Abraham was the fifth of six children of Thomas and Rose Townson who in 1901 were living in Bradford. By 1911, now 15 years of age, he was a jobber at a worsted mill, and a boarder in Windhill with Dina Watmough at 29 Valley Street. On 5 October 1917, the Shipley Times & Express reported: It is officially reported that Pte Abraham Townson (22), single, son of Mr Thomas Townson, late of Windhill, and now of Kershaw Street, Bradford, was killed on September 18th. He had been in France about 12 months. Before the war he worked for Croft & Perkins, Thornbury, Bradford, in the engine room. He was an enthusiastic football player with the Bradford Moor Football Club. Writing to Miss Townson, the Rev T O Ashonby, chaplain of the brigade to which Townson belonged, says: “I understand that his death was instantaneous and that he suffered no pain. “A cross will be erected over his grave. The service was attended by a number of his comrades. They desire me to convey to you their sincere sympathy in your loss. They feel that they are the poorer for the passing away of a good friend and a true soldier. “It will, I trust, be some consolation to you to realise that your brother has given his life for the sake of others.” Abraham’s great nephew, Allan Crapper, revealed a sad postcript to the story When Abraham went to France, “he had only just got engaged to a local girl by the name of Edith Raistrick. “On parting she promised to wait for him on his return. That never happened. “Edith vowed that she would be true to his name and never marry and lived on her own for the rest of her life,I think she was well into her 80s when she passed away having lived on Higher Coach Rd for nearly 40yrs.”

Photo courtesy Abraham’s great nephew Allan Crapper