Name
Bernard Silsby
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1173
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
1st/6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 A 2 C and 2 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Bernard was born in 1896 in Hitchin and christened on 7 February 1896 in Holy Savior Church, Hitchin. His parents were George and Elizabeth Silsby (née Dimmock), who married on 25 December 1875 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
In 1901 the family were living at 6 Sloane Street, Bradford, Yorks. Present were both parents: George (46) and Elizabeth (44), with George working as a general labourer. Their children were: Harry (23), Charlotte (18), Edith (14), Elizabeth (11), Alfred (9), Bernard (5) and Eva at 8 months - all except Eva were recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts. A boarder, Selina E Hodgson (19) was also present.
In 1911 the family were still living at 6 Sloane Street Ripleyville Bradford. Present were both parents, George now working as a wool comber. The census recorded they had been married for 35 years with 11 children, of whom 2 had died. Of the above Harry. Charlotte and Alfred were missing, Bernard, now 15, GPO Mesenger.
By 1912 Bernard was appointed postman in Bradford.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin, Herts. and was living in Bradford, Yorks when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
At present we know little of Bernard’s war. The lack of any sort of ‘Star’ recorded on his medals card, means that he did not go abroad un after the start of 1916.
The Battalion war diary for July 1916 provides some information:
9th July: The battalion relieved the 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment in the Leipzig Salient which was ordered “to be held at all costs”.
10th July: Heavily shelled our position all day. The dugouts in this Salient were found to have been well built, and to have resisted our artillery fire.
11th July: Enemy again heavily shelled our position,
12th July 1:00 am: Enemy attacked our position, but was successfully repulsed, Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining a barrage by our artillery owing to the wires being broken by shellfire. Barrage obtained after sending S.O.S. by Rockets.
They were then relieved by the 1/7th West Yorkshire regiment and went into dugout at the South Bluff, Authuille.
They did not record the casualties in the war diary, but the CWGC records that nine men from the 1/6th Battalion died that day.
Bernard was killed on the 12th, his body lost and never found and so he is commemorated on Thiepval memorial to the missing,
Additional Information
After his death £1 18s 11d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother, Elizabeth Charlotte Silsby on 24 February 1917, then £15 on 25 April 1917. Later a war gratuity of £9 was authorised to be paid to her on 16 September 1919.
His pension cards record Elizabeth Charlotte Silsby as his mother and his next of kin, living at 6 Sloane Street, Ripley Ville, Bradford, Yorks. She was awarded a pension of 10s a week from 27 February 1017 for the period of one year. Later it appears that this was changed to 6s 7d a week for life and she was living at 71 Ridge Road, Letchworth, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
