| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Charlie Priestman was born in Warter in Jan 1898. He was the youngest child of nine born to Henry Priestman and his wife Ann (nee Leppington). Henry was from Leconfield, Ann from Wetwang. Henry was a farm labourer and later a shepherd, largely in the Thixendale area. The family connection with Beverley was established when Henry established a “fried fish business” at 1 Coburg Terrace, on Church Holme Lane; the family lived on the premises. Probably having attended nearby St Nicholas’ School, Charlie became a farm worker and horseman, latterly at Thomas Etherington’s farm at Bishop Burton. He was unmarried.
Charlie attested in Jun 1916 and on 22 Jan 1917 joined the army at Victoria Barracks. He was assigned to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a private and on 11 Jun 1917 arrived in France to join the BEF. He took part in the fighting in the 3rd Battle of Ypres at Paschendaele. On 21 Jul he was gassed and sent to Abbeville hospital in France. Upon recovery he was sent back to the front line on 24 Oct 1917 only to receive a serious gunshot wound in his right thigh in late Nov 1917; he was sent to Springburn-Woodside Central Hospital in Glasgow and then transferred to a reserve battalion in Londonderry. In early Mar 1918 however, he had developed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and was sent to the local military hospital. On 19 April it was concluded that he was unfit for military service. He was given a pension and offered a place in a sanitorium. Charlie refused this offer and instead returned to his home in Beverley. He died in Beverley on 3 Nov 1918.
He was buried at St Nicholas’ Church and his parents were later buried with him. He had been awarded the War and Victory medals and given a Silver Badge. He is commemorated on the Holme Church Lane Street Shrine situated near his former home.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |