| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Robert Coneyworth was born 9 May 1884 in Beverley, the son of Thomas Coneyworth, tanner’s labourer, and his wife Mary, nee Ellerington. He was baptised at Beverley Minster 14 May 1884. He had three older brothers, Charles, Fred Ellerington and John Thomas and one younger brother, William. The Coneyworth family lived in Tindall Lane, off Wednesday Market, for more than seventy years.
Robert married Sarah Wilson on 13 Jul 1907 at Beverley Minster. Robert and Sarah spent the first seven years of their married life in Tindall Lane before moving to 10 Well Place, Well Lane. They had two sons, Robert, born 1908, and Arthur, born 1912, and two other children who died in infancy.
Robert enlisted as a Territorial in the 5th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards). The Battalion disembarked in France on 18 Apr 1915. Within five days of arriving at the front, and at very short notice due to the critical situation, the 5th Yorkshires were thrust into the Battle of St Julien, in the Ypres Sector, where their fierce fighting earned them the title of the 'Yorkshire Gurkhas'. The Beverley Guardian 6 May 1916 carried a report, with a photograph, that Private Robert Cunneyworth of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment was serving in France. A further item in the Beverley Guardian 19 May 1917 reported Private R Coneyworth of Well Lane had been wounded and was in hospital in France. Robert was later transferred to the Labour Corps He survived the War and was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.
In August 1919, Robert's wife Sarah died, leaving him a widower with his two young sons. Robert married Mrs Lucy Bryon, at Beverley Minster 27 Dec 1920. Robert and Lucy subsequently had four more children Eileen born 1921, Charles and Thomas, twins born 1922 and Geoffrey born and died 1925. After the Armistice Robert returned to his pre-war employment at Messrs Hodgson and Sons. Later the family lived at St Andrew Street, Beverley.
Robert died at 11 Bartlett Avenue, Beverley 16 Feb 1931 aged 46. Lucy died aged 59 on 22 Nov 1947. They are both buried in St Martin's Cemetery, Queensgate, Beverley.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |