Private William Sylvester

William was born in June 1886, the 4th child of 8 known to have been born to George and Elizabeth, (nee Dawson from Ecclesfield) living at 47 Scholes Lane. George was a coal miner born in Thorpe Hesley around 1844 and his family was resident in Thorpe from at least 1841. George’s father was born there in 1804. George took up the lease of a farm at Netherfold, Scholes probably after his marriage to Elizabeth in March of 1881. According to the 1881 census, George and Elizabeth were farming a property of 14 acres, whilst George was still working as a coal miner. George’s father William is living with them aged 77, widowed and a retired coal miner. William died in 1890 aged 86. In 1891, the family is recorded as living at 47 Scholes Lane. This is likely to be the same property, but George is only recorded as a coal miner. There are 5 children recorded in the house that night, but William is not one of them. He was visiting his grandmother Ann Dawson together with other relatives at Cross House in Ecclesfield.
In 1901, the family are still at 47 Scholes Lane. William is 14 and working as a colliery checkweighman. His elder sisters Alice, a dressmaker and Martha are still living at home, together with younger siblings Ada, Edith and Ernest. His elder sister Elizabeth is not in the household. His younger brother George has died before the age of 1 in 1892.
William married Norah Sarah Arnold in the 2nd quarter of 1912. He served firstly with the Northumberland Fusiliers, service number 47648, battalion unknown, and lastly with the 3rd battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, service number 78113. This battalion did not see service abroad during the war. William died on 3rd November 1918, 8 days before the Armistice. The cause of death is not known. It is also not known why he had 2 regimental numbers. This suggests a break in his service record, but if this is the case the reason is unknown.
William is buried in Holy Trinity churchyard at Thorpe Hesley. The gravestone depicts the insignia of the Durham Light Infantry. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists him as being the son of George Sylvester of Thorpe Hesley; husband of the late Norah Sarah Sylvester of Thorpe Hesley. It is not yet known when Norah died, or if there were any children to the marriage.

Scholes and World War I

War was declared between Great Britain and Germany on at 11-00pm on the 4th August 1914 and between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary on 10th August the same year. A popular thought was that it would be over by Christmas, but in fact the war lasted until November of 1918. Armistice Day, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is still observed to this day. Military losses during the war from this country alone are estimated to be:

- 658,700 killed
- 359,150 missing
- 2,032,150 wounded (1)

It has often been said that not a village in England remained untouched by the war, and indeed a familiar site in most is a war memorial. On it are the names of the people from the location who fell in the conflict. Locally, there are memorials in Thorpe Hesley, Wentworth and Harley, and the main memorial in Clifton Park, Rotherham. Scholes itself has no war memorial, but that does not mean that Scholes was untouched by the war.

Scholes then was part of the Wentworth Fitzwilliam Estate. The village consisted of 75 houses (2), and the population numbered just over 300. (3)

To date, the names of 6 people from Scholes who fell in this war have been identified. It is possible that there are more.

- Private Arthur Percy Cooper
- Lance Corporal Ernest Emmerson
- Private Arthur Sanderson
- Sergeant William Wood
- Acting Sergeant Melvin Law

If you would like to discuss any of the content above or have additional information that could be published, please contact Annette Kelly.

(1) firstworldwar.com
(2) Survey under the terms of the Finance Act 1910
(3) Census 1901 excluding Scholes Lane
(4) Commonwealth War Graves Reference l A 52
(5) Commonwealth War Graves Reference XXXVI G.14
(6) Commonwealth War Graves Reference ll C 10
(7) Commonwealth War Graves Reference ll B 7

Acting Sergeant Melvin Law

with additional material from Peter Hawkridge.

Melvin was born in the 1st quarter of 1894 to Thomas and Jane. He was the 2nd youngest of 12 children known to have been born to the family. Thomas was born in Chapeltown, Sheffield, but his wife came from Scholes. The family can be traced in the village back to Melvin’s paternal grandfather who was born here in 1826. In 1901, Melvin was living with his parents and brothers and sisters at 112 Scholes Village.

