Stories of forgotten heroes from two world wars brought to light

Parishioners at Our Lady and St Paulinus Roman Catholic Church in Dewsbury spent months researching the lives of men whose names feature on the church war memorial.

They were surprised to discover that 11 men who died in the First War were not mentioned on the memorial, nor were eight men who fell during the Second World War.

The results of five years of research have been published in a book, The Men of Our Lady and St Paulinus.

The editor, Father Nicholas Hird, said the book brought home "the sheer number of men from one parish" who died in the first war, many of whom were married with children.

"Looking at the church's seating capacity of 330, that number of 107 (who died in the first war) is over a third .... a generation was missing."

It is clear that the men of Westtown, Dewsbury, were a patriotic lot and responded to the call to arms with enthusiasm.

"There was a common cause to be fought, a sense of national responsibility and people responded generously," according to Father Nicholas.

Six researchers compiled the material, spending many hours reading old newspaper cuttings.

Newspaper coverage of the deaths of local men was like -----a "dripping tap" which went on years, says Father Nicholas.

"From 1914 there is photo after photo, article after article about the missing, the injured and the killed. It's just constant; the news dominates the newspapers of the area."

One poignant story to emerge from the parish is that of three brothers killed in action.

The story of the Machin brothers – Charles, John and Joseph – "not only conveys the sacrifice made by some families in the cause of the war, but also, with hindsight, something of its futility," the book says.

The Machin family paid with the lives of three sons "for a transient peace that was to last for little more than 20 years".

A Dewsbury newspaper cutting described Mrs Annie Elizabeth Machin, of Cardigan Road, Thornhill Lees, as "very proud of her family of six soldier sons".

Mrs Machin, who had seven sons and two daughters, was a widow who worked in a brickyard to make ends meet.

Coldstream Guardsman Charles Machin was reported missing in September 1914, aged 20. He was presumed killed during the defence of the River Aisne during a German advance.

His brother John died in September 1916 from a gunshot to the chest. He too was 20 and a Coldstream Guard.

Eldest son Joseph was killed by shrapnel in November 1916, having seen action in France and Flanders. He was 30 years old and a married man.

It was reported that "much sympathy will be felt with the bereaved mother" on the loss of the "three Thornhill Lees brothers killed in action".

Over 90 years on, "the sense of sympathy with Mrs Machin is still tangible," notes the book.

Another local family, the Maguires, had to bear the loss of two brothers.

Anthony Maguire was 24 when he was killed in 1918. Brother James was wounded in the neck but returned to the line, only to die in 1917, aged 22.

One parishioner who did return is also included in the book – Victoria Cross recipient John William Ormsby, who won the VC in 1917 when he "showed throughout the attack absolute indifference to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and set a fine example. When the only surviving officer was wounded he took charge and led his men forward ... his conduct throughout was admirable and inspired confidence in every man under his command."

Ormsby was greeted as a hero on his return to Dewsbury. He was honoured with a civic reception and surrounded by cheering crowds. In responding to the show of pride, Ormsby said: "No town in England ... had responded to the nation's call by sending a larger proportion of good men to the Colours."

One of the proudest moments for Ormsby was the welcome given by children at his former school, St Paulinus'. One report said pupils gave him a "tremendous reception when he appeared among them...nearly every scholar waved a flag..."

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