Stocksbridge
Congregational (Congs)
now Christ Church
In grateful memory of the members of this Congregation who gave their lives for their country in the Great War 1914-1919.
And those who gave their lives in the Second World War 1939-1945
Photo credit: Sally Jowitt
THE GREAT WAR
Alfred Beckett
Bertie T. Catton
Donald Crossley
Frank Eastwood
Charles England
Jesse H. Kenworthy
Frank Lievesley
Thomas Milnes
Eric W. Sheldon
Ernest Watson
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Edward Challis
Aubrey Rodgers
Albert Sellars
The Congregational Church stands on Manchester Road at the bottom of Hole House Lane. It had been known by several names over the years; it was originally known as the Salem Chapel, then the Congregational (or the “Congs”) and is now known as Christ Church and is a joint United Reformed and Methodist Church.
It was built by Mr. Ridal in 1863 and opened on 9 October 1864. The only other church nearby was the Ebeneezer Chapel, which later became the British Hall. The two were amalgamated in 1881. Further away was Bolsterstone Church and Midhope Chapel.
Ten men from the congregation died serving during World War 1. After the end of the war the church, in common with other places of worship, gave a thanksgiving service, which was very well attended. In 1919 the members of the church hosted a “welcome home” tea and concert in the British School which was attended by demobilised and discharged soldiers.
At some point a memorial was sited in the church to those men who had lost their lives in the conflict, but this was destroyed when the building was completely gutted by fire in November 1921 [see here for more information]. As far as I know, there are no photographs of it, but it was made of marble.
The church was rebuilt in almost the same style as before and re-opened in 1923. On Sunday 22 June 1924 Councillor Joseph Sheldon, C.C., whose grandson Eric William Sheldon is named on the memorial, unveiled a new brass War Memorial tablet which had been presented to the church by an anonymous donor. A procession set off from Smithy Hill, headed by the Stocksbridge Prize Band, and followed by the members of the British Legion, led by Major H. McIntyre. The church was packed. Major McIntyre spoke, and Joseph Sheldon described how the graves of those who had died abroad were tended. He said that relatives and friends of the fallen who visited the graves were given every help to locate their loved ones’ graves. He then unveiled the Memorial and Major McIntyre read out the names. Colonel Charles Hodgkinson also spoke, saying that as far as the present generation was concerned there was no need of a memorial of brass because the memory of those men was enshrined in their hearts. But that generation would pass away and it was the object of the tablet that those names should be handed down in honoured remembrance.
There is a second brass tablet which has been added to the first, which contains the names of three men of the congregation who lost their lives in World War 2.
As well as its own War Memorial tablets, Christ Church also holds tablets which have been removed from The Primitive Methodist Chapel / West End (now The Rugby Club) and the Deepcar Wesleyan Chapel (now converted into accommodation).
Private Alfred Beckett 42120
Served with: 2/6 Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Killed in Action: 21 March 1918 aged 19
Commemorated on local memorials at: Clock Tower, Stocksbridge Congregational; also on the Holme and Holmbridge Panel of the Holme Valley War Memorial which is in the grounds of the Holme Valley Memorial Hospital
Commemorated in France on the Arras Memorial, Bay 6 (no known grave)
Alfred Beckett was born in Stocksbridge in 1898 but left the district when he was a child. However, as a local lad, he was still entitled to be commemorated on our local War Memorials. His parents were Alfred Beckett and Martha Ellen Pears, who married in 1892. Alfred senior had been born in Holmfirth and his family came to live in Stocksbridge when he was a young boy. He was a bricklayer by trade. Martha Ellen died in 1899 and Alfred married again to Annie Elizabeth Wragg. He died in 1907 and his widow married Benjamin Firth the following year. They had moved to Holmfirth by 1911, and young Alfred worked at Clarence Mills, Holmbridge, before joining up when he turned 18. His service record does not appear to have survived.
