| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Wilfrid Calvert was born in Beverley on 6 Nov 1889 and baptised 8 Dec at St Mary’s Church. He was the eldest of five sons born to Abraham and Sarah Calvert who were living in Highgate, and later lived in Lairgate, Wood Lane and Norwood before 31 Wilbert Lane became their long term family home. Abraham was a joiner, Sarah was from Bourne, Lincolnshire; they married at Stamford in 1886. Wilfrid worked as a bricklayer and was active in trade union affairs.
Wilfrid enlisted in 1915 and was already a serving soldier when he was married Mary Spence at St Nicholas’ Church 6 Jan 1916. Mary was born in Weel in 1890, a dressmaker of 49 Grovehill Road, daughter of a dairyman. They had one child, born in late June 1919: Winifred. He served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery in France. The RGA operated behind the front lines and used a variety of heavy guns to fire at German installations situated behind their front lines. They were vulnerable to air attack and it seems that Wilfrid served in the anti-aircraft section. He won the War and Victory medals.
Wilfrid returned to the construction industry and in 1939 was a master builder. He and Mary lived in Swinemoor Lane. Wilfrid died Apr 1979 and was buried at Queensgate Cemetery 20 Apr. Mary died in 1961.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |