Capt. Bennett.
Captain Claude D. Bennett, 2/6th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, was the son of the late Mr. John Bennett, of Airedale Terrace, Skipton. The deceased officer was wounded in May, 1917, but he made a good recovery and returned to France on Wednesday, July 11th, 1917, exactly a week before he received the wounds which resulted in his death the same day. After leaving Skipton Grammar School, Captain Bennett served an apprenticeship to the teaching profession with the late Mr. W. H. Walker, of the Water Street Council School, Skipton, and later went to Westminster College to complete his training. Afterwards, for a time, he was a teacher at the Water Street School, where he remained about twelve months. From this school he was transferred to the staff of the Old British School at Skipton, and afterwards was for four years assistant master at the Brougham Street Council School, Skipton. Subsequently he was appointed headmaster of Langcliffe Council School. Captain Bennett, who was 30 years of age, started service in the Army as 2nd Lieut., and his promotion was rapid.
2nd Lieut. Gill.
2nd Lieut. Frank Hubert Gill, West Yorkshire Regiment, met his death in action on August 16th, 1917. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gill, of Park Avenue, Skipton. Twenty-three years of age, deceased was educated at the Water Street Wesleyan Higher Grade School, and Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton. Before the war, he held a commission in the local Cadet Corps, but on the outbreak of hostilities, he joined the ⅙th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment as a private, with which he served in France for twenty-three months. Subsequently he was granted a commission, and returned home in the early part of 1917 to undergo the necessary training for his new duties in a school at Fleet. Afterwards he was attached to the West Yorkshire Regiment, and again proceeded to the front about five weeks before he met his death.
2nd Lieut. Lodge.
2nd Lieut. B. G. Lodge, Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action on August 24th, 1917. Deceased, who was 23 years of age, joined the Royal Fusiliers in December, 1914. After training at several camps, he went to France with his regiment in November, 1915, returned to England in April, 1916, and was gazetted on the 9th August, 1916, as 2nd Lieut. in the Special Reserve D.L.I. In September, 1916, he again went out to France, and after acting as Company Bombing Officer, he was Battn. Bombing Officer and Intelligence Officer until he was killed. He was educated at the Minster Yard School, York, Yorebridge Grammar School and Giggleswick School, where he was a member of the O.T.C.