Alfred turned 18 towards the end of 1916 and enlisted in Huddersfield early in 1917. After training he was sent to France towards the end of the year. He was reported missing on 21 March 1918. In July 1918 the Red Cross received a notification, in German, dated 22 June, regarding Alfred, among others. The document consisted of a list of ID tags which had been taken from those killed in action on a battlefield between Quéant and Noreuil in March 1918. Quéant is about 14 miles from the centre of Arras, and 2 miles from Noreuil. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reported in its 28 November edition, printed a couple of weeks after the Armistice, that Alfred had now been officially presumed killed on the date he was reported missing.
Sergeant Bertie Thorpe Catton 42444, previously 17492
Served with: 6th (Service) Battalion, Leicester Regiment
Formerly 17492 York & Lancaster Regiment
Died: KIA 18 September 1918, France & Flanders
Commemorated on local memorials at:
Commemorated Vis-en-Artois Memorial, panel 5, France (no known grave)
Bertie was born in Bradford in 1892 and was living in Langsett when he enlisted in Sheffield. He was the son of William Thorpe Catton and Emily. William had been born in Knaresborough and Emily in Bradford. When the 1891 census was taken they were living in Bradford and William was working as a coachman and domestic servant. Going by the dates of birth of their children, the family moved here between 1895 and 1898. They lived at Bessemer Terrace and William worked as a house painter. I have been able to find out very little about Bertie’s time in the army. His Service Record does not survive and I could not find anything in the newspapers about him. He was killed in action in France in 1918 and has no known grave. After the war the family moved to Thurlstone.
Private Donald Crossley 52392
Served with: 2nd Bn., King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Killed in Action: Avesnes, 7 November 1918 aged 20
Commemorated on local memorials at: Clock Tower, Congregational Church
Buried: Avesnes-Sur-Helpe-Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
Donald Crossley was born at Horner House on 21 July 1898 the son of George Herbert Crossley and Edna Dyson. When the 1911 census was taken the family were living at High Geen. Donald was 12 years old. They moved back to Stocksbridge and Donald worked at Stocksbridge colliery. In 1918 the family were living at 602 Manchester Road in one of two houses (600 and 602) built by George Herbert’s father Ralph Crossley. Donald’s Service Record has not survived, but we know that he enlisted in Sheffield and that he was killed in action at Avesnes on 7 November 1918, just four days before the end of the war was declared. His parents chose a personal inscription for his headstone, “Christ is the Path and Christ the Prize.” He is also remembered on his parents’ headstone in Bolsterstone churchyard. Donald’s younger brother Dyson Crossley was killed in an accident in the steelworks in 1939 when he was knocked into the ingot cooling pit by a bolt falling from an overhead crane. He died later from the burns he received. He was 25 years old. Donald’s sister Ruth Crossley was well known in this area as a midwife until she retired in 1971.
Private Frank Eastwood 2387
Served with: B Company, 1/4th (Hallamshire) (TF) Bn. York & Lancaster
Killed in Action: 13 July 1915 aged 19
Commemorated on local memorials at: St. Matthias, Clock Tower, Congregational Church
Buried at: Talana Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Frank Eastwood was born in 1896 to George Eastwood and Frances Tunnicliff. The family were living at Goit Terrace (267 Hunshelf Road) when the 1911 census was taken and Frank was 15 years old, working as an assistant draper for the Co-operative Society. Frank enlisted in Sheffield into the York & Lancaster Regiment. His war record survives and tells us that he was 5’ 9¼” tall, weighed 9 stones 10lbs and that his physical development and sight were good. On 13 April 1915 he embarked for France at Folkstone and was killed just three months later, on 13 July. His parents chose an additional inscription for his headstone; “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember him.”
Later that month the Congregational Church held a service in intercession for him (intercession is the act of praying on behalf of others, often seeking God’s mercy, guidance, or intervention). The vicar read out the names of all the young men connected with the church who had gone to the Front, and mentioned them in prayers. He specially mentioned two young men who had been connected with the church and Sunday school and who had died; Frank Eastwood and Frank Lievesley. The committal part of the burial service was read with the members of the congregation standing.
