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The Hilderstone Miscellany |
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Last updated 23/2/2001 |
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JAMES HAZELHURST The son of George and Ann Hazelhurst, James served as: 3664 Private Hazelhurst J, D company, 1st / 5th Battalion North Staffordshire Regt. In July 1915 the Battalion was in action in the YPRES Salient in Belgium when James was wounded. He was evacuated to the hospital at LIJSSENTHOEK near the town of POPERINGE. On July 15th James died as a result of his wounds. He was buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. James lies in section III, Row B, Grave 17. He was 26 years old. The 1891 census of Hilderstone records the Hazelhurst family, parents George and Ann, 5 sons and 1 daughter, living at Yew Tree Farm Cotwalton. The eldest son John, then listed as a “serving infantry soldier”, survived the Great War as a Regimental Sergeant Major, having been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).
JOHN ARNOLD The son of John and Hannah Matilda Arnold of Hilderstone, John was however born in East Ardsley, Yorkshire before the family moved to the village. At the outbreak of war John was living in Australia, but he was quick to enlist, he served as: 2555 Private Arnold J. 55th Battalion, Australian Infantry AIF. In July 1916 the 55th Battalion took part in the attack on FROMELLES, a village 10 miles north west of the city of LILLE, in the Nord region of France. The battle took place during the 19th and 20th July. Records show that John was killed on the 20th July. Some time later the unidentified remains of 410 Australian soldiers were recovered from the battlefield and laid to rest in a mass grave. The burial space was outlined and backed by a screen wall. This wall is now inscribed with the names of those men who, it is believed, were amongst the 410. A further 1298 Australian soldiers who are known to have fallen in the Battle of Fromelles, but have no known grave are also commemorated on this wall. The name of Private John Arnold is clearly seen on this wall in what has become known as V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles. John is also commemorated on his parents grave in Christ Church Cemetery. He was 33 years old.
JOHN JAMES The 1891 Census shows that the James family consisted of Father, Mother and three daughters living at Cheadle Rd. John’s date of birth is not known. He enlisted as: 25207 Private James J. North Staffordshire Regiment. But was later transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment as 18965 Private James J, a not unusual practice throughout the war. In early May 1917 the 10th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment were engaged in the “follow on” offensive to the April Battle of ARRAS. On May 3rd John was killed and buried with other members of his battalion in ALBUERA Cemetery, BAILLEUL-SIR-BERTHOULT, a village 5 miles north-east of the city of ARRAS.
RALPH BOURNE Ralph served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and in September 1917 he was a Battery Officer with no 158 Brigade Royal Field Artillery in position near the Belgium coastal town of NIEUPORT-BAIN, ten miles south west of Ostende. The Brigade was part of the 4th British Army which had recently moved to this, the extreme left flank of the allied front. Royal Artillery records show that on the day Ralph lost his life, September 10th 1917, the Brigade gun positions were shelled by enemy artillery assisted by spotting aircraft. He was laid to rest in Section III, Row G, Grave 4 of COXYDE Military Cemetery, Koksijde, Belgium which lies midway between Nieuport and De Panne. Ralph’s next of kin was his mother, Mrs E Bourne, 101 St George’s Square, London. Ralph was a member of the Bourne family which had been so generous to Hilderstone. |
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