Born: 1874, Idle
Died: 1 November 1917
Buried: Wimereux Communal Cemetery
Address: 35 Westfield Lane, Idle
Parents: Anne
Spouse:
Siblings:
Occupation: Bricklayer
Organisations/clubs: Idle Conservative Club
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Holy Trinity, Idle; Upper Chapel, Idle,
Children:
Regiment: Yorkshire
John Pitts
John Pitts was born around 1874
and by the time of the 1881 census
his widowed mother, Anne, aged
31, had four children to look after,
John being the eldest at 7. They
were living at 7 Well Fold, Idle.
Ten years later Anne too was dead
and John had been taken in by his
uncle and aunt Fletcher and Ellen
Baxter, who lived in Westfield
Lane, Idle.
By 1901 they were living at 48
High Street, Idle, when the
household also included the
Baxter’s daughter Mary and her
husband, professional cricketer,
Harry Riley.
John was described as
a stone labourer and
by 1911, living at 35
Westfield Lane, he
was given as a
bricklayer.
On 16 November 1917
the Shipley Times &
Express reported:
Pte John Pitts, nephew
of Mr and Mrs
Fletcher Baxter, with
whom he resided, has
been killed in action.
The dead soldier was a
bachelor and although over military
age, he considered it his duty to
join up before married
men were compelled to
go.
After a few weeks’
training he went to
France with the West
Yorks Regt on 5th
April 1915 and took
part in many important
engagements.
He was a keen student
and was well informed
on the questions of the
hour. He was a staunch
Unionist and was a
member of the Conservative Club.
One of a family of five who were
left without parents when Pte Pitts
was a few years old and he was
adopted by Mr and Mrs Baxter. His
father was a master plasterer.
The following week, the newspaper
added: In regard to the death of Pte
John Pitts (nephew of Mr and Mrs
Fletcher Baxter of Westfield Lane,
Idle), who has been killed in action
in France, his Captain writes: ‘I
was very sorry indeed to learn from
your letter that Pte J Pitts has died
of his wounds. Pte Pitts was one of
the best men in the company and is
loss is a severe blow to the
company as a whole and especially
to me as Company Commander.’
