Born: 1883
Died: 26 September 1917
Buried: Birr Cross Road Cemetery
Address: 21 Moorfield Place, Bradford Road, Idle
Parents: James Oswald & Isabella
Spouse: Sarah Jane
Siblings: H O, Walter
Occupation:
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Holy Trinity, Idle
Children:
Regiment: Sherwood Foresters
David Bancroft
On 19 October 1917, the Shipley
Times & Express reported:
Pte David Bancroft of 21 Moorfield
Place, Bradford Road, Idle, has
made the supreme sacrifice.
The deceased, who was 34 years of
age, was a widower, his wife
having passed away about a year
ago.
He had been in the army for about
twelve months and had previously
been wounded. When he met his
death, he had only been back in
France for eight weeks.
Two of his brothers and a brother in
law are in the forces – Pte H O
Bancroft (Gordon Highlanders),
Bandsman Walter Bancroft (Duke
of Wellington’s) and Pte John Paley
(Royal Warwickshires).
One of the late soldier’s comrades,
Pte B M Harris, writes to his
mother from France saying that
they thought a great deal of Pte
Bancroft and they will greatly miss
him.
He added: “I and all the other
members of the platoon deeply
sympathise with you in your loss
for we realise that you have lost a
brave son.
“Perhaps there is something in the
saying that the best are always
taken first.”
Capt W Swan says that “the
battalion took part in a big attack
on the date when Pte Bancroft fell
and this was entirely successful.
“I am afraid it is impossible for me
to realise what this loss must mean
to you but you have the consolation
of knowing that your son died
doing his duty and fighting bravely
for his country.”
