ROLL OF HONOUR G to J

   Son of John and Mary Ann Gardiner, of 93, Main St., Keswick, Cumberland. Sergeant Frank Gardiner, Border 'Regiment, Keswick, who has died from wounds received in France, was one of Keswick's most promising young men. Educated at Crosthwaite Boys School under Mr. Swinburn, he was the first to win a Hewetson Scholarship. He proceeded to Keswick  School, and under the Rev. Cecil Grant passed his matriculation for  the London University, after brilliant success in both  Oxford and Cambridge Senior Locals. After leaving school he spent wine time in his father's carpenter's shop, and also continued his studies, passing examinations under the Board of  Education in practical mathematics, solid geometry building construction, and joinery, also obtained honours for the City and Guilds examination in woodwork, and was a member by examination of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters and Joiners. For a time he worked under the Cumberland Education Committee as teacher of woodwork in the elementary schools, and also conducted woodwork classes for teachers at Keswick. At the outbreak of the war he was woodwork teacher at the Workington Secondary School. He was a splendid athlete, and several years captained the Keswick Rugby football team, also playing in county matches, and at hockey and tennis he was no mean opponent, a   member of the old Volunteers and the newer Territorials, he was an expert marksman, and besides winning medals at Bisley, he one year won the Lord Lieutenant's cup for the county, and the county bronze medal for the best shot. He was one of the Crosthwaite bell-ringers, and during his short furlough home relieved the young lady who had taken his place for the period of the war.  He went with the Border Regiment to Burma soon after the outbreak of the war, but on the expiration of his time of enlistment sought more active service, returned to England, joined another battalion of the same regiment, and was eventually drafted to France with his old rank of sergeant. He was seriously wounded on Sunday, 22nd October, and conveyed to the base hospital, his relatives receiving an intimation from the chaplain. A leg was amputated on Friday, and he later dictated a letter to a comrade in hospital, but during the same evening he passed away. He was the only remaining son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gardiner, Main-street, and the deepest sympathy of the town and district is felt for them and for his four sisters.

DANIEL GATE    age 21  8th Btn Border Rgt  10 Aug 1917

   Fourth son of Tom Gate, of The Green, Legburthwaite, Thirlmere, Cumberland. Born Bassenthwaite

 

JAMES GIBSON  age 31  Lcpl 11th Btn Border Rgt  4th July  1917                                     

 Husband of Agnes Gibson, of 3, Banks Place, Keswick.  Private23627 b. Borrowdale, Cumberland e. Keswick Cumberland, Died of wounds       

JOHN GILLBANKS   age 38  Pte 5th Border Rgt         10th July 1917

Son of William and Elizabeth Gillbanks. 
Mr. Wm. Gillbanks, Myrtle Villa., Keswick, received a letter on Monday from a Captain in command of a Labour Company in France stating with deep sympathy that Private John Henry Gillbanks was killed in action on 10th July whilst very nobly doing his duty.
The deceased, who was 39 years old last April, was educated at Brigham School and served his apprenticeship' with Messrs. Isaac and Timothy Hodgson. On the conclusion of the Boer War, he went out to South Africa, where he was engaged in mining engineering. He returned to England in 1915 and early last year joined the 5th Borders and whilst serving in the trenches throughout the winter in France contracted trench feet and strained an ankle, causing his removal to a base hospital.
It was only quite recently that he was transferred to a Labour Company behind the lines. His only brother, Benjamin Gillbanks, is serving with the Border Territorial force at Poona.   

THOMAS GILL  age 39   Pte 1st Border Rgt             27th Jan 1917
Son of Thomas and Mary Gill, of Keswick, Cumberland; husband of Isabella Gill, of Portmulgrave, Hinderwell, Yorks.

HAROLD L GRAVES    Cpl 7th Norfolk Rgt          2nd April 1916

    Mr and Mrs T Graves have received word of the death of their son in a letter from his chum *Pte James Duffield, Braithwaite.

Writing direct to Mrs Graves, he said, " Although I feel so ill and my nerves so shattered, and I am utterly miserable I feel it is my duty to write to you, though it tears my heart to do so. On the second of April I was sitting in my dugout, and was just about to make myself  a little breakfast, when someone put his head in and shouted "stretcher bearers" . Little did I think when I rushed out that I was going to see poor Harold lying there. It gave me an awful shock, I closed my eyes and wished the earth would swallow me up for I could see instantly that I was helpless, and that it was impossible to save him, but thank god I was by his side. He never spoke though I knelt by his side for 15 minutes before he closed his eyes, poor lad both his legs and one arm were broken, a mine had been exploded and lumps of chalk had struck him. I and three other stretcher bearers carried him out of the trench to the cemetery where he was buried by our chaplain. He was a brave lad and died doing his duty, may God comfort you all.

*James Duffield was killed later the same year.

THOMAS GRAVES   2nd/5th Bn  King's (Liverpool Regiment)  31st Oct 1917
 
 

THOMAS P GREENWOOD  age 29  Sgt  Royal Army Medical Corps  19 Dec 1917

Son of Richard and Annie Greenwood of Garden Villa, Threlkeld, Penrith, Cumberland.

    Youngest son of Mr Isaac and Mrs Emily Catherine Hodgson, Newlands House, Stanger St, Keswick. badly wounded with the 1st btn Border Rgt at the Dardenelles in Aug 1915. After his recovery he embarked for France in February with the 2nd Btn, he was wounded in the head and though carried to a dressing station behind the lines, he died without recovering consciousness and was buried on Good Friday.

It was with great regret that a large number of Keswickians heard this week that Second-Lieut. Arthur Johns youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Johns, Eskin-place, Keswick, had been killed in action. The sad news is made all the more tragic by the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Johns have already lost two sons in the war, and now they are called upon to bear a third terrible bereavement. The sympathy of all Keswick is with the bereaved parents and the young officer's wife in their irreparable loss.

The sad intelligence was conveyed to the deceased officer's wife in a letter from a captain, who wrote:—

He was killed on the morning of 25th September, while about 100 yards back from the front line. Some of his men were wounded by a shell and he was helping to put one of the wounded on a stretcher when another shell came, killing him instantly. 'He was very popular with his men; they would do anything for him.

Capt. Norman Lee wrote to Lieut. Johns' mother, and said :—

He was a fine fellow and a thoroughly good officer—one of the best—and both officers and men of the company feel the loss very deeply, and most sincerely condole with you in your great loss. It may he a little comfort to you to know that his death was instantaneous, and that he could not have suffered at all. The funeral will take place at a military cemetery close by our present headquarters, and you may rest assured that, as long as we are near, his grave will always be carefully tended.

Second-Lieut. Johns was educated at Kendal Grammar School, and later at Keswick High School under the Rev. Cecil Grant. When his school days were over he underwent a course of training for engineering at the Camborne School of Mining, where he obtained certificates of the highest merit. He was a member of the Mining and Metallurgic Institute in London. He held important posts as an engineer in Nigeria. and returned to England just before the outbreak of hostilities. Immediately on war being declared he joined the army and had been in France seven months when he met his death. He hoped to secure leave during the present month.