Wilfred Hampshire

Wilfred was born in Horbury in 1897, the son of Frederick and Martha Hampshire of Northfield Lane, in the parish of St Mary’s Horbury Junction. Frederick worked as a woolen and cotton bag merchant in 1901 and became a local councillor. According to the Wakefield Express of 19^th May 1917 his son Wilfred was learning the grocery business at ‘Mr Armstrongs’ as war broke out. He enlisted on January 16^th 1916 in Horbury and went to France in May of that year – as a Private in the 21^st Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (Service number 21/538).

Wilfred died on 8^th May 1917 when a shell exploded as he made his way back from the front line trenches. He is buried at Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux, and his death was remembered in the May/June 1917 edition of St Peter’s church magazine.