Frederick Allan Raistrick, who appears to have gone by the name Allan, was born in Idle about 1897. According to the 1911 census, Frederick snr was an assistant school teacher married to Mary, nee Davison, and as well as Allan they had three other children, Edgar, Mary and Ruth. We are fortunate to have several mentions of Allan in the Shipley Times & Express starting with a mention in a report on 20 November 1914 of a sermon by Upper Chapel Pastor, Rev C Tinling in which he mentions that Allan was one of four church members who had volunteered for the army. On 21 January 1915 a short piece appeared about his rapid progress since signing up: L Cpl F Allan Raistrick, whose photograph we reproduce, is the elder son of Mr E W Raistrick of the Grove, Idle. He is 18 years of age and joined the colours on the outbreak of war. He is a member of the Yorks and Lancaster Regt which is

stationed at Aldershot. He was early recognised as a very promising recruit and after a few weeks’ training received his first promotion. Prior to joining Lord Kitchener’s Army, L Cpl Raistrick was learning the business with J Wood & Co, Bradford. By November the newspaper were reporting even greater progress: The many friends of Allan Raistrick, son of Mr E W Raistrick of The Grove, Idle, will be pleased to hear that he has received papers from the War Office confirming his promotion from sergeant to second- lieutenant. First stripe It is worthy of note that Sec-Lieut Raistrick joined the forces when only 17 years of age. After three months training, he received his first stripe whilst he was made corporal after six months’ service. Before a year had elapsed he was promoted to the position of sergeant. After a further period of two months with the colours he was promoted to commissioned ranks. For several months he has been at the Front where he specialised in bomb throwing of which he has been instructor at the base in

France. This is the first case on record in which an Idelian has won such rapid promotion for excellent services in the field and he is able to pride himself on the knowledge that his distinction he has gained as a result of sheer hard work and unswerving devotion to duty. He takes up his new duties on Monday next at the Officers’ Training School, Bedford. Subsequently he will proceed to the reserve battalion of the York and Lancaster Regt. We hear nothing more of Allan’s war until 19 October 1917 when the newspaper reported: Second Lieutenant Allan Raistrick, elder son of Mr Edwin W Raistrick of the Grove, Idle, has been seriously wounded and is in hospital at Rouen. Lieut Raistrick enlisted in the York and Lancaster Regiment in August 1914 when only 17 years of age, he being one of the first in the district to respond to the call of King and country. Gold opinions The young recruit took a keen interest in his new duties and that he proved himself smart is evident from the fact that he was rapidly promoted. He won gold opinions from both

officers and men and was singled out as a suitable person for a commission in October 1915 when he had only been in France for a couple of months. It was in January that he went to the Continent as a commissioned officer and he was home on leave in August. His brother, Cadet Edgar Vincent Raistrick, who is studying for a commission, is 19 years of age. He too joined when under 18. The father of these two patriotic youths is a member of the Bradford City Volunteers in which he holds the rank of sergeant.

The death took place at his home, 8 The Grove Idle, on Saturday, of Lieut Frederick Allan Raistrick, Leicestershire Regt, aged 21, the elder son of Mr and Mrs E W Raistrick. He had been seriously wounded on 5th October 1917 and, coming home last August after having been in hospitals at Manchester and Ashover, he succumbed to the effects of the wounds. He enlisted on 29th August 1914 and was commissioned in 1915. He was employed by J Wood and Sons, Bentley Street, Bradford. The internment took place on Wednesday morning at the Upper Chapel, Idle, the Rev C P Tinling officiating. The mourners were Mr and Mrs Edwin W Raistrick (father and mother), Sec Lieut E V Raistrick (brother), Miss Raistrick (sister), Miss Graimes and Mrs Graimes (Manchester), Miss Davison and Miss E Davison (aunts), Mrs Abm Davison, Mr and Mrs S Barrett, Mr and Mrs Alfred Raistrick, Mr and Mrs Albert Davison, Miss Davison, Mr and Mrs Joshua Briggs, Mrs Wright North, Mr Frank Briggs, L Cpl W Briggs, Miss Waterhouse and Miss A Waterhouse. Friends present included Mr and Mrs G R Hoyle (Milnsbridge), Miss Lockwood (Golcar), Mr Chas H Dyson, Mr Alfred Vint, Cllr Joseph Stringer JP, Mr Thos H Bedford, Mr P Bedford, Mr N Williamson, Mr Wright Watson, Mr J Hammond, Mr Emmott Butterfield, Sgt Major William H Booth, Cadet Wm Booth, L Cpl H Plaice, Pte Verdi Roberts, Mrs Walter Patrick, Mrs H Patrick, Miss Hutchinson and Mrs Thomas A Booth. The underbearers were W Baxter, A Bird, T A Booth and J H Simpson. Shipley Times & Express 22-11-1918