John William Enwright Rank

John William Enwright Rank: - Rifleman Number: - 26710 Regiment: - West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own 8th Battalion, (Leeds Rifles) (formerly Private 30774 KOYLI). Killed in Action:- 27th September 1918 aged 26 Remembered with Honour: - Noyelles-sur- L’Escaut Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. Batley News, 19 Oct 1918 (photo) Family Details John William was born in Carlinghow on 12th February 1892 and was baptised on the 28th February 1892 at St. Mary’s, Batley. He was the only son of Thomas and Mary Ann Enwright (nee Kelley). His father was a card cleaner from Heckmondwike and his mother a woollen weaver from March in Cambridgeshire. In addition to John, they had two daughters, Mary Ellen born in 1894 and Margaret Ann who was born in 1897. By the time of the 1911 census it shows that the family was living at 2, Coal Pit Lane, Carlinghow and Mary Kelly, his maternal grandmother, who was a widow and came from County Mayo, Ireland, also lived with them. 19 year old John William was working as a piecener at a woollen mill. He was educated at St. Mary’s School and attended St. Mary’s Church and was later a member of Carlinghow Working Men’s Club. Before enlisting he was employed in the rag warehouse at Messrs. John Blackburn’s, Old Mill, Batley. In 1914 he married Carrie Marshall at St. Patrick’s, Heckmondwike and Francis was born later the same year followed by Thomas in the summer of 1916 by which time the family resided in Skelsey Row before moving to Tillotson Street, Batley by 1918. Service Details John enlisted in Batley in June 1916 with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Service Number 30774. He went to Malta in November 1916 before transferring to France in July/August 1917. In October 1917 his wife received a field postcard informing her that John had been wounded and admitted to hospital. He recovered and went to the Front again. Almost exactly a year later his wife received official news that her husband had been killed in action on 27th September 1918. On the 25th September the battalion was moved from Vaulx Vraucourt to huts and bivouacs east of Fremicourt by route march. The following day was spent in making final preparations for the attack to be carried out on the following day and at 7 pm the Battalion moved to the assembly point south of Hermies. At 6.15 am on the 27th the battalion started moving in platoons across the Canal Du Nord and they were across by 7.30am with the leading companies in touch with the 1/5th Devon’s and 2/20th London Regiment. At about 8.15 am the battalion started to move forward but were slightly delayed because of heavy enemy shelling and they had about 20 casualties at this point and proceeded to Skull Trench. The battalion then pushed along the north edge of Kaiser Trench but were soon engaged in machine gun fire from the direction of the trench and bank of L 20. “A” Company pushed on and “B”and “C” Companies engaged the opposition and were drawn towards Premy Chapel and Nine Wood. As far as they knew “A” Company went towards Marcoing but there was heavy fighting near Premy Chapel . It was reported that the Germans had worked round the left flank and cut them off in the rear inflicting heavy casualties with machine gunfire. At around 4 pm they could go no further and “D” Company was ordered to consolidate and get in touch with both flanks. Touch was gained with the Welsh Guards and some other ranks were in touch with the 1st Grenadier Guards. Later in the evening a post was established about 40 yards from Nigger Trench and attempts were made to clear the enemy from this trench. They were successful at the third attempt. The casualties of wounded and killed were 11 officers and 341 other ranks. It is likely that John was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Canal du Nord, one of the phases of the Hindenburg Line. The Hindenburg Line – the last and strongest of the German arm’s defence – consisted of three well defended trench systems, established in 1917. It was hoped that by attacking and clearing the Hindenberg Line, the power of the German army would finally be broken. C.W.G.C. records show that in excess of 60 men of the 8th West Yorkshires died on that day. John was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is remembered on St. Mary’s Church, Batley, St. John’s Church, Carlinghow, Batley War Memorial and Noyelles –sur –L’Escaut Thanks to Jane Roberts for research from St. Mary of the Angels. .

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