Walshaw Glover was born in Eccleshill on 18 December 1890, the middle of five children of Fred and Mary Glover. In 1901 the family were living at 62 New Line, Eccleshill and ten years later at 36 Alexandra Terrace, Greengates. As a former Shipley Times & Express journalist, Walshaw Glover was often featured in the newspaper’s reports about serving men, starting on 18 September 1914: ‘An interesting ceremony took place at the Greengates Constitutional Club on Tuesday night when one of the members was honoured for having answered the country’s call to arms. ‘The member was Mr Walshaw Glover who, with three other young men engaged on the literary staff of a Leeds newspaper, has joined the City of Leeds Battalion. Mr Glover was formerly on the staff of the Shipley Times & Express. ‘The members of the Constitutional Club had subscribed for a dressing case suitable for a soldier’s kit, together with a drinking cup. Duty ‘Mr W H Hare, president of the club, made the presentation. In a few well-chosen words he said it was the duty of all young men of military age who could do so without necessitating undue anxiety at home, to rally round the flag in this hour of the country’s peril. ‘Sacrifices had got to be made if German despotism was to be crushed. The Kaiser had claimed that God was on his side but he (Mr Hare) was confident that before the end of the war the arrogant Emperor would find that God was against him. (Applause)

‘Mr Glover briefly thanked the members for their kindness.’ We next hear of his progress on 25 August 1916 with a summary of his career and background: ‘Second Lieut Walshaw Glover was formerly a member of the editorial staff of this journal. Quickly he responded to the call of King and country when the war cloud burst over Europe and while in training with the Leeds ‘Pals’ was early marked out as a recruit who would make an efficient officer. ‘Being one of the most unassuming of Tommies, he at first declared his intention of remaining in the ranks as a private but subsequently, on the advice of his friends, he decided to accept a commission. ‘He was gazetted to the Green

Howards but is at present with the King’s Own Light Infantry at Rugeley, Staffordshire. ‘Sec-Lieut Glover is well-known in the district covered by the Express, especially in sporting circles. For two or three years he was responsible for the sporting intelligence which appeared in the Express and he showed a special aptitude for this class of work. When the war broke out he was on the Leeds Evening News. ‘He is brother of Mr Archie Glover of the Yorkshire Post and Mr Maurice Glover of the Bradford Daily Telegraph who, like Sec- Lieut Glover, received their journalistic training on the Express. ‘He is the third son of Mr and Mrs Fred Glover, of Alexandra Terrace,

Greengates.’

By 6 April 1917, Walshaw was sounding more cautious: ‘Sec Lieut Walshaw Glover, who was formerly a member of the editorial staff of the Express, says in a letter to a friend that it must have cheered our hearts to have read of the Allied advance in France, but asks us not to expect too much. “Whatever the papers say,” he continues, “the Boche withdrawal for the most part has been absolutely orderly. There is no doubt we made his defensive line unbearable – it is an untold boon to the British and not Boche when our artillery commences its familial tune - and there is no doubt, too, that for the sake of safety he had to go back in the direction whence he came. Brother Fritz has made a silent flit.” On 1 June 1917, the newspaper reported that Walshaw was calling on his former journalistic contacts for help: Cricket ‘Sec Lieut Walshaw Glover, KOYLI, who when a member of our editorial staff had charge of the sports page, writes from the front in France to Mr J J Booth of Idle, president of the Bradford Cricket League: “On behalf of the officers and men in my battalion, the majority of who hail from the districts around Bradford, I take the liberty of asking of you a favour. “Now that summer weather is upon us there are many of us who prefer a quiet game of cricket to the rough and tumble of football. “In our brief periods of rest we have wonderful scope for playing the grand old game but at present we have to be content with thoughts of the game for we are without cricketing material. “I once had a great interest in the doings of the Bradford League – I mean practical interest for I still follow your doings even in this war-stricken land – not (unfortunately) as a playing member

but as a critic of your players. In other words you will perhaps remember me as a sporting journalist. “On this ground and also knowing your own sympathetic interest in local soldiers, I appeal to you kindly to forward us the wherewithal for playing the game in this region. “French people do not play the game apparently, so we are unable to procure the things out here for love nor money. I am sure my request will not fall on deaf ears. “Please accept my best wishes for the success of the League. If ever a cricketing enthusiast did deserve success I know you do and it will be a pleasure to you to know that even in these hard times Bradfordians out here are at one with me in expressing gratefulness to you and your fellow workers in the League for keeping the old flag of local cricket flying.” On 14 September 1917 it was reported that he had been hit in the shoulder by shrapnel and wounded. There is a report of him being home on leave in November 1917 and February 1918 and in between the newspaper reported that he had been promoted to the rank of Captain. Wedding The final mention of him comes on 13 September 1918 with a report of his wedding on 9 September: ‘The wedding took place at the Marnhull Parish Church, Dorset, on Monday, of Captain Walshaw Glover, KOYLI, third son of Mr and Mrs F Glover of Apperley Bridge, and Miss Eva May Andrews, second daughter of the late Mr H Andrews and Mrs Andrews of Marnhull. ‘Capt Glover joined the Leeds Pals Battalion in September 1914 and was formerly a journalist on the Yorkshire Evening News. ‘He received his commission early in 1916 and was gazetted to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

‘He served in France over two years and was slightly wounded in the shoulder in July 1917. The bride was given away by her cousin (Mr A Hunt) and was attended by Miss Hilda Frances Andrews (youngest sister) and Miss Elsie Glover (sister of the bridegroom. Cadet EM Glover, recently of the York and Lancaster Regiment and youngest brother of the bridegroom, was best man. The officiating clergyman was the Rev Canon Hillins. ‘The honeymoon is in Devonshire. The bride’s present to the bridegroom was a silver cigarette and match case and the bridegroom’s gift to the bride, a silver toilet set.’ Freelance Thanks to Ancestry, we are able to piece together some more of the family’s history. The newly weds had a son, Derrick Neil Glover, in 1919 and by 1939 they were living at Carr Road, Pudsey where Walshaw is described as a freelance journalist. Walshaw died in Poole in Dorset on 4 December 1966 and left his £370 estate to his wife and son.

Eva and Walshaw