BORN HULL 1891, IN THE SCULCOATES PARISH. SON OF ANNA McCOLL, OF 209 HEDON ROAD (1901 CENSUS) AND 6, BRANHAM AVENUE, WOODHOUSE STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION & CWGC ADDRESS). THE ELDEST OF FIVE CHILDREN. EMPLOYED AS A PLATER, AT EARL’ES SHIPYARD. HE BOARDED AT 100, EGTON STREET, HULL. DESPITE BEING IN A RESERVED OCCUPATION, HE ENLISTED AT HULL, ON 07/09/1914.
HE TRAINED WITH THE 11TH, 12TH AND 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE BATTALIONS. DURING THIS TIME HE WAS CHARGED WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFENCES AND QUICKLY ATTAINED A POOR MILITARY RECORD. HE WAS DUE TO BE POSTED IN EGYPT, BUT WENT ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. EVENTUALLY, SENT TO FRANCE IN MARCH 1916. HE SERVED WITH THE 1/4TH BATTALION, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS WOUNDED WITH ‘SHELL SHOCK’, AT NEUVE CHAPELLE, IN SEPTEMBER 1916. HE WAS INVALIDED TO ENGLAND WITH ‘HEART FAILURE’.
SENT BACK TO FRANCE AGAIN. HE LEFT HIS TRENCH, DURING THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES. HE WAS FOUND BY MILITARY POLICE IN CALAIS, TRYING TO RETURN TO ENGLAND. TRIED BY FIELD COURT MARTIAL. HE WAS UNDEFENDED AT THE TRIAL AND SHOT FOR DESERTION ON 28TH DECEMBER 1917, AGED 26. HE IS BURIED AT YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY. APPARENTLY HE WAS REFUSED A CHRISTIAN BURIAL, BY THE PADRE, AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS UNPRECEDENTED EVEN FOR SOLDIERS FACING EXECUTION. HE LEFT SIBLINGS ANNIE, CHRISTINA, HARRIET & NEIL. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE RETURNED TO HIS WIDOWED MOTHER, ANNA.
HIS MEDALS FORFEITED. HIS NAME DOES NOT APPEAR ON ANY MEMORIALS IN HULL. IT APPEARS THAT HIS MOTHER WAS TOLD THE REASON FOR HIS DEATH AND KEPT IT SECRET WITHIN THE FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS. HIS STORY HAS SINCE BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS BETTER KNOWN.
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