Meggison Bonass’s death was reported in the Shipley Times & Express on 5 October 1917: Mrs Bonass of 5 Regent Street, Shipley, has received an official notice from the War Office that her only son, Pte Meggison Bonass, aged 23, died on September 21st from wounds received in action the previous day. The following letter from Pte Stanley Barker, a comrade, arrived by the same post: “At the request of your dear son I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines. At the same time it gives me pain to inform you that he has been wounded again and this time in both legs. “Let me say how plucky he was and how he kept his spirits up although in great pain all the time and having to lay about for an hour

or two before I could find the stretcher bearers. “I stayed with him until they got him away to the dressing station. On his way to hospital he wished me good luck and said he hoped to meet me in dear old Blighty before long. “Let me say that I was pleased to meet with your son. He told me that he lived right opposite my uncle, Mr Barker. When you get to know your son’s address will you please let him have mine? He can then write and let me know how he is getting on. “I wish both you and your son the best of luck. May he have a speedy recovery from his wound and be at home among you before long.”

Meggison’s courage is also mentioned in a letter Pte N Batters wrote to thank the people of Baildon for sending him a parcel of food. It was published in the Shipley Times & Express on 9 November 1917: There were two Shipley lads in the same battalion as me but a wee bit higher up in the same trench. They were seated together talking when old Fritz dropped a shell in the front line between them. It took a foot off one of them. The

other – Bonass of Shipley – lost both feet. They laid there a while until there was chance of getting them away and in spite of the thoughts and the pain they must have undergone, they were both very cheerful. In fact, they smoked cigarettes while they were laid there waiting. I see by the Shipley Times that one of them, Bonass, has since died. He stood his pain like a hero.