William Elmhirst 1892-1916

Captain William Elmhirst's Medal Card (from Ancestry)

Born:
Q1 1892 in Hemsworth, Yorkshire

Son of:
William Heaton Elmhirst, vicar at Laxton, Yorkshire in 1901, Clergyman of Est Church, living on private means 1911, living at Pindar Oaks, Barnsley
Married 19th November 1890 in Felkirk to
Mary Elmhirst (nee Knight) daughter of William Knight, Clerk in Holy Orders

Position in family: The eldest of 9 children
1. William Elmhirst, born Q1 1892 in Hemsworth (which includes South Kirby) WW1 KILLED
2. Leonard Knight Elmhirst, b Q3 in Howden (which includes Laxton)
3. Ernest Christopher Elmhirst, b Q1 1895 in Howden WW1 KILLED
4. Thomas Elmhirst, b Q1 1896 in Howden
5. Edward Elmhirst, b Q4 1897 in Howden (died Q1 1898)
6. James Victor Elmhirst, b Q4 1898 in Howden
7. Richard Elmhirst b Q3 1900 in Howden
8. Alfred Octavius Elmhirst, b Q3 1901 in Howden
9. Irene Rachel Elmhirst, b Q4 1902 in Howden2. 

Home address, age and occupation:
1901: Vicarage, Laxton, Yorkshire aged 9
1911: Malvern School, aged 19

Marriage: He was unmarried

Military Service:
Enlisted: *date* at the age of **years
Regiment and Battalion:   East Yorkshire Regiment
Rank:  Captain

Personal information:   ***

Death:     13 November 1916  aged 24
Buried at:  Serre Road Cemetery No.1
Grave Reference: I D 4

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of the Rev. W. H. Elmhirst, of "Elmhirst", Barnsley, Yorks.
Educated at Malvern College and Worcester College, Oxford.

Remembered:
St Mary's Church, Memorial Plaque, Worsbro' Village
Elmhirst Tablet, St Mary's Church, Worsbro' Village
Thurgoland War Memorial
Worsborough Combined Memorial, St Thomas And St James Church, WorsboroughDale

Notes:
A blog about researching William and his brother Ernest Christopher can be found here.

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Barnsley Chronicle 9 December 1916
(thanks to Barnsley Archives)

Barnsley Officer's Fate
Captain W Elmhirst Presumed Killed

Captain William Elmhirst, East Yorkshire Regt., who was at first reported 'missing, believed killed' is now presumed to have been killed on November 13.  Aged 24 years, he was the eldest son of the Rev. W H Elmhirst, of 'Elmhirst', Barnsley.  Educated at Malvern College he took a scholarship from the latter to Worcester College, Oxford, where he gained honours in law.  He volunteered in 1914, from the office of Messrs. Brown and Elmhirst, solicitors, York where he was articled.  His commanding officer writes, "He was a universal favourite both with the officers and men.  I looked upon him as one of the best young officers I have had in the battalion.  He always took such an interest in his work, was so keen, and nothing was ever too much trouble for him to do, and to do thoroughly.  His death is a sad loss, not only to his friends, but to the Army.  He was last seen rallying his men close up to the German position." His brother Sec-Lieut E C Elmhirst, was killed at Suvla Bay on August 12 1915. 
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