Grade 11 Listed Rubbish

We went for a walk on Sunday, and decided to amble around Sheffield's General Cemetery. Apart from the obligatory shower of rain, it was an interesting walk. But what really hacked me off was this. Bearing in mind that the entrance to the Cemetery is Grade 2 listed, and a marvellous example of early Victorian architecture, Shefffield City Council decided to place a bin at the entrance

 Not ideal I must admit, but if they are going to do it the least they can do is empty it!. As you can see it was literally overflowing with rubbish falling out all over the place. It is no good pointing this disgrace out to the Council, as you will get the familiar litany of government cuts, and savings that need to be made.

It is even more annoying when the self same council keep badgering the people of Sheffield about the need to re-cycle rubbish and enhance the environment. They ought to set an example

John Henry Yeardley 1894 - 1919

No blogs for over a month and then two come along together!

It was a workday last Saturday for the Friends of Walkley Cemetery last Saturday 4th August 2012. After an early "sharp" downpour that ensured I spent the next couple of hours in damp clothing I discovered an excellent memorial that was covered in thick undergrowth. After a bit of clearing I found it was the grave of the YEARDLEY family and the first inscription on the headstone refered to the loss the family experienced when their son JOHN HENRY died whilst on active service in January 1919 in Mons. The Great War had finished in November 1918 but tens of thousands were still awaiting demobilisation - John was obviously one of them but he never returned home 

YEARDLEY, JOHN HENRY
Rank: Private
Service No: T/254813
Date of Death: 30/01/1919
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps
 "Y" Siege Park Workshops
Grave Reference  X. B. 3.
Cemetery MONS (BERGEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Alfred Yeardley, of 86. Waller Rd., Walkley, Sheffield.

1911 Census Record
Name     John Henry Yeardley
Relationship to Head of Household     Son
Condition     Single Gender     Male
Age     17 Estimated Year of Birth     1894
Occupation     Grinder Pen Blade
Employed     Y Working at Home     N
Industry     Cutlery Manuf
Place of Birth     Sheffield Yorks
Enumerator Information Address     57 Newcastle St Parish     Sheffield Type of Building     Private House
Number of Rooms     4  Inhabited     Y
Reference     RG14PN27852 RG78PN1594 RD510 SD1 ED4 SN25
Administrative County     Yorkshire (West Riding) Registration District     Sheffield Registration Sub District     South Sheffield Enumeration District     4
Reference Information Folio     55 Page     1 Piece     27852
RD number     510
SD number     1
ED number     4
Schedule     25

The First Week of War - Sheffield September 1939

It is over a month since I've posted any materail, thoughts etc to the blog but that does not mean I've been out in the garden sunbathing and just generally idling about. Far from it!

I'm  endeavouring at the moment to finalise material for a second book that hoopefully will come out in the autumn. This has necessitated a few trips to the excellent Local Studies Library in Sheffield and whilst I was there I came across a couple of newspaper reports relating to the events of September 1939.

One concerne the exploits of a Robert Dunbar, an ex-Hunters Bar pupil who declared war on Nazi Germany. And the other was the forgotten death of John Hall who I believe may have been Sheffield's first casualty of World War 2