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A Tragedy for Two Sisters
Barwicker No. 115 September 2014
My grandfather, Jack Stead, was a miner and did not have to fight in the Great War. His brothers-in-law, Harold Morritt and Herbert Pickersgill were not so fortunate.
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Harold was a joiner and married Elizabeth Stead on 2 June 1909. He was called up early in 1917 at which time he was the father of a six year old daughter, Doris, and twin babies, Hilda and George. My mother remembered Harold coming to say goodbye to her parents, she was five and in the tin bath in front of the fire when he called. He was a kind man and thought to send his little niece a beautiful embroidered card when he got to France.
In December 1917 Harold wrote to his old friend, Harry, and asks him to remember him to all at the Class and to tell them he thinks about them all every Sunday at 3 pm. Harold does not dwell on his own situation, other than to say that, with the help of God, he got through the Big Push, and that he misses his old pal who is in hospital in Scotland. He is concerned for the folks at home and says that he guesses it will be pretty rough with stuff being scarce and dear. It is clear from this letter that Harold's faith was strong.
Harold served with the West Yorkshire Regiment and was killed in action on 12 April 1918, aged 35. He is buried at the Bienvillers Military Cemetery and is remembered on the Barwick-in-Elmet War Memorial and on the grave of his parents-in-law.
Herbert Pickersgill was born in Cross Gates in 1880 and married Jane Ann Stead (Jinny) at Barwick on 5 August 1906. At the time he was called up Herbert was working as a postman in Mirfield. He served with the Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed in action on 30 May ]918. Herbert and Jinny did not have any children and, after her husband's death, Jinny returned to live in Barwick with her parents and sisters.
Herbert is remembered on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France, on the Mirfield War Memorial and, like Harold, on the grave of George and Mary Stead in All Saints Churchyard.
GLENYS DAY
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