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The Mexborough & Swinton Times 2nd Jan. 1915
Image with thanks to the Barnsley Archives
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Bartley Bannister was born in 1886, at Pemberton in Lancashire, He lived near Wigan for most of his twenty-eight years and only moved to Wombwell shortly before the outbreak of war, however, once he'd settled into his new home on Hough Lane, Bartley quickly became a much loved pillar of the community. He worked for Wombwell Main Colliery and spent much of his free time involved in actives at the local parish church, St. Mary's. He was a drill instructor for the Wombwell branch of the Church Lads Brigade as well as a member of the Church of England Men's Society. He was by all accounts a popular and well liked man.
As a member of the army reserve, Bartley was called up at the outbreak of war. He arrived in France on the 22nd August 1914. His regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, got there just in time to take part in the retreat from Mons. After that he wasn't heard of again for sometimes. In May 1915 an article appeared in The Barnsley Chronicle explaining Bartley's fate:
"Private Bartley Bannister, a Wombwell soldier, who has been reported wounded and missing, died in hospital from wounds received at Cattenieres. Private Steele of the Lancashire Fusiliers, who has lately returned from Germany, as an exchange prisoner of war, brought the news. Private Steele states that Bannister was lying in hospital at Cattenieres at the same time as himself, and died there."
Barnsley Chronicle 8th May 1915
Article with thanks to The Barnsley Archives
Although private Bannister's death wasn't officially declared until September 1915, his name does appear in several newspaper's casualty lists as having being 'killed' prior to this date. The official notification of death claims he 'fell in action' on (or around) 2nd September 1915 and was presumed dead on that date, which is not entirely accurate if Private Steele's account is to be believed. Bartley is one of five identified WW1 casualties to be buried in the churchyard at Cattenieres. One man, Private T. Brady died at the same time as Bartley, but the other three burials date from December 1917. Due to his participation in the Mons retreat Bartley posthumously qualified to receive the 1914 Star, a medal also known as the Mons Star.
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| Church of England Men's Society Roll of Honour St. Mary's Church, Wombwell. |
Cattenieres Churchyard, Plot 5, Northern France.
Memorials:
St. Marks Church War Memorial, Newtown, Wigan, WN5 9BN
Wigan Cenotaph, All Saint's Church, Lancashire, WN1 1NL
Wombwell war memorial, Park Street, S73 0HS
Church of England Men's society memorial St. Mary's Church, Wombwell, S73 0DQ.
Sources____________________________________
Barnsley Chronicle - 8th May 1915 & 11th September 1915
South Yorkshire Times - 2nd Jan 1915 & 5th June 1915
Cwgc.org - Casualty Details for B. Banniste
1901 & 1911 Census
Medal index card & Medal rolls for B. Bannister
Register of soldiers' effects f or B. Bannister
Wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Star
