| Title | Aireborough Boys |
| Date | 1914 – 1918 |
| Location | Aireborough/Europe |
| Written By | Carlo Harrison |
| Comment | Taken from a scrap book of newspaper cuttings showing local Aireborough men who were soldiers in the First World War. Additional information has been given to us by Ken Roberts. |
1418 – Firth, Emsley, Mellor.
Corporal I Firth, Private Frank Emsley, Private Turner Mellor
On this occasion we have no information on the CWGC Register regarding a Frank Emsley who is shown in the newspaper as being from Yeadon and who was killed in the First World War.
Pte Turner Mellor is not shown and we can assume that he returned home after the war.
Irwin Firth
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1897
Age at Enlistment: 19
Birth Parish: Yeadon
Birth County: York
Document Year: 1916
Regimental Number: 26552
Regiment Name: Royal Horse Artillery
Number of images: 18
Grocer’s assistant of 13 Town St. Yeadon. Son of Fred Firth of this address.
Awarded MM. Survived.
John Francis Emsley
Rank: Private
Service number: 5009
Date of death: 02.03.1917 aged c22.
Regiment/Service: 2/6th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment.
Cemetery: Thiepval Memorial
Additional Information: Son of John and Clara of Gill Lane. Enlisted in March 1916 -a butcher – and left for France on February 5th 1917, dying of wounds less than a month later.
Additional research by Helen M.
7 December 2022
Susie Johnson commented on our facebook page ‘There is a Marjorie Emsley and a Judith Emsley both in Girl Guiding still in Yeadon/Horsforth area, wonder if he’s an uncle of theirs?’
Additional Research
Turner Mellor. 7th Jan 1894 -1961. Born in Yeadon. Service No: Private 266362 West Riding Regiment. He suffered gunshot wounds and was discharged in April 1918. Turner married Grace Sylvester Key at Menston Parish Church in 1919.
Helen M.
27 August 2023
1418 – J Ibbitson.
Private John Ibbitson
Sent to us by Paul Aireton.
‘Killed in action in France July 14th 1916, Pte John Ibbitson, West Yorkshire Reg (Leeds Pals) aged 39 years.
Eldest and dearly loved son of Edwin & Mary Ibbitson, Heatherfield, Yeadon Nr Leeds’.
1418 – G Teale.
Private George Teale
David Teale has provided today’s information and photo.
George Teale, older brother of Granville Teale (uncle of the donor of this image David Teale).
In 1916 he was serving with the 9th KOYLI (Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) on the Somme near Fricourt.
It was one of the first units to achieve an advance on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Fricourt lies towards the southern part of the front on which the British attacked on 1st July 1916. The 9th and 10th Brigades of KOYLI were in the front line.
On the 16th of September the 9th Battalion were engaged in an attack on Courcette in the offensive towards Guedecourt, tanks were used here for the first time by the British Army.
Enemy machine gun fire caused many casualties, from the 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions there were over 800 men killed or wounded including George who has no known grave as his body was never found.
From Ken Roberts:
TEALE, GEORGE
Rank: Private
Service No:12876
Date of Death:16/09/1916
Regiment/Service: King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
9th Bn.
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 11 C and 12 A.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
1418 – G W Hobson, B Eastwood.
Private G W Hobson & Private Ben Eastwood
As we do not have any information on Pte. G W Hobson we can assume that he came home after the war.
Additional Research
George William Hobson. 16thJan 1895 – 1988. Son of James and Mary. Service No: Private 18891 West Riding Regiment. George enlisted in December 1915 and was a dyer’s labourer working at Scott and Rhodes, Bankfield Dye Works. He left for France in May 1916, but in July suffered gun shot wounds to a foot. He was eventually discharged in December 1918 and three years later married Louie Hunt at Guiseley St. Oswald’s.
Helen M.
27 August 2023
Sadly we do have information about Private Benjamin Eastwood.
EASTWOOD, BENJAMIN
Rank: Private
Service No: 5881
Date of Death: 03/07/1916
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
1st/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: II. D. 19.
Cemetery: BOUZINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France.
Additional Information:
Son of Thomas and S. E. Eastwood, of 11, Queen St., Yeadon, Leeds.
1418 – R Forkins.
Private R Forkins
As we do not have any information on Pte. R. Forkins we can assume that he came home after the war.
Additional Research
Richard Forkin. 1889 – 1936. Son of John and Annie Forkin, born in Leeds and 1 of 14. Service No: Private 22110 King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Before enlistment he was a cloth finisher and the family lived at Moor Grange. On his return from war he married Olive Kendall in 1922.
Helen M.
27 August 2023
1418 – E Thackray.
Corporal Edwin Thackray
Edwin Thackray
The photo and information has been supplied to us by Alan Thackray.
‘My uncle Edwin, his family still live in Guiseley.
The only information I have on Edwin Thackray is that he was killed on hill 70 near Loos, he has no known grave his name is listed on a panel at Dud End Corner cemetery Loos, missing in action. ‘
Additional Research
George Edwin Thackray. 17th July 1896 – 1916. Service No: 17719 Royal Scots Fusiliers. He enlisted when living at St.Oswald’s Terrace, in March 1915 and was an assistant overlooker. George Edwin (his military records show his full name) was in France a year later and received a promotion in six months. He is also remembered on the Jackman (grandparent) family gravestone in St. Oswald’s Churchyard.
Helen M.
27 August 2023
1418 – RJ M Coultas, B Coultas.
Private J M Coultas & Sapper B Coultas
All three of these boys can be found on the 1911 census but have no military record, so, it’s safe to assume that they survived and came home.
I can only reproduce the newspaper clippings as they appear in the scrap book so two photographs for three names I am afraid.
Pte. Joseph M Coultas.
Sapper. Benjamin Coultas, brother of the above.
Pte. Wilfred Stewart, born Guiseley. Lived in Yeadon.
Additional Research
Joseph Midgley Coultas. 12th Dec 1898 – 1961. Son of Amos and Elizabeth. Service No: Private 41315 Leicestershire Regiment and T/459698 Army Service Corps. Joseph returned to Yorkshire and married Doris Barker in 1924. In the 30’s he was secretary of Yeadon Liberal Club.
Benjamin Coultas. 12th Feb 1897 – 1973.Ppossibly Sapper 311441 Royal Engineers.
Helen M.
27 August 2023
Previous Comments:
Jayne chew
My family were Forkin. Maybe R Forkin was one of ours. I’l try find out.
07 November 2018.
Mark Forkin
Following Jayne Chew’s comment, Richard Forkins was my grandfather on my dad’s side and I believe he was injured in WWI but luckily survived.
I know little about him as he died when my dad was very young.
07 November 2018.
Dazza
I believe Pte Frank Emsley is John Francis Emsley (1895-1917) of Yeadon. He died 2 Nov 1917 and he has a memorial at the Thiepval Memorial. Service No:5009, Regiment/Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 2nd/6th Bn. His parents were John Arthur Emsley and Clara Brooks Gascoigne.
02 November 2021.
