Wallace was the youngest of four children of William and Mary Ellen Skinner who in 1901 were living at Moray Place, Shipley. Ten years later, William had died and Mary had remarried, James Allen. They were living at Wrose Hill and Wallace was the only child still at home. He was given as an errand boy. The first mention of Wallace during the war appeared in the Shipley Times & Express on 25 August 1916 when he is in court: Pte Wallace Skinner of Stubbing House, Wrose Hill, who had been apprehended by P C Alfred Brown, was charge at the Bradford West Riding Court on Monday morning with being an absentee form the Labour Battalion. It was stated that the prisoner had over-stayed his leave. When asked by Mr J A Burton for an

explanation of his conduct, Skinner said he had sent word why he was staying away The prisoner was handed over to a military escort. Wallace returned to his regiment and was sent to France but there were more problems at home as we learn from the newspaper on 15 December 1916: An application was made at the Bradford West Riding Police Court on Thursday last by James Cousin and Son, estate agents, Shipley, for an ejection order against Wallace Skinner and James Allen. Mr A V Hammond, who appeared for the applicants, explained that some confusion arose as t the actual tenant of the house, which was situated in Wrose Hill Terrace Windhill. Mrs Allen who appeared as the respondent, was formerly known as

Mrs Skinner. Her former husband had died and she alleged that her son, Wallace Skinner, who was now with the army in France, became the virtual tenant. Later Mrs Skinner married a man named Allen, against whom an application had been previously made. Mr Hammond maintained that Mr and Mrs Allen were trying by wrong methods to retain possession of the premises. Notices had been served on the respondents The clerk asked: ‘how do you prove service of notice on Skinner who is in France?’ Mr Hammond: ‘The notice was

nailed on his door which is a proper service.’ The chairman, Sir James Roberts, noted: ‘We are advised by the clerk that the service on Skinner is not proved. It will be better therefore, to leave Skinner out.’ An order was made for the possession of the property to be given up. It would appear from CWGC record of Wallace’s death that the family moved to 4 Atkinson Street in Shipley. We don’t know the cause of his death but he was probably at home because he was buried at Windhill Cemetery. He may well have been a victim of Spanish flu which was rampant at that time.