Passchendaele Article for the Barnsley Chronicle

Back in July 2017 I had the opportunity to write an article for Pen & Sword books about the Barnsley men who fell during the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele.) I wrote the piece on behalf of  The Barnsley War Memorial Project and it was printed in the Barnsley Chronicle on Friday 4th August 2017 to coincide with the anniversary of battle, which began on the 31st July 1917 and lasted until 10th November 1917.

Barnsley Chronicle 4th August 2017

I chose to write about three men who had died at different points during the offensive. Tom Drudy fell on the first day, his body was claimed by the Belgian mud, consequently he has no grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate instead. Frank Pettitt died of wound received on the 12th October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. Fitter Staff Sergeant Bernard Kilner was killed only six days later on the 18th October 1917, when he was hit by a shell while inspecting the guns. All their stories are told in greater detail on my other WW1 blog.

The Lost Barnsley Radical & Liberal Club Memorial

It was recently discovered that one of  Barnsley's missing war memorials was sold at auction twelve years ago. We learnt from posts made to a First World War forum, that the memorial had been sold by auctioneers CW Harrison on the 10th August 2005 to a Barnsley business man, with an interest in WW1 for safe keeping. After that nothing more was heard about the memorial or it's fate.

Barnsley Chronicle 1st September 2017

I realise at this point you might be wondering why I wanted to know the location of this memorial in particular. Well let me explain; I'm a member of the Barnsley War Memorial Project. The group is currently in the process of creating a Roll of Honour, which will commemorate all the individuals of the Barnsley area who fell during WW1. In order to do this we have been researching and transcribing as many local war memorials as we can find, that way, we hope to include as many of the fallen as possible. So, you can imagine the Bwmp was very keen to view and transcribe this memorial. Our group began making inquiries in to it's whereabouts. We sent emails to the auctioneers and made posts on the forum, all to no avail. So we decided to ask the Barnsley Chronicle if the would run an appeal on our behalf. Fortunately they agreed to to help us, for which we are very grateful. On Friday the newspaper ran the appeal and we waited to see if anyone would contact us.....

Barnsley Chronicle 15th September 2017

We didn't have to wait long, in less than two days the owner got in touch and arranged for three members of the Bwmp to view the memorial. Understandably the current owner wishes to remain anonymous. But we are certain the memorial is in a safe place and are very thankful to this individual for looking after it all these years.

The memorial a very large piece, measuring 7 feet in height. It features ceramic tiles in an oak frame and has the names of 127 men who fought, 8 of whom were killed.

At the base of the memorial is a brass plate that says:
RADICAL & LIBERAL CLUB
This Roll of Honour was unveiled by W Bowring Esq (President) on December 22nd 1919 to commemorate the Honour, Glory and Patriotism of our brave fellow members who answered their Countrys call to arms during the Great War 1914-1920
COMFORT - COMMITTEE
T Pogmore (Chairman), G Bennett, W Copping, F Clarkson, W J Howden, J Law, T Woffenden, C Ibbotson, W J Barham, (Treasurer) H Wainwright (Secretary)

There is a makers stamp on the brass plaque of Robertson and Russell, Sheffield.