PRIVATE 7873 HUBERT LISTER 2/5TH BATTALION WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT.


PRIVATE 7873 HUBERT LISTER 2/5TH BATTALION WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION 15TH FEBRUARY 1917 AGED 20

Hubert Lister was the eldest son of William and Fanny Lister of Hawksworth House, Nesfield. Born on 6th January 1897 he was baptised in Ilkley Parish Church and educated at Addingham National School. Before the war Hubert had worked as a warehouseman for Kellett Woodhouse and Co., a firm of stuff merchants in Bradford. In his spare time he was a noted local musician who played the violin in the Ilkley Orchestra and also sang with Nesfield Choir.


On 10th October 1916, Hubert travelled to York and there enlisted in 2/5th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment. This battalion had been formed as a territorial battalion in 1914 to provide drafts of reinforcements for the front line 1/5th battalion. However, in in late 1916 it was brought up to full strength and on 6th January 1917 arrived in France. Made up of inexperienced recruits, the battalion was allocated to the Somme area. On 15th February 1917, the 2/5th were manning both the front line and support lines near to Mailly Wood, at Beaumont Hamel. The battalion came under intense German artillery fire which caused significant numbers of casualties. Hubert, who was serving with 'D' Company, was ordered to deliver a message but as he broke cover he was killed, probably shot by a sniper.

Private Hubert Lister was buried near to where he fell but his grave was lost during subsequent fighting. His commanding officer wrote to his grieving parents , "He was very cheerful under the most trying circumstances and an example to his comrades. Today Hubert is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and remembered on our war memorial in Ilkley


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