Malhamdale
Virtual War Memorial

Let all remember these men of Malhamdale who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918 and the Second World War 1939-1945.

This page commemorates those people connected with the Malhamdale area who died in the two World Wars.
There is no single memorial in Malhamdale commemorating all those who died, and some names connected with the area are not inscribed on any of the existing memorials, possibly because they no longer lived within the Dale or are commemorated elsewhere. We dedicate this page to all the people connected with Malhamdale who are known to have died in the service of their Country.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15 v13

The Great War : 1914-18

	St Michael the Archangel Kirkby Malham The marble tablet on the tower wall as you enter the church lists six men who died from the Dale: Pte. Joseph Berry New Zealand Rifles Pte. Farrand Earnshaw Yorkshire Regiment Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw West Yorkshire Regiment Pte. Robert Jones Grenadier Guards Lt. Ronald Morkill West Yorkshire Regiment & RFC Pte. John Redfearn Royal Engineers Click to enlarge image
Pte. Farrand Earnshaw, son of Jane and the late William Earnshaw of Calton/Airton. Killed in action 1st July 1916, aged 26 years.		Pte. John William Redfearn, son of Jack & the late Ruth Redfearn of Kirkby Malham. Died of pneumonia, Etaples, France 13th July 1918, aged 23 years.

"If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England."
The Soldier by Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)

Airton Wesleyan Methodist Chapel A brass memorial tablet listing:
In grateful memory of the brave men of this district who gave their lives for the cause of Freedom in the Great War 1914-1918 Ronald F Morkill 1st West Yorks Regt, RFC Kayley Earnshaw Sgt. DCM Farrand Earnshaw Pte. Arthur W Bailey Pte. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"
St Peter's, Coniston Cold The war memorial in the churchyard reads: In memorium To the Glory of God and in memory of the men who laid down their lives for their Country in the Great War 1914-18 Lance Cpl James Thomson Pte George Henry Perrett Robert Jackman Herbert Clarke Robert Bateson Also in the church yard is a grave inscribed: Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth the beloved wife of the Revd John Stansfeld who died at Coniston Parsonage Feb 9th 1861 aged 41 years also in proud ond loving memory of Lt Col John Raymond Evelyn Stansfeld DSO grandson of the above, and only son of John Birkbeck Stansfeld MA He served with great distinction in the 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders through the South African War 1899 - 1901 and died gloriously on the field of battle while commanding the same Btn at Loos Sept 28th 1915 aged 36 years giving his life for his King and Country. His body lies in the military cemetery at Chocques, France

Click to view the online version.

Craven's Part in the Great War Compiled and edited by John T Clayton editor of the Craven Herald, this Roll of Honour for the dead of Craven was published in 1919 and wholly paid for by Walter Morrison MP of Malham Tarn. A copy was presented to each member of the Forces who joined up from the Skipton Parliamentary Division or to their next of kin. It contains photographs of most of the men who died, as well as some brief details about them. No single source seems complete, so the list of First World War casualties below, was compiled from this publication, the actual War Memorials and Rolls of Honour, the online version of Soldiers Died in the Great War the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register, parish magazines and local newspapers.

