Born: 1899, Baildon
Died: 10 September 1918
Buried:
Address: 3 Fountains Buildings, Baildon
Parents: William & Margaret Hannah
Spouse:
Siblings: Nellie
Occupation: Grocer
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Sec Lieut
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Baildon
Children:
Regiment: RAF
Gladney Halliday
On 4 October 1918, the Shipley
Times & Express reported that
Gladney Halliday and Ernest
Bentley, two pupils of Baildon
National School had been killed in
action:
Sec Lieut Gladney Halliday of
fountain Buildings, Baildon, son of
Mr William Halliday, grocer, was
born in 1899, he attended the
National School from 1902 to
1905.
He assisted in his father’s business
until called up at the age of 18.
First joining the infantry, he
transferred about seven months ago
to the Royal Air Force and was
killed on the 10th September,
fighting against heavy odds, being
shot by an opponent after having a
moment before brought down his
second enemy machine.
He acted as observer and, of
course, gunner.
Strangely the announcement came
two weeks after the newspaper had
published this tribute.
In a letter of condolence to Mrs W
Halliday of Fountain Buildings,
Baildon, on the death of her son,
Sec-Lieut Gladney Halliday, the
pilot, Lieut Cecil G Gowring, has
paid a find tribute to his memory.
“Your son was not only my
observer but my friend. We went on
our first flight over the lines
together and have flown together
ever since.
“I had always found him a very
good companion in the air and an
excellent observer, being very
skilful in handling his machine gun.
It was during the flight in which he
met his death that he brought down
his second German plane.
“We were attacked by six hostile
planes. Your son put up a good
fight and I did all in my power to
help him but the odds were too
great.
“Their fire was all round us and
just as he had shot down one of
them and was turning to reload his
gun, a bullet struck him and passed
through his heart.
“The sad news came as a great
blow to the squadron for he was
very popular.”
