Albert BINNS

06 October 1916

GLUSBURN - ANOTHER LAD MAKES THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

The village of Glusburn has lost three of her noble sons within the last fortnight. News was received in the latter part of this week that Private Albert Binns of Hartley Street, Glusburn, had died in the Base Hospital at Boulogne from wounds received in action about the middle of August. At the time of his being wounded, Private Binns' two sisters received permits to visit him in the hospital at Boulogne. They went out to see him, and when they left him he was to all appearances making very satisfactory progress. Last week news was received that he had taken a turn for the worse, and two other sisters received permits and went across to France. They stayed with him until he passed away and afterwards attended his funeral at the Warrior's Cemetery near the city. He was buried at the same time as five other noble lads, and had a military funeral. The 'Last post' being sounded over his grave, and the coffin being draped in the Union Jack. He is buried within sound of the guns, and a cross will be placed over his grave.

Private Binns joined the West Yorkshire Regiment (Bradford Pals) a year ago last May, and on Good Friday of this year went with his Battalion to France. He had been wounded previously in the left hand. The wounds which caused his death were received about the middle of August in a bayonet charge 'somewhere in France.' It was about four o'clock in the morning, Private Binns told his sisters, when they went over the top, and he did not remember very much after going over, only he said that all at once it became very dark, and the next thing he knew was that he was having his wounds dressed in a dressing station. He had a wound in his left arm by shrapnel, and also a wound in the side. His left arm was taken off, but apparently his body was poisoned from the wound at the side, and after lingering for some time he passed away. He was trained at Ripon, Salisbury Plain and Blythe. The Matron of the hospital, in speaking of Private Binns, said that he manifested wonderful patience and cheerfulness, and never complained, although he must have suffered awful pain, and she also said that Private Binns was always looking forward to going across the water to his home and friends again.

Another member of the family, Private John Binns, was with his Regiment - The York and Lancasters - somewhere on the Somme Front. Private John Binns enlisted when war broke out and since that time he has only had one leave. He went to France a year ago last July and has escaped injury up to the present time. About three weeks before his brother Albert was wounded for the first time the two brothers met in the battle area, and had a happy time together. Private Binns was 19 years of age at the time of enlistment and worked for Messrs. J. C. Horsfall & Sons, Hayfield Mills. He was an old Sunday scholar at the Glusburn Baptist Mission, and was very much respected in Glusburn.

06 October 1916

THE LATE CAPTAIN CEDRIC F. HORSFALL - MEMORIAL SERVICE

A service in memory of the late Captain Cedric F. Horsfall, son of Sir John and Lady Horsfall, Hayfield, Glusburn, who was killed in France on the 18th September, was held on Sunday morning in the Sutton Baptist Church. The large chapel was crowded, and amongst those present were Mrs. Cedric Horsfall, the Mayor of Keighley (Mr. W. A. Brigg), with his mace bearer; Sir John and Lady Horsfall, Miss Horsfall, Miss Dora Horsfall, Miss C. Horsfall, Mrs. Norman Walker, Captain and Mrs. J. Donald Horsfall, Mrs. Curry, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Petty, Mr. Tom Spencer (Lyndhurst), Mr. Peter Smith, M.P., Mr. W. E. Foster (Keighley), Major C. P Case, Captain Ray Marriner, Mr. John Clough, Mr. F. J. Wilson, Mr. James Woodrow, and Mr. Edgar Naylor.

At the commencement of the service the organist (Mr. Joseph Petty) played 'O rest in the Lord', and at the conclusion of the service the Dead March in 'Saul' was played, the congregation standing whilst it was being played. The choir, conducted by Mr. Joseph Overend, sang the anthem 'There is a Land'. The service was opened by the singing of 'O God our help in ages past'.

The preacher was the pastor (Rev. F. W. Pollard) who said it was nearly a year since the memorial service for Private Joseph Bancroft was held. He was killed in the trenches on October 23rd last year. Fred Simpson and Walter Haggas had been reported missing and no further news had yet been received concerning their fate. Percy Stell and Stanley Archibald, who went through the Gallipoli campaign, were also reported missing. Tom Summersgill, a boy who used to attend the Junior Endeavour Society and the Band of Hope, was killed in July, and now the awful shadow of death again rests upon them, and again they were realising how terrible were the sacrifices the war. The glamour of war was now gone. The fateful week that brought the news of the death of Captain Horsfall would long be remembered for its records of the loss our country sustained of men of special prominence, highly gifted, and with the promise of useful and glorious careers. Raymond Asquith, Captain Henderson and the son of the Rt. Hon. Pike Pease were killed during that week, and the tragedy of those losses was emphasised when news came of the death of Captain Cedric Horsfall. He was indeed worthy to take his place with the best of those who had fallen, by virtue of his noble character and attainments, and by the rich promise of his life. There was in his character much which marked him out for future service in the neighbourhood, in the county and in the country. His education was crowned by his winning highest honours at Cambridge University. He was a true gentleman, the very perfection of kindly consideration for others. They also mourned the death of two others, Lance-Corporal Lewis Binns and Private Albert Binns, both of Glusburn. The first was killed in action on the 11th September. Albert Binns had died during the week as a result of wounds received in action. These men had fallen in defence of their country and its noble ideals, in defence of the cause of freedom and justice, honour and truth. The quarrel thrust upon them was not of their seeking. Their friend, Captain Horsfall, volunteered his services in the very early days of the war. There were many reasons why he might have declined the call home for business considerations; but a noble spirit of chivalry determined him to make the greater choice, and the appeal that came to him in the hour of his country's need met with a noble one. They must see to it that these great sacrifices were not made in vain.

On the Hayfield family vault in the Sutton Baptist burial ground was a beautiful laurel wreath, and also a splendid array of arum lilies.