Private Charles England 99368
Served with: 2/6 Bn. Durham Light Infantry
Formerly Tr/5/69851 Training Reserve
Killed in Action: 25 September 1918 aged 20
Commemorated on local memorials at: Clock Tower & Congregational Church
Buried: Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacouture, Pas de Calais, France
Charles was the son of Charles England and his wife Lucy Moxon, and he was born in 1898. His father worked for the Co-operative Society and in 1911 they were living in the Co-operative Houses on Manchester Road, Deepcar. Young Charles was 12 years old and still at school. Previous to this they had lived at Low Lane [Victoria Road], Bracken Moor. He went on to work in the general office at Fox’s.
His service record survives, although much of it is illegible. It tells us that he was 5’ 2” tall, weighed 6½ stones, was working as a clerk, and that his religion was Congregationalist. He had a scar between the index and second finger of his right hand. Slight “defects” were noted, which were not sufficient to cause him to be rejected for service; he had false teeth and overlapping toes. Charles’s Service Record is difficult to read in places, but it seems he was not initially thought suitable for front-line duty.
Charles attested on 8 July 1916 in Sheffield into the Durham Light Infantry, being allocated to the army reserve the following day. He was mobilized in May 1917 and transferred to a training reserve battalion in July. There was another transfer in September to [illegible entry] followed by a transfer into the 18th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, which was initially for men who would serve only at “Home.” However, he was then transferred to the 2/6 Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry on 23 April 1918. He died in France on 25 September that year.
There is a photograph of Charles in the book Around Stocksbridge Vol 2 p.66 published by the Stocksbridge Local History Society and the accompanying text says that he was killed by a single piece of shrapnel that hit him in the head while he was in the canteen behind the lines.
His parents chose some additional words to add to his headstone: “They were a wall unto us, both by day and night, and we were not hurt.” The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that his parents were living at Mercer Lea, Deepcar.
Charles now lies in the Vieille Chapelle New Military Cemetery, but this was not his first resting place. In June 1920 his father received a letter informing him that, “owing to the agreement with the French and Belgium Governments to remove all scattered graves for concentration in proper cemeteries it has been found necessary to exhume the body of [Charles England] for re-burial in Vieille Chapelle New Military Cemetery, 5 miles North North East of Bethune. I am to say that the necessity for the removal is much regretted, but was found unavoidable for the reasons above given. I am to assure you that the work of re-burial has been carried out with every measure of care and reverence, and that special arrangements were made for the appropriate religious service to be held.”
Corporal Jesse Haworth Kenworthy 18/98
Served with: A Company, 18th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
Died of wounds: 17 August 1916 aged 25
Commemorated on local memorials at: Bolsterstone, Clock Tower, Congregational Church
Buried at: Chocques Military Cemetery, France
Jesse Haworth was the son of our esteemed local historian, Joseph Kenworthy of Stretton Villa, Deepcar, and his wife Anne Bocking. He was born in 1891 and was a member of the Congregational Church. He attended the British School before going on to Penistone Grammar School. He taught and took part in the work of the Sunday School. As a young man he was apprenticed in the steelworks, entering the engineers’ department at Fox’s as a draughtsman in 1905 whilst continuing to study at evening classes held in connection with the University of Sheffield. In 1913 he left Fox’s for an appointment at Messrs. Bessemer’s works in Sheffield, before moving up north to Darlington Forge. He was there when war broke out in August, 1914 and he attested into the Durham Light Infantry in September, a month after war was declared. His Service Record has survived, and it tells us that he was 5’ 8½” tall, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, light brown hair. He narrowly escaped death during the bombing of Hartlepool in December 1914. After over a year spent in training, he left these shores on 6 December 1915 bound for Egypt, disembarking on 22 December.
