Henry Birkett and the Men of Muncaster

Muncaster Church - Taken by Stuart Nicholson 07 Apr 2010

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Overall View - Taken by Stuart Nicholson 13 Jul 2024

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Close up - Taken by Stuart Nicholson 13 Jul 2024

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The modern Roll of Honour - Taken by Stuart Nicholson 13 Jul 2024

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Location view - Taken by Stuart Nicholson 13 Jul 2024

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Reference WMO/170277

Address:

St Michael's Church

Muncaster

CA18 1RJ

England

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Status: On original site

Type: Non freestanding

Location: Internal

Setting: Inside a building - public/private

Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet

Materials:

Stone Marble
Timber Oak

Lettering: Leaded

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: White Marble tablet on a grey marble backboard and with a wooden shelf below at the west end of the south wall The Church is off the A595, 1km south of the castle main entrance and car park, next to Muncaster Castle Offices.

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Comments:

MUNCASTER and RAVENGLASS WAR MEMORIALS
There are three memorials here which the two villages share:
1) The War Memorial at the Ravenglass Road Junction. This gives the names for both World Wars.
2) The War Memorial inside Muncaster Church, for World War 1 only. This gives the Regimental Details.
3) To the north of the Church is a war grave for A. J. Vassalli. He is not on either memorial but is on Drigg War Memorial.
The 14 names commemorated for World War 1 are:
William Ainsworth 
Private Ainsworth (46976) of 13th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) died on 7th June 1916 aged 22 of wounds sustained three days earlier.
He is buried in grave V E7 at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
He was born at Main St, Ravenglass on 28th April 1892, the son of William Ainsworth. At the date of his enlistment he was a pipemaker at New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. He had been wounded and was invalided home in June 1915, but was able to return to France later.
Robert A Anderson 
Private Anderson (24582) of the 8th Battalion Border Regiment died on 30th March 1918 aged 26.
He is now buried in grave I J5 of Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France, moved there soon after his death- originally he had a battlefield burial.
He was born at Drigg, but was living at Aikbank, Holmrook when he enlisted on 28th February 1916, working as a cowman.
He was originally assigned to the 8th Battalion but was then posted to the 12th Battalion on 12th May 1916, and posted to France on 4th December 1916. On 26th September 1917 he was transferred to the 5th Battalion. On 25th November 1917 he was treated for dermatitis at Etaples Hospital, and two days later for scabies. Soon afterwards he was transferred back to England where he was treated for boils at Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich from 10th December 1917 to 30th January 1918. He was then transferred to the 3rd Battalion on 9th February 1918, to the 8th on 17th March and to the 1st/5th on 21st March, and died with the 5th Battalion.
His father had pre-deceased him and his mother had re-married George Tyson of Wells Cottages, Ravenglass. He therefore had half brothers John George and Edward, also half sisters Sarah Elizabeth, Margaret and Mary (later of 8 Emmanuel Fold, Little Hulton, Bolton).
He is also on Irton War Memorial



Henry Birkett 
Second Lieutenant Birkett of the Royal Air Force died on 24th October 1918 aged 19 in a flying accident at the No. 3 Flying School, Sedgeford, Norfolk flying a Avro 504K aircraft (E3445). He had originally enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment but later transferred to the RAF.
He was buried in the South East part of Muncaster Churchyard on 29th October 1918.
He was the son of William Matthew and Annie Birkett of School House, Muncaster (born 29th June 1899) and had previously worked at a bank in Kendal. Another of their sons, Arthur E served with the Manchester Regiment, and was seriously injured in Gallipoli.
His father, who was the schoolmaster (and a magistrate for 35 years) died on 5th October 1948 aged 82, and his mother died on 8th October 1945 aged 74.
He is also commemorated on the family gravestone in Muncaster Churchyard.
James Birkett 
Private Birkett (4655) of 18th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces died from shell fire on 7th October 1917 aged 31.
He had a battlefield grave originally but that was lost in the course of the war so he is now commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial Panel 7-17-23-25-27-29-31.
He was the son of William and Margaret Birkett and born in Main Street Ravenglass. He attended Muncaster School and was then apprenticed to the joinery trade with John Wilson and Sons of Gosforth for six months. In 1912 he went to Australia and joined up at Casula, New South Wales on 28th January 1916 aged 29 years and 5 months. Initially he was posted to D company, then to B Company from 14th to 20th March 1916. He came to England with the 12th Reinforcements of the AIF in July 1916 (sailing from Sydney on the TS Ceramic on 14th April 1916) and was posted to the front on 10th September 1916 at Etaples. On 12th November 1916 he had attended 5th Field Ambulance with a septic finger before rejoining his unit on 22nd November 1916.
His father died on 21st May 1897 aged 64, and his mother on 29th March 1920 aged 74. He had brothers Henry, Fred and John and sisters Annie and Elizabeth Jane (who married John Postlethwaite). His will split his estate equally between his mother and sister Annie
He is also commemorated on the family gravestone in Muncaster Churchyard.
Bob Cowan 
Private Cowan (14746) of the 8th Battalion Border Regiment went missing, presumed dead on 5th July 1916 aged 23
He is commemorated on the Pier and Faces 6A and 7C of the Thiepval Memorial, France.
He was one of three sons of Robert Henry & E Cowan, Main Street, Ravenglass to serve in the War. There is a photograph of him on page 8 of the “News” dated 7th September 1916.
Their father died on 25th November 1934 aged 69. They also had a sister, Ann, who died aged 13 on 22nd March 1916.
He is also commemorated on the family gravestone in Muncaster Churchyard.

