Friday 7th May 1915

General Sir Arthur Paget

23^rd Division was inspected by General Sir Arthur Paget, Commanding the Southern Command.

Having had 11 days of his sentence remitted on account of his good conduct, Pte. Thomas Angus McAndrew (see 18^th March) was released from detention and returned to duty.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald published a list of the names of local shop workers  currently serving in the armed forces.  

SKIPTON SHOP ASSISTANTS’ ROLL OF HONOUR

The following members of the Skipton branch of the National Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, Warehousemen and Clerks are now serving with the colours: Comrades Brear, Branston, Willis Bell, Clidero, Cartledge, Cartman, Dean, Frankland, Nelson, Spence, Senior, Scorah, Barrett, Derbyshire, Gooding, Golightly, Hall, Harescugh and Noble.

A Roll of Honour bearing their names has been formed and further additions are expected.

Two of the men named had been among the Skipton volunteers attached to Tunstill’s Company in September 1914. They were Pte. Charlie Branston and Pte. Tommy Cartman. Charlie and Tommy were cousins, but both had been brought up by Charlie’s parents, James and Hannah Branston.

Charlie Branston had been born in Skipton on 18^th March 1896. He was the son of James Branston and Hannah Cartman. James and Hannah had married in Chorlton, Manchester in the summer of 1882. In 1881 James (then described as an ‘outdoor labourer) and his elder brother William (a shoemaker) had been lodgers at 25 Stanley Street, Gorton, Manchester; though both had been born in Clifton Dunsmore in Warwickshire, in 1859 and 1855 respectively. Hannah Cartman had been born in Skipton on 13^th December 1859. She was the eldest daughter (of at least 10 children) of Henry Cartman and Rebecca Spencer (they had been married in the spring of 1858). In 1871 she had been living in the family home at 33 Millfields, Skipton. However, by 1881 Hannah (by then described as a cotton weaver) was living in the household of her cousin, Jane Kirkbright, at 3 Gladstone Street, along with 3 of her brothers. Her parents were then living at 7 Queens Court (off Caroline Square) with 3 other of their children. How Hannah came to be married in Chorlton is unclear, although it must be a possibility that she had moved to the Manchester area in pursuit of work, as the Branstons had no obvious connection with Skipton.

James and Hannah’s elder children, Henry Cartman Branston and Ellen Rebecca Branston, were both born in the Chorlton area (on 21^st December 1883 and in the spring of 1886), although Henry was baptized in Skipton on 3^rd February 1884. Their younger children, Eva (1892), Charles (1896) and James (1900) were all born in Skipton. Indeed, the family had moved back to Skipton by 1891 when they were living at 13 Albert Street. In 1891 James was working as a railway fireman and by 1901 he had become a railway engine driver. However, James died, aged just 44, on 7^th June 1904; the cause of death was stated to have been phthisis (TB).

Hannah was thus widowed, at the age of 44, and left with the care of 5 children (3 of whom were under 12). Also living with her in 1901 had been her mother and Hannah’s younger sister, Ellen Ann Cartman (born 26^th April 1865 and described in 1901 as a ‘general domestic servant’), with her illegitimate son, Thomas Boothman (Tommy) Cartman (born 1895).

Charlie and Tommy had both worked at Lipton’s Grocers in Sheep Street, Skipton and had enlisted together in Skipton on 18^th September 1914. They were among a small group of five men who had all completed papers on the same day. The others were Henry Briley (see 5^th April), Tom Greenwood and Harry Widdup (see 2^nd October 1914).

Tom Greenwood was 21 years old and originally from Ramsbottom. He was the eldest of six children of William and Alice Greenwood and had moved, along with the rest of the family to Earby at some point between 1907 and 1911, where he had been working as a weaver for the Earby Manufacturing Company. He was also a member of the local Wesleyan Guild.

The same edition also made reference to postal workers currently serving. Among them were Tunstill recruit Tom Swales (see 12^th September 1914) and Henry Cartman Branston, elder brother of Charlie Branston (see above).

PATRIOTIC POSTAL OFFICIALS

Skipton’s Splendid Record

The staff of the Skipton Post Office has since the outbreak of war been depleted to the number of 16 as a result of men joining the colours. In normal circumstances the total staff is about 40, so that enlistments are almost in the proportion of 50 per cent, which, for an office of this description, is a highly creditable record.

It has of course been necessary to use temporary assistance on both indoor and outdoor staffs, but despite lack of experience on the part of the new employees there has been practically no curtailment of the facilities either in the postal, telegraph or telegram services, except such as have been rendered imperative by military expediency.

The presence for so many months of a large number of troops in the town has severely taxed the energy and resources of the staff and the efficiency of the service which has been maintained speaks well for the work of those who have had to bear the brunt of the pressure in the absence of the men withdrawn.

The following are the names of those who have enlisted: Indoor Staff: J. Parker, E. Miller, T.F. Wright and J.T. Savage. Outdoor Staff: J. Norton, B.M. Sheridan, A. Shirt, L. Leeming, E.F. Shaw, J.W. DeBurgh, T. Swale, S. Rhodes, W. Smith, B.E. Robertshaw, H.C. Branston and B. Dale. Those at present under orders for the Royal Engineers are J.C. Peffer (acting postmaster), T. Cousins, A. Pritchard and J.W. Parkinson.

One member of staff, Private Bryan Dale, has been killed in action and those on active service at present are J. Parker, J. Norton, S. Shirt, A. Leeming and B.N. Sheridan.