	Lieut. Ronald Falshaw Morkill 1st Btn West Riding Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) and Royal Flying Corps. Died 22 June 1915 aged 23 Killed in flying accident at Shoreham. Son of John William and Hannah Shaw of Newfield Hall. ; husband of Ellen Mary Morkill (nee Wilkinson), of Neasham Abbey, near Darlington. The only Commonwealth War Grave in Kirkby Malham churchyard. (Craven's Part in the Great War page 53)		Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw (DCM) Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Died 9th June 1916 aged 36. Husband of Ellen Earnshaw, of Chapel St., Salterforth, Colne, Lancs. (Craven's Part in the Great War page 133)
	Pte. Farrand Earnshaw 10th Btn Yorkshire Regiment Died 1st July 1916 aged 26. Son of Jane Earnshaw of West Bank, Kirkby Malham (Craven's Part in the Great War page 143)		Pte. John William Redfearn Army Service Corps, 3rd Field Survey Coy Royal Engineers. Died 13th July 1918 aged 23. Son of John and the late Ruth Redfearn of Main Street, Kirkby Malham. (Craven's Part in the Great War page 357)
	Pte. Joseph Berry 2nd Btn 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Died 26 March 1918, aged 32 Son of John and Alice Berry, of Airton (Craven's Part in the Great War page 336)		Pte. Robert Francis Jones 3rd Btn Grenadier Guards Died 23 August 1918 aged 19 Son of Elizabeth Jones, of St. Luke's Hospital, Bayswater, London. Native of Malham Tarn (Craven's Part in the Great War page ?)
	Sgt. G Caton (MM& Bar) 4th Btn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Died 27 Mar 1918 (Craven's Part in the Great War page 337)		Pte. JW Caton Army Service Corps Died 18 September 1918 Died of pneumonia at Rouen. (Craven's Part in the Great War page 362)
	Lte. Robert Seton Scott Orr 201st Squadron R A F Died 8th August 1918, aged 21 Son of Robert & Catherine Orr of Dale House, Malham (Debt of Honour Register)		Pte. Arthur William Bailey Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Died 29 July 1916 aged 20 years Son of William George and Anne Elizabeth Bailey, of 41, Fazakerley Rd., Liverpool. From Otterburn (Craven's Part in the Great War page 138)
	LCpl. James Thomson (War memorial, St Peter's Coniston Cold)		Pte. George Henry Perrett 21st Btn West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) Died 31 January 1918 Son of Thomas Perrett, Bell Busk station master. (Craven's Part in the Great War page 333)
	Pte. Robert Jackman 2nd Btn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Died 18 April 1915 Born Giggleswick (War memorial, St Peter's Coniston Cold & Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19)		Pte. Herbert Clarke Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Died 14 July 1916 (War memorial, St Peter's Coniston Cold & Craven's Part in the Great War page141)
	Pte. Robert Bateson (MM) Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Died 28 November 1917 aged 22 Son of Mr and Mrs J Bateson, Station Cottage, Bell Busk (Craven's Part in the Great War page 312)		Cpl. Stanley Richmond Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) Died 10th Nov. 1917, aged 23. Son of Tom and Ada Richmond, of Mosside, Alberta. Born at Bell Busk, (Debt of Honour Register)
	Pte Charles Pilling Canadian Forestry Corps Died 14 May 1918, aged 47 Son of Thomas and Mary Pilling, of 14, Firth St, Skipton. Born at Bell Busk (Debt of Honour Register) .		Sgt George Butler Royal Horse Artillery Died 14th April 1917, aged 30 Son of William Duckett Butler and Margaret Butler; husband of Sarah Hargreaves (formerly Butler), of 30, Preston Rd., Freckleton, Kirkham, Lancs. Born at Bordley Hall (Debt of Honour Register)
	Pte William Burton "B" Coy. 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Died 3rd May 1917 aged 29 Son of Edwin and Mary Ann Burton of Nottingham, husband of Fanny Burton, of Reservoir House, Winterburn (Debt of Honour Register)		Sidney Burton 1st/3rd West Riding Bde. Royal Field Artillery Died 24th March 1916, aged 24 Son of Ellen Callow (formerly Burton), of Winterburn and the late Percy William Burton (Debt of Honour Register)
	William Richardson Royal Garrison Artillery Died 17th November 1918 Age 25. Son of George and Rose A. Richardson, of Coniston Cold, husband of Minnie Dodsworth (formerly Richardson) of Trees Cottages, South St., Gargrave (Debt of Honour Register)		Herbert Cardus Royal Army Service Corps Died 9 November 1916 Born Malham (Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19)
	George Henry Metcalfe 9 Btn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) Died 10 March 1918 Born Bell Busk (Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19)		Samuel Hall West Yorkshire Regiment and 19th Btn Durham Light Infantry Died 27 October 1917 Born Malham (Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19)
	John Peart Machine Gun Corps Died 24 April 1917 Born Malham (Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19)		Lieut. Hedley Knowles

Use this link to search for additional details in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's "Debt of Honour Register". You can find details of the Regiment, Unit, Date of Death, Age, Service number, Awards, plus additional details which may include family information. You will also discover the cemetery or memorial on which they are commemorated and can print out their details in certificate form.

In St Michael's Church, Kirkby Malham there is also a small brass plaque attached to a wooden lectern which reads:
In Memory of Captain FRANCIS EDWARD MORKILL 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion. Who was killed in action on the Somme 15th September 1916 aged 26 Years. He was a cousin of JW Morkill JP of Newfield Hall, from the Canadian branch of his family.
See the Canadian Virtual War Memorial for further details of Cpt F E Morkill complete with his picture and obituary.

