St Michael le Belfry

King's Book

John and Dennis Woodhouse and Ann Lennox

King's Book

Myself with Worley grave

Worley grave

Another view of the Worley family grave stone. Herbert was mentioned at the bottom although he was buried in Flanders.

York cemetery

This is Paul Lennox's photo of the Worley grave - Herbert is mentioned at the bottom.

Loaning material to the Minster

"We would be delighted if you would consider loaning the items as part of our schools project. It would be fantastic to have a ‘memory box’ dedicated to Herbert Worley, to inspire young visitors as part of their visit to York Minster.  I have outlined below the purpose and content of the new First World War workshops and how the memory boxes are used:

I am currently piloting a series of First World War workshops for schools, focusing on the theme of Remembrance. The workshops take place in St George’s Chapel in York Minster and involve pupils using what I have called ‘memory boxes’ to discover the inspirational stories of people who lived during the First World War. These boxes are used by children during the new workshops, to look at a ‘real’ person who lived during the First World War. The boxes contain items (such as copies of letters, postcards, photographs, original and replica objects etc.) which relate to a specific individual. The boxes aim to help bring this person ‘to life’ and offer a glimpse into their lives 100 years ago. The session finishes with pupils creating their own unique poppy wreath (with messages to their ‘memory box person’ written on it), which is then placed on the altar of St George’s Chapel in an act of remembrance.

The memory boxes contain items which have been sourced by myself (such as census material, replica badges and medals, national archive material etc.) and items which have been given / loaned by families -in some cases we have used the originals, in other cases I have had professional copies made. The boxes are stored in a locked location in the Minster and are always used under close supervision (by a myself and class teachers). To encourage careful handling I ask pupils to wear gloves when handling original objects and ensure that they are wrapped / enclosed separately to the other items in the boxes.

You mention in your email that you have a plaque, photos and a bereavement card with envelope relating to Herbert Worley. It sounds like these would make a truly fascinating memory box. As you say, the photographs and bereavement card should probably be copied if they were to be used in a memory box, but perhaps you would be willing for us to use the original plaque?"

Esther Lockwood York Minster

York cemetery

Here we are exploring York cemetery and literally clearing graves which are overgrown.

The King's book

In April 2014, my sister Ann from Sydney, eldest son Dennis, wife Liz, brother-in-law Paul and I had the opportunity to see the King's Book in York Minster. The book had been moved prior to being eventually installed in the treasures display so we were able to get a close-up look. The photos are the same as in the albums and they were done in a special ink which will not fade. The book is truly magnificent. Peter Stanhope has been very helpful to us through his research into Edward Ridsdale Tate.

My Dad's book

My father wrote his autobiography in 7 volumes called "Striking a balance". On page 2 he describes his birth in 1920. He was named Francis after his father and grandfather, "and Herbert after one of my mother's brothers who had been killed in France during World War 1. Uncle Herbert had been a jovial soul by all accounts - with some musical interest which came out whenever he heard the 'Hallelujah' chorus - which moved him to 'conduct' with great vigour for no reason at all. He expressed the wish that if Gerry got him, he would be shot through the arse and he got his wish, poor devil."

St Michael le Belfry war memorial

Frank Woodhouse

Frank Woodhouse was my grandfather's uncle. He joined up in Melbourne and we have a copy of his military records. I will create a blog for him. He is commemorated in the King's Book and at St Mary Junior Bishophill York. Although Herbert was mentioned in the family, Frank wasn't although this picture is in the album. King's Book picture.

A mysterious war memorial

This photograph in the album is of a memorial which may be a Royal Field artillery memorial (there is no artillery symbol) but we do not know where it is kept. H Worley is listed. 

The King's book

The King's book in York Minster was produced by York citizens and contains photographs of all the men of York who died in World War 1. There is another family connection as it was designed by Edward Ridsdale Tate who was related to Miss Tate who adopted my grandfather Frank Woodhouse. This postcard is on our album.

Postcards

These postcards give details of some of the York men who died -  there were 3 copies in the albums.

The grave

The graves are well kept by the War graves commission.

