| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Ted Haggitt was born the 5 Jul 1896 in Acomb, York and baptised the 4 Aug 1896. Ted was the eldest son of Thomas Haggitt and his wife Elizabeth Ann. Thomas was a gardener from Marton, whilst his wife came from County Durham. Sometime after 1901 the family moved to Beverley and lived at Empson Terrace, Grayburn Lane.
Ted’s first job was as a shop assistant, a “seedsman”. He was a member of the Beverley Church Lads’ Brigade where he was said to be of “excellent character” and “a very nice lad”. In 1911 Ted moved to Skidby to become an apprentice blacksmith to Arthur Stewardson. In Skidby Ted had a reputation as a good sportsman and played for the village cricket team. He was unmarried.
Ted enlisted in 1916, a photograph of him in the Beverley Guardian 14 Jul 1917 had a note to the effect that he was already serving in France. He reached the rank of corporal in the 2/6th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. The 2/6th were involved in the Battle of Cambrai in late Nov 1917 and the initial assaults upon German positions were successful, however, German counterattacks were fierce and bitter fighting ensued with the 2/6th under heavy artillery fire. It was on 2 Dec 1917 that Ted was killed in unknown circumstances. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing at Louverval. Ted was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
Ted is also commemorated on the Beverley War Memorial in Hengate and on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster. In addition he is is listed on the St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour and on the new Church Lads’ Brigade Roll of Honour in George Street, Beverley
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |