Private Milton Aspinall part 1

Private Milton Aspinall (12th August 1885 – 13th December 1919)
and
Lance Corporal Harry Aspinall (1896 - 24th October 1918)
The names Milton and Harry Aspinall are first and third on the Bailiff Bridge War
Memorial. They were brothers, the eldest two sons of Wilson and Harriet Ann
Aspinall nee Graham of 22 Wyke Lane, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, Yorkshire. These
parents were married on 4th April 1885 at St John’s Halifax and Milton was born later
that year. Wilson Aspinall was a 23 year old “Cotton Twiner” the son of a Jonas
Aspinall, a “Delver”. Harriet Ann Graham was the daughter of an “Engine Tenter”,
Samuel Graham, and they lived in “White Hall Lane”, Hipperholme.
The family’s 1891 census record is difficult to read but Milton Aspinall and his
parents appear to live at 8 Wyke Lane, North Brierley. No record of them has been
found in 1901. But by the 1911 census this Aspinall family including two more sons –
but not Milton -, two daughters and a niece were at 22 Wyke Lane, Bailiff Bridge,
Brighouse. Wilson Aspinall was still a “Cotton Twiner”, Harry was a “Cotton Piecer”
and Ernest was a 13 year old “Box Carrier” for a Carpet Works. The family had had
five children and all were still alive. So this was Milton born in 1885, Harry born in
1896, Ernest who arrived in 1897 and the two girls Annie and Eveline born in 1900
and 1903 respectively.
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Lance Corporal Harry Aspinall (1896 – 24th October 1918)
Photograph found on internet with the acknowledgement
“Photo courtesy of Nicola Furbisher, Great-niece of this soldier
It also appeared in the Brighouse Echo on 15th November 1918 with the following
obituary.
ONE OF THE SECOND-4th
LANCE-CORPL H.ASPINALL, BAILIFFE
BRIDGE
Lance-Corpl. Harry Aspinall, West Riding
Regt, son of Mr and Mrs W.Aspinall, 22 Wyke
Lane, Bailiffe Bridge, was killed in action on
Oct.24th. Lance-Corpl Aspinall enlisted in the
“Chums” on March 4th 1916, and trained on
Salisbury Plain, Bedford and Wainford,
proceeding to France in Jany. 1917. We was
wounded on Nov 27th, of the same year, and
returned overseas in June of the present year.
Previous to enlisting he was employed by
Messrs T.F.Firth & Sons, Bailiffe Bridge, and
was connected with Ebenezer United
Methodist Sunday School. He was 22 years of
age.
Lance Corporal Harry Aspinall was buried
at the Verchain British Cemetery,
Verchain-Maugre, France [B24]
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Lance-Corporal Harry Aspinall’s British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Card, 1914 1920 and his UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901 – 1929 listing. His effects
went to his father, Wilson Aspinall.
And then Harry Aspinall’s record on the UK, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls,
1914 - 1920
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Private Milton Aspinall (12th August 1885 – 13th December 1919)
Milton Aspinall was the eldest son of Wilson and Harriet Ann Aspinall, born in August
1885. In 1908 he married Annie Smith who was born about 1887. Her mother had
died before the 1891 census when Annie was just four years old. Annie, her
widower father and two step siblings lived at 133 Bradford Road, Bailiffe Bridge,
Brighouse. Father Thomas Smith was a “Refreshment Shop keeper” in 1891 and
then again ten years later in 1901. By 1911 Thomas Smith’s occupation was given
as “Grocery Fried Fish” and his address was 135 Bradford Road. At this time he had
his widowed sister, his daughter Annie Aspinall and his son in law Milton Aspinall all
“Assisting in the Business”, a Fish and Chip shop. There was also a one year old
grandson living at this address. Albert Aspinall as Milton and Annie’s first child had
been born in 1909.
According to a number of medical records that have been found for Milton Aspinall
he enlisted on 10th December 1915 with The Army Reserve. His address was 133
Bradford Road, Bailiff Bridge, near Brighouse and his occupation was “Fish Fryer”.
He was mobilised on 9th June 1916 with a posting to No 4 Company Depot of the
Labours Corps of the Royal Garrison Artillery, then to 13th Company on 18th July
1916. He served as a Gunner in France from November 1916 until March 1918.
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Milton Aspinall seems to have developed a heart problem – VDH meaning Vascular
Disease of the Heart – which caused him to be hospitalised in March 1918. There
are then various forms documenting his transfer to the Reserves, his discharge and
then casualty awards including one that says “Verify Child” – young Albert Aspinall.
His medical history on enlisting is also enclosed, from which his height, weight,
vaccination and other details as well as his age can be gleaned. So Milton Aspinall
was born on or around August 12th 1885.
It is difficult to tell which order these forms ought to come in or indeed what the exact
time line was but due to ill health Private Milton Aspinall appears to have been
medically assessed on the 17th /18th January 1919 and then either discharged or
transferred to the Reserves on 21st February 1919.
continued in part 2
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