No 112 Scholes Village during Village Fete, 2005

Melvin played for Scholes Cricket Club together with his elder brothers Albert, Walter and Matthew. Although he has not been identified, he should be present on the Club’s double victory photo of 1913 as he certainly played during that season, when the Club’s 1st and 2nd elevens won Division 1 and Division 3 respectively of the Rotherham and Sheffield League.

Melvin enlisted in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, service number 19467 in the 9th battalion. He served from at least 10th December 1915. Like Ernest Emmerson, he saw action in the battle of the Somme. His regiment took part in an offensive launched on 1st July 1916 on a line from Gommecourt to Maricourt to capture villages held by the Germans. Their objective was Thiepval. The attack was a complete failure, and losses on the first day were catastrophic. Melvin was killed in action on that day, the same day as Ernest. He was 22 years old. He is commemorated at the Thiepval memorial in France, but like many of the fallen of the Somme, has no known grave. He is also listed on the memorial at Thorpe Hesley Church.

Thiepval Memorial. Memorial Reference Pier and Face 11C and 12A

Thorpe Hesley Church War Memorial. Melvin is listed on the left hand face.

Sergeant William Wood

William was born 1891 (Civil Registration indexes, Reference, 3rd quarter 1891, Rotherham 9c712) to parents John William and Lucy Ann He was the second child of six. John came from Mexborough, and his wife from Rotherham. The family lived at 72 Scholes in 1901 and William lists his birthplace as having been Scholes, Rotherham.

William enlisted with the Prince of Wales’ Own (West Yorkshire Regiment).. He served in the 12th battalion in France from 1915 and died on 17th December 1918 after the end of the War. He is buried in Berlin South Western Cemetery. He had married, and was registered as living with his wife, also a Lucy Ann at 9 Pepper Street Hunslet in Leeds (7).

Private Arthur Sanderson

Arthur was born around 1898 to Joseph and Kate residing at 164 Scholes. The family came from Thorpe Hesley and Brightside in Sheffield, and their eldest child Alonzo was born in Thorpe. The rest of the children, Harry, Arthur and Frederick, were born in Scholes between 1896 and 1900.

Arthur enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served with the 77th Field Ambulance. He is listed as having died of wounds on the 5th May 1918 and is buried in the British cemetery at Arneke.(6) He was married and was registered as living at 7 Peter Street Kimberworth.

Lance Corporal Ernest Emmerson

Although Ernest was born in Scholes in 1893 (Civil Registration indexes, Reference 2nd quarter 1893, Rotherham 9c 732), he was not living here at the time of his enlistment. The family had by then moved to Attercliffe in Sheffield. His family can be traced back to 1836 in the village, his grandfather George having been born here then. They also were miners. His parents George and Maria lived at 128 and Ernest was probably born there. He appears to have been their only child.

Ernest also enlisted with the York and Lancaster Regiment, serving in the B Company, 12th Battalion, Sheffield Pals, also part of the 94th Brigade, 31st Division. This battalion’s story is well known. It was wiped out in a few days in the battle of the Somme. The date of Ernest’s death is given as 1st July 1916, killed in action. The date is the first day of the battle. The battalion was ordered into the frontline opposite the heavily fortified village of Serre. Battalion losses by the 3rd of July were 513. He is buried at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2. (5)

Private Arthur Percy Cooper

Arthur lived at 41 Scholes Lane. His parents were Arthur Edward and Emily. Arthur Edward was a coal miner (earlier a gardener) born in Scholes in 1858 (Civil Registration indexes, Reference 1st quarter 1858, Rotherham 9c 517). Their first child, Hilda was born here in 1884, but the family must have lived for a time in Kimberworth as the rest of the children were born there. Subsequently they returned to Scholes. They had 5 children in all, and Arthur Percy was the youngest, born in 1897 (Civil Registration indexes, Reference 4th Quarter 1897, Rotherham 9c 740).

He enlisted in the 13th battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment known as the 1st Barnsley Pals. The regiment was part of the 94th brigade in the 31st division. He died on the 1st October 1918 aged just 21, and is buried at the Messines Ridge Cemetery (4)