BORN THORNE, 1896. SON OF WILLIAM DIGLIN (1853-1912) & ELIZABETH ANN DIGLIN (1851-1933), OF 13, HIGH STREET, HULL, (1901 CENSUS), 4, CROFTON AVENUE, EGTON STREET, HULL (ARMY ADDRESS), AND 7, NORTHFIELD VILLAS, ROSMEAD STREET, NEW BRIDGE ROAD, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). SON OF A BARGE LIGHTERMAN. ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN. HE HAD FOUR BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS.
BEFORE THE WAR HE WORKED AS A MILLER’S LABOURER, FOR RANKS LTD FLOUR MILLS, HULL. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 7.5 INCHES TALL, 35-37 INCH CHEST, CHURCH OF ENGLAND RELIGION. HE LIVED WITH HIS BROTHER, GEORGE AT 4, CROFTON AVENUE, EGTON STREET, HULL (ARMY RECORD ADDRESS).
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, WITH HIS BROTHER, GEORGE, ON 18/11/1915. CALLED UP FOR SERVICE, ON 10/04/1916. POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 15/07/1916. FORMERLY, PRIVATE, 5525, YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. TRANSFERRED TO THE 1/4TH YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT (ENTRENCHING BATTALION) ON 26/07/1916. HE DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 24/07/1917, AGED 21. HE HAD SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 1 YEAR AND 248 DAYS. BURIED AT COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM,
HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON ST MARY’S CHURCH, LOWGATE MEMORIAL. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOWED MOTHER, ELIZABETH ANN DIGLIN
HE WAS ONE OF THREE BROTHERS WHO DIED IN THE WAR. THE BROTHERS PHOTOGRAPHS APPEAR IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 15/8/1917. *
The three Diglin brothers who died were George, 13/505, 13th East Yorkshire Regiment, killed, 13/11/1916, Walter Diglin, 203195, York and Lancaster Regiment Service, killed on, 24/07/1917 and William Diglin, 3/33418, 7th East Yorkshire Regiment, killed on 25/04/1917, aged 33. George and Walter’s service records still exist and can be viewed on Ancestry or Find My Past. There was also a fourth brother who served – Ernest Diglin, Y624, 6th Kings Royal Rifle Corps, discharged from the service because of wounds he received in action. He was discharged 23/10/1916 and awarded the Silver War Badge. His service record still exists.
