Born: 1896, Liverpool
Died: 27 September 1918
Buried: Flesquires Hill British Cemetery
Address: 61 Tong Park, Baildon
Parents: John & Sarah
Spouse:
Siblings: James, John, William, Christopher, Leonard
Occupation: Doffer (1911)
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: L Sgt
Medals/awards: D.C.M.
Rolls of Honour: Tong Park; Baildon
Children:
Regiment: West Yorkshire
Tom Metcalfe
Tom was born around 1896, the
second of six sons of Hawes-born
John and his Kent-born wife Sarah.
The family appear to have moved
around as their first son was born in
Leeds, Tom in Liverpool and John
in Saddleworth before William,
Christopher and Leonard were all
born in Baildon.
In 1911 they were living at 61 Tong
Park and 15-year-old Tom was a
doffer.
The first we learn of Tom’s war is a
piece in the Shipley Times &
Express on 5 April 1918:
At the Tong Park Schools, Baildon,
on Saturday night, Pte Thomas
Metcalfe, D.C.M. was presented
with a useful present by a number
of friends in recognition of the
above honour which had been
conferred upon him.
Mr John Hodgson presided and Mr
Sam Widdowson made the
presentation.
A programme was rendered by
Miss Illingworth and Messrs James
Noughton, Fred Gardner, D
Walton, S Hodgson and H Simpson
(accompanist).
Pte Metcalfe returned to France on
Sunday.
On the 18 October, the newspaper
published a tribute to Tom
following his death:
L Sgt Tom Metcalfe, DCM, who
enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regt,
was killed on 27th September, aged
22. He lived at Tong Park and had
been wounded three times.
In a letter to Mrs Metcalfe, an
officer says: “I know and feel sure
the news will come as an awful
shock to you and I can only offer
you, on behalf of all the officers,
non-commissioned officers and
men of the battery, our deepest
sympathy.
“You may be sure that his name
and actions will never be forgotten
by any of us. I have known him for
ten months and during that time he
has always shown himself to be an
excellent soldier and N.C.O.
“His bravery was known
throughout the whole brigade. The
word fear did not exist so far as he
was concerned and at all times he
did his work most nobly and
cheerfully, finally making the great
sacrifice leading his gun team
against the Germans.
“I can assure you he died instantly,
being shot through the head, and
would suffer no pain at all. His
body has been recovered by us and
has been buried. A cross will also
be put up over his grave in due
course.
“The battery has lost a great soldier
and a great man.”
