of Willie have gone to the webmaster for him to forward to you.
Andrew Monkhouse Tuesday, August 12, 2008 09:58	An excellent couple of photo�s of Willie Hargreaves in uniform Janet. Thank you for taking the time to dig them out and forward them to me, they will certainly enhance the overall appearance of Willie�s file and I will make sure to reference both photos to you.

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