SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

At times when people do their family tree there's mention of a son before the first world war for instance, and after the war there's no trace. The obvious conclusion springs to mind.That being the case then physical evidence of anyone killed in the war may appear on local war memorials. As I understand it these were erected by the parish in memorium to those who died in the war from that parish.Is it feasible and has anyone ever found a relative who died in the war, traced where they lived, worked out which parish and sought out the memorial to see if the name was there????I assume even if churches are pulled down memorials live on somehow?My great grandfather had a death certificate with a grave number and it was good to go find that grave in Hunslet Cemetary. You can shuffle paper around, and click buttons all day but goind and seeing physical things that still exist is good stuff.....

If your relative is from the Midlands it might be useful to visit http://www.midlandsheritage.co.uk/war-memorials/ where one member is tirelessly tryin to photographically document war memorials . Most are in the midlands area, but there are some from outside, including a couple from North Yorkshire    

chemimike wrote: If your relative is from the Midlands...... Thank you for the reply. The relative was living at 61 Raby Street which is where the old corner cafe used to be where Buslingthorpe Lane crosses the top of Sheepscar Street north (skinners arms as well??)......SO I wonder where the war memorial is for the good people of that area and indeed which Parish Church may have served that area coz that may have the memorial in it, but then again it may be knocked down and the memorial moved? To the nearby Rec??? Then again maybe there's memorial somewhere in Chapeltown which I think Raby St was classed as???Anyone any ideas?

Parkie - please see email

The back corridor of the Town Hall has several memorials orphaned from demolished buildings.

Parksider, not sure if this will help, or if you’ve already thought of this but here goes...Best option for a relative’s name appearing on a war memorial is on a local memorial in a church ie the local church of which they may have been a parishioner. This is all well and good if your relative attended a Roman Catholic or C of E church. Living in Raby Street, he was quite close to St Clement’s C of E but even closer to St Columba’s Catholic Mission but, the area also has several Methodist and Congregational Chapels.Memorial plaques in RC & C of E churches would invariably be moved to another church upon the deconsecrating of an older premises. This is why RC & C of E churches often have a selection of memorials some of which are not particularly “local”. Memorials in other types of premises would be subject to the “rules” of that particular and many have been lost.I’ve been trying to trace somebody who’s name may - or may not - have appeared on a memorial in a predominantly Methodist area [of Lancashire], and can find no trace of any memorials AT ALL from WW1. Although the chapels survive, they have all now been converted into private homes.

Cardiarms wrote: The back corridor of the Town Hall has several memorials orphaned from demolished buildings. Your a genius as is Chameleon, than you.........

liits wrote: Parksider, not sure if this will help, or if you’ve already thought of this but here goes...Best option for a relative’s name appearing on a war memorial is on a local memorial in a church ie the local church of which they may have been a parishioner. This is all well and good if your relative attended a Roman Catholic or C of E church. Living in Raby Street, he was quite close to St Clement’s C of E but even closer to St Columba’s Catholic Mission but, the area also has several Methodist and Congregational Chapels.Memorial plaques in RC & C of E churches would invariably be moved to another church upon the deconsecrating of an older premises. This is why RC & C of E churches often have a selection of memorials some of which are not particularly “local”. Memorials in other types of premises would be subject to the “rules” of that particular and many have been lost.I’ve been trying to trace somebody who’s name may - or may not - have appeared on a memorial in a predominantly Methodist area [of Lancashire], and can find no trace of any memorials AT ALL from WW1. Although the chapels survive, they have all now been converted into private homes. Your another genius, thanks

Sorry chaps but i would not pin your hopes on a memorial in every church or chapel,especially in large cities such as Leeds.RC churches tend to have memorials,as they were communities within a community.There are some C of E churches in Leeds who have/had a substantial memorial,such as the old St Peters at the bottom of Dewsbury Road (opposite the ex Junction pub).Additionally the relatives of the deceased usually had to pay to have their fallen recorded on a memorial,the case in point being at St Pats on York Road,so if the relatives did not have the money then there will be no inscription if there was a memorial at the church/chapel or not.The Yorkshire Indexers have an on going project recording inscriptions on war memorials,subject to volunteers.You can also visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site for details of those killed in the First World War,commemorated either with a headstone and burial,or inscription on a memorila if "missing"