Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Garrison Battalion, Service no. 21436
Died from sickness 14th December 1917, aged 38
Story
Born in Kippax on the 10th January 1879, Aaron was the son of Benjamin Ponder and Mary Ann Watkinson. Just after Aaron had married Eleanor Goodall on 5th October 1907, his father passed away on Christmas day 1907, and was buried in Kippax. Aaron was a coal miner, living in Garforth when he enlisted in Leeds. Initially he joined the Prince of Wales’ Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, under service no. 17165, before transferring to the Northumberland Fusiliers.
2nd Garrison Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
The Battalion arrived in Basra in early March 1917, and served in Mesopotamia until 1919. The Battalion lost 179 men during the First World War and the majority died from sickness in Mesopotamia. The earliest death was on March 4th 1917 and the last on March 21st 1919. The deaths in Mesopotamia were mostly from sickness including one from smallpox. Aaron returned to England and died at the 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol. He was buried in Kippax four days later.
Aaron’s widow Eleanor received a payment of £15 16s 1d from the army following her husband’s death, and a further payment of £14 on 20th November 1919. She never re-married and passed away in 1976 aged 96. Their son James was also a coal miner and enlisted in the Second World War. He survived and passed away two years after his mother.
Below: Eleanor Ponder (née Goodall) in April 1942, and son James
Kippax Roll of Honour 