The Great War Roll of Honour

A carved oak Roll of Honour hangs in Kirkby Malham Church Hall and records around 60 names of those who left their hearths and homes to answer the call to defend their country during the Great War, including some who didn't return. At the Methodist Chapel in Malham, another list hangs inside the porch. It is titled the Malham Wesleyan Roll of Honour and lists 20 men who went to the Great War, duplicating some names from the Kirkby Malham Roll. Beneath the names it says"Praise God, all the above returned safely after the Great War" The list below is compiled from both these two sources. ( * Died)

Pte.	Richard H Baines	Pte.	Robert F Jones *	Pte.	William Nelson
Pte.	Edward Banks	Pte.	Edward Lawson	Pte.	F Nelson
Pte.	Charles Bell	Pte.	Ernest Lawson	LCpl.	Benjamin Hudson
Pte.	Joseph Berry *	Pte.	William Lumb	Pte.	Robinson Jackson
Pte.	John Blamire	Pte.	William H Lumb	Pte.	Ernest Redfearn
Pte.	Henry Bolland	Pte.	George Newhouse	Pte.	John Wm Redfearn *
Pte.	James Bolland	Pte.	Walter Newhouse	Pte.	Percy T Redfearn
Pte.	John Bolland	Maj.	H Gilbert Tunstall	Pte.	John L Richardson
Pte.	Norman Bolland	Pte.	Richard Chester	Pte.	Robert Richardson
Pte.	Thomas W Carr	Pte.	Morrison T R Hall	Pte.	Frederick Rowley
Pte.	Arthur Caton	Pte.	George Metcalfe	Pte.	William Scott
Pte.	David Coates	Pte.	Hugh B Morkill	Pte.	Cyrus Sharp
Pte.	John Coates	Pte.	Alan G MorkillL	Pte.	George Sharp
Pte.	Farrand Earnshaw *	Pte.	Ronald F Morkill *	Pte.	John Sharp
Pte.	Robert Earnshaw	Pte.	Edward Taylor	Pte.	James Swinbank
Pte.	Joseph Fitchett	Pte.	Dudley H Illingworth	Pte.	Frank Stephens
Pte.	William Foster	Sgt.	Archie V Armstrong	Pte.	Robert Taylor
Pte.	William Hudson	Pte.	William Bell	Pte.	James Tyson
Pte.	Samuel H Jackson	Sgt.	Kayley Earnshaw * DCM	Pte.	Jack C Ward
Pte.	E Johnson	Pte.	William Sharp	Pte.	George Wolfenden DCM
Pte.	R Johnson	Cpl.	William Caton MM	Pte.	Norman Yeoman

 

The Second World War : 1939-45

Fortunately the losses in the Second World War seem to have been small in comparison to the earlier conflict, and except for a single inscription on the war memorial at St Peter's, Coniston Cold. It doesn't seem to have been thought necessary to erect any other memorial in the Dale.

St Peter's Coniston Cold The only Second World War entry inscription on the memorial in the churchyard of reads: To the Glory of God And in memory of Stoker Roland Cundall Who laid down his life for his Country in the Great War 1939- 45
Stoker 2nd Class Roland Cundall Royal Navy, HMS Matabele Died 17 January 1942 aged 21 Son of Daniel and Mary Ann Cundall; husband of Sylvia Cundall, of Coniston Cold. (Debt of Honour Register)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Their Debt of Honour listing provides a few more Second World War casualties associated with the area:

Pte. Peter Kenneth Kirkham, Gordon Highlanders. Died 29th March 1945. Age 18. Son of Reginald and Winifred Kirkham, of Airton		Surgeon Lt. John Smyth Crone Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HM Submarine Sterlet Died 27th April 1940. Age 24. Son of John Walker Crone and Ida May Crone; husband of Phyllis Irene Crone, of Kirkby Malham
Pte. Lionel Lund West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) Died 26 May 1943 aged 29 Lived at Tranlands, son of William and Rebecca Lund; husband of Dorothy Lund, of Garstang. Lancashire.		Lce. Bombardier, Charles Edwin Burton 16 Bty., 2 H.A.A. Royal Artillery Died April 1941. Age 31. Son of Edwin and Elisabeth Burton, of Winterburn

Roll of Honour
The few names above are the only deaths we can find associated with the Dale during World War Two. In the January 1944 edition of the Parish Magazine, the Rev Bernard Chick published the following list of those men and women who were on active service. This listing seems to be the nearest thing we have for a Roll of Honour for this conflict.

Corrections to the Rev Chick's list above: William Geldard should read Wilfred Geldard; Cecil Blades should read Cecil Banks

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Although great care has been taken to ensure that this page is fully comprehensive by using all the available sources, there may still be ommissions or errors. Please contact the with any corrections or if you can provide any further information, especially pictures.