He spent two months in Port Said before sailing for France, arriving on 11 March 1916. On 20 June 1916 he was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal, and was promoted to Corporal a month later. He saw a good deal of fighting but his death came as a result of his own carelessness. Since joining the fight at the Western Front, his duties involved “bomb throwing,” that is, hand grenades, or Mills Bombs as they were known. On 17 August 1916 he was tasked with inspecting bombs; he had to examine the whole bomb including the removal of the pin. A witness said that he saw Jesse cleaning the bombs, and the pin on one of them was rusty. He pulled out the pin and the lever sprang up, prompting the witness to run away. Jesse transferred the bomb into his right hand (presumably to be able to throw it away with more accuracy) and went to throw it over a parapet but it exploded almost as soon as it left his hand, about 5 seconds after the pin had been withdrawn. Jesse was admitted into a field hospital as a result of the injury this caused to his right shoulder (recorded as GSW or gunshot wound, although it wasn’t a bullet that caused the injury). He died the same day. An inquiry was held, and it found that Jesse was at fault for not taking the detonator out before withdrawing the pin. Someone examined the remaining eleven bombs and, although they were rusty, there was nothing wrong with them that would have caused a premature burst.
Jesse’s parents were informed by telegram of his being wounded, although understandably, nothing was mentioned about the cause of the accident, they being led to believe he had been shot; Killed in Action. His father wrote a reply: “Dear Sir, re. my beloved son, am greatly distressed to receive your telegram. Kindly inform me as to how I can get into communication with No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station as to his condition and how soon and where I could see him. Do please help me all you can and as promptly as you can. Kindly telegraph me tomorrow. Yours truly, his father, Joseph Kenworthy.” A few days later they received another telegram informing them of his death. Joseph wrote once more, on 3 November, asking about his son’s personal effects: “Dear Sir, I do not wish to unduly add to the great pressure of work that falls upon your department in these trying times, neither would I leave undone what affection urges me to do, viz:- Will you kindly say if you have received any articles of private property left by my late son Corporal Jesse H. Kenworthy of the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry no. 98 who was killed August 17 1916. Do please let me know, also inform me re. the procedure necessary to obtain them.
His parents received a letter from Captain J. B. Hughes-Gamas, dated 20 August 1916: “It is with feelings of the very deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, Cpl. Jesse H. Kenworthy, who died as a result of his wounds received in action. I cannot sufficiently express the sympathy I feel for you and all his relations and friends in your sad loss. His loss is a very severe one to the battalion, too, as his work was regarded as extremely valuable. He was an excellent N.C.O., and his name had just been sent forward for promotion to sergeant. He was held in the highest esteem by officers, N.C.Os, and men, and deservedly so, for he always displayed the utmost coolness and resolution in times of danger, and could always be relied upon to the highest degree. Once more let me say how very sorry I am to have to convey to you such sad news.”
Another officer wrote: “I knew him very well, and know he was one of the best fellows that ever lived. His friends all say how earnest he was, devoted to his duty and very brave, because he had before him always the strength that God gives to His children.”
One of his comrades, writing on behalf of the Battalion Bombing Section, of which he was in charge, said: “He was a very fine fellow indeed. His coolness knew no bounds, his presence amongst us and his encouraging words and smile during our most trying times in the line, proving of a great assistance to us all.”
Jesse was buried in the Chocques Military Cemetery, France. He was 25. His parents chose a personal inscription for the headstone: “Faithful unto Death” A few lines were printed in the Sheffield Independent: “As ‘Soldier of the King’ he served / Nor from the path of duty swerved / As ‘Soldier of the King’ he died / With Him for ever to abide.”
An article printed in the local paper after his death became known paid tribute to him. “His love of work, coupled with a high sense of duty, endeared him to a wide circle of friends in temporal and spiritual matters, to which ample testimony is borne in the many touching tributes conveyed by officers and men, chaplains and comrades [and] to his sorrowing parents.” The managing director of the Darlington Forge wrote: “I much regret to learn of the death of Cpl. Jesse H Kenworthy, your son. He was greatly esteemed by his colleagues in our drawing office and by the whole staff, and he had before him a promising career. He will always be remembered as one of our staff and of the many others who have sacrificed their lives at the call of duty for king and country.” Joseph’s brothers Frank Belcher and Joseph Aubrey both served in France and survived the War.