William Cowan 
Private Cowan (22058) of 1st Battalion Border Regiment died on 5th May 1917 aged 24. He was struck by a shell while sleeping in a billet and died immediately.
He is buried in grave V D18 of Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
He was the son of Robert H. and Elizabeth Cowan of Main Street, Ravenglass.
He had been employed at Nethertown Station and joined up in June 1915. He was sent to France in July 1916 but was wounded in September. He returned to the front in January 1917. 
Bob Cowan (the previous casualty) was one of his brothers, the other brother being Ben, who also served.
He is also on the Furness Railway Memorial at Barrow Station, and is commemorated on the family gravestone in Muncaster Churchyard.
David Brears Jackson 
Acting Corporal Jackson (S/936) of 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade died on 30th June 1916 aged 21.
He is buried in grave D7 at Potijze Chateau Wood Cemy, Ypres, Belgium, where there are 157 men buried.
He was the son of William & Ann Eliza Jackson of Ings, Muncaster.
After leaving school he was a Pony Boy for Lord Muncaster and then went to Coventry to learn the motor trade.
Edgar James Kneale 
Private Kneale (27594) of 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards died on 17th October 1918 from gunshot wounds, aged 21.
He is buried in grave II B4 at Delsaix Farm Cemetery, Beugny 19km SW of Cambrai, France 
He was the youngest Son of John and Margaret Kneale of Eskdale, but of The Cottage, Main St, Ravenglass at the date of death.
He is also on Eskdale War Memorial.
Joseph Massicks 
Rifleman Massicks (44383) of 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles died on 7th September 1918 from wounds aged 26  
He is buried in grave VIII A18 of Arneke British Cemetery, France which is 50km SE of Calais. The cemetery was used by several Casualty Clearing Stations. There are 435 men buried here, also 126 French and 5 German soldiers.
He had served in Egypt for a short time where he was wounded and invalided home but had later gone to France.
He was a Gardener at Muncaster Castle and one of 4 sons of Mr William & Mrs Maria Massicks of Brankinwall, Ravenglass. They also lost a grandson in the War.