Dead man's penny

What was known as the Dead Man's Penny was sent to the immediate family of the deceased.The Memorial Plaque was issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war.

The plaques (more strictly described as plaquettes) were made of bronze, and hence popularly known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the somewhat smaller penny coin. 1,355,000 plaques were issued, which used a total of 450 tonnes of bronze,and continued to be issued into the 1930s to commemorate people who died as a consequence of the war.t was decided that the design of the plaque, about 5 inches (120 mm) in diameter and cast in bronze, was to be picked from submissions made in a public competition. Over 800 designs were submitted and the competition was won by the sculptor and medallist Edward Carter Preston with his design called Pyramus, receiving a first place prize of £250.

This token includes an image of Britannia holding a trident and standing with a lion. The designer's initials, E.CR.P., appear above the front paw. In her left outstretched left hand Britannia holds an oak wreath above the rectangular tablet bearing the deceased's name cast in raised letters. The name does not include the rank since there was to be no distinction between sacrifices made by different individuals.^[1] Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolizing Britain's sea power, and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. The reverse is blank.

Around the picture the legend reads (in capitals) "He died for freedom and honour", or for the six hundred plaques issued to commemorate women, "She died for freedom and honour".

They were initially made at the Memorial Plaque Factory, 54/56 Church Road, Acton, W3, London from 1919. Early plaques did not have a number stamped on them but later ones have a number stamped behind the lion's back leg.^[2]

In December 1920 manufacture was shifted to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Plaques manufactured here can be identified by a circle containing the initials 'WA' on the back( The "A is formed by a bar between the two upward stokes of the "W")^] and by a number stamped between the tail and leg (in place of the number stamped behind the lions back leg).

The design was altered slightly during manufacture at Woolwich by Carter Preston since there was insufficient space in the original design between the lion's back paw and the H in "HE" to allow an "S" to be inserted to read "SHE" for the female plaques. The modification was to make the H slightly narrower to allow the S to be inserted. After around 1500 female plaques had been manufactured the moulds were modified to produce the male version by removing the S.

The plaques were issued in a pack with a commemorative scroll from King George V; though sometimes the letter and scroll were sent first.

After he died

It was the policy of the government to bury the soldiers regardless of rank near where they fell. While this was meant to express equality in death, it did mean that only the wealthy could visit the graves and it seems very likely that no member of our family has visited this grave. We hope to remedy this in 2015. A simple folded card black edged in a black edged envelope was sent to family and friends.

Herbert's death

Herbert was in the Royal Field Artillery. Gunner 167726, "A" Battery. 285th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery died 27th December 1917. Buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium 
This is the record on www.militaryimages.net which refers to the memorial in St Michael le Belfry York. 33 Ratcliffe Street where Herbert and Gwen lived in is in that parish. 
York Casualty roll of honour adds that the cemetery is at Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, XIV. H.11

Herbert in uniform and this is probably the temporary cross on his grave.

Herbert and Gwen

Herbert was married to Gwen. So far we have not found out anything about her or what Herbert did for a living before the war. They lived in Priory Street.

These pictures are labelled Herbert and Gwen (note that he is in uniform) and the other photograph shows Herbert's sister Elsie at Ratcliffe Street with Wa Mrs Ellen Worley ( Herbert's mother) 

Herbert Harold Worley

This blog is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother's brother. Our family has begun research into two members of our family who died in World War 1 Herbert and Frank Woodhouse my grandfather's uncle. Both are commemorated in the King's Book in York Minster.
Herbert was born in Daventry on 22.9.1883 the son of William John Worley a shoemaker and Ellen (nee Nicholson) Ellen died in 1915 and William in 1934 in York and were buried in York cemetery. They had 13 children but sadly the Worley name has now died out.
My grandmother Phyllis was the youngest of the family a twin of Frank born 19.8.1894 and she died 15.1.1965. She inherited the remaining artefacts from Harold and kept a small notebook with cuttings of the death notices of the family so that they could be prayed for. There are 2 albums of photographs which my mother carefully labelled presumably in consultation with my father and possibly my aunt Nellie. The family were Wesleyan Methodist and lived in the Priory Street area, York. Herbert in civilian clothes.