Revd George Southey Pardoe (Vicar of Muncaster 1908 to 1918)
Fourth Class Chaplain Pardoe died at the 34th Combined Clearing Hospital, Jerusalem from a Brain Haemorrhage (unconnected with the war) on 15th October 1918 aged 41. 
He is buried in grave R108 of Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
He was the son of George Owen & Lettitia Pardoe of Shropshire. His widow Gertrude went to Southcote, Baldock, Hertfordshire after his death.
He had previously been the Curate of All Saints, South Acton, Middlesex from 1903 to 1907 (deaconed in 1903 and priested in 1904). He was commissioned as a Temporary Chaplain at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire on 10th April 1917.He was then posted to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force attached to the 74th Casualty Clearing Station, under the hospital where he died.  While at Muncaster he was also Chaplain to Lord Muncaster.
A 4th class Chaplain was the lowest rank, but still equivalent to a Captain, 3rd Class is equivalent to a Major, 2nd & 1st Class are the equivalent of Lieutenant-Colonels
He is one of 130 chaplains remembered on the memorial on the east wall of the Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot. This was dedicated on 31st October 1923.
James Scott (RE)
The identity of this man has not been traced.
William Tyson 
Trooper Tyson (3124) of 2nd Battalion Life Guards died of wounds on 28th December 1916 aged 20.
He is buried in grave I F 24 at Varennes Military Cemetery which is 11km from Albert France. There are 1,129 men buried here from various 4th, 11th & 47th Casualty Clearing Stations- he died at the 9th CCS, of severe wounds in the head and shoulder and died a few hours after admission, while unconscious.
He was the eldest son of George & Elizabeth Tyson of Wells Cottage, Ravenglass. After attending Muncaster School  he went into farm work. For a time he was employed on Muncaster Castle home farm, he then went to Moor Row as an engine cleaner, and had qualified as a fireman just before he enlisted soon after the outbreak of war.
He is also on the Furness Railway Memorial at Barrow Station.
Edward Wardle 
Gunner Wardle (103019) of 177th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery died on the 14th August 1918 aged 37.
He is buried in grave XXIV A 21A of Lijssentheok War Cemetery, Belgium
He was the husband of Sarah Jane Wardle of 15 Killington St, Briercliffe Rd, Burnley, but they had previously lived at Brankinwall, Muncaster when he was head gamekeeper at the Castle. They had five children.



Joseph Yeowart 
Gunner Yeowart (28337) of 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards was shot by a sniper and died on 20th October 1918 aged 22.
He is buried in grave C9 of St. Vaast Communal Cemetery Extension. This is 13km east of Cambrai, France. There are 45 burials or commemorations here.
He was the son of John and Annie Yeowart of Main Street, Ravenglass. He was a clerk at Ravenglass Station.
He is also on the Furness Railway Memorial at Barrow Station.
There are two names missing from the memorial:
James Holt 
Private Holt (15000) of 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment died on September 26th 1915 at Malta Military Hospital. 
He is buried in grave B XIV 6 of Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. There are 1,303 WW1 burials or commemorations here (including 20 Indians cremated at Lanzaretto Cemetery), 166 from WW2, 772 Civilian Graves and 15 other nationalities War Graves.
Hew had been shot in the head by a sniper in the Dardanelles in mid September. After he was shot he received extensive injuries from falling face downwards onto rocks.
He was married and they had moved to Ravenglass after marriage in 1911.
There is a photograph of him in the Whitehaven News of 21st October 1915.
Myles Whinfield
Private Whinfield (63488) of 4th Battalion Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regt) but attached to 150th Company Machine Gun Corps died on 1st May 1917 aged 20.
He is buried in grave IV F5A of Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France.
He was the son of William Richard and Agnes Ann Whinfield of Bootle. William died on 25th September 1950 aged 82, and Agnes on 13th October 1958 aged 88.
He had a brother James (died 22nd May 1940 aged 42) and a sister Hannah who died in 1982 aged 87 (born 1895). 
He is commemorated on a family gravestone in Muncaster Churchyard, and also on Eskdale War Memorial.

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Inscription:

Sacred/to the memory of/HENRY BIRKETT/2 Lieut. ROYAL AIR FORCE/OF THE SCHOOLHOUSE, MUNCASTER/BORN JUNE 29TH 1899/KILLED OCT 24TH 1918/ALSO HIS COMRADES FROM THIS PARISH/ [names]/ 1914 PRO PATRIA 1918

Names:

HENRY BIRKETT/ PTE W. AINSWORTH CANADIAN SCOTTISH/ PTE R. ANDERSON 8TH BORDER REGT/ PTE J BIRKETT AUSTRALIAN IMP. FORCE/ PTE BOB COWAN 8TH BORDER REGT/ PTE W. COWAN 1ST BORDER REGT/ CPL D.B.JACKSON 12TH RIFLE BRIGADE/ PTE E.J. KNEALE 3RD GRENADIER GUARDS/ PTE JOSEPH MASSICKS ROYAL IRISH RIFLES/ GEO. SOUTHEY PARDOE C.F. VICAR 1908-1918/ PTE J. SCOTT ROYAL ENGINEERS/ PTE W. TYSON 2ND LIFE GUARDS/ GUNNER E. WARDLE R.G.A./ PTE J. YEOWART 2ND GRENADIER GUARDS/

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