Royal Engineers, Service no. 312746
Born: 20th May 1893. Died: 1981
Story
Bertie’s mother was a domestic cook, Lucy Endall, from Emscote in Warwickshire. Whilst unmarried, Lucy had two children: Joseph Endall in 1874 and Charles Bywater Endall in 1883. Charles, who would be Bertie’s half-brother, also came to live in Kippax, and also enlisted in the Army during the First World War. Lucy married Thomas Townend in Kippax in 1886, and had a third son, Walter Townend in 1888. Lucy’s husband was registered blind in 1891, and died the same year, aged 36. Lucy re-married Thomas Plows in 1892, and they had Bertie in 1893, but Bertie’s father would pass away in 1895 at the age of 51. Lucy would re-marry again, in 1898, to Reuben Darley, but he too passed away aged 59 in 1916. Lucy herself passed away in 1944, aged 91, being the oldest Kippax villager at the time.
Bertie Plows initially joined the Royal Field Artillery, was then a Driver in the Royal Engineers, before becoming a Sapper. His role would have been to breach fortifications, usually through tunnelling and laying mines. Bertie was a coal miner before the War at Ledston Luck Colliery, and miners often had held the position of Sapper. They were also tasked with demolitions, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, preparing field defences, and working on road and airfield construction and repair.
On 10th December 1915, it was reported that Private Plows had written back home to his mother stating: “I have been in the thick of the fighting just recently. The shelling of our positions is frequent, but the making of cotton contraband has evidently served a good purpose, for out of 58 shells that have landed here in three days only 5 exploded. ‘Tis better so. This is a noisy place and no mistake. The roar of the guns is terrible. We are in God’s keeping, and he has said, “When thou passeth through the water I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee,” etc. There is one good thing out here. We are kept well up in religious services – two or three on the Sunday and during the week, and even when we are in the gun positions the chaplains visit us. It is rather cold out here, too, and very muddy, if the ground is not frozen. The Germans are not far away, but we intend to drive back the foe when the word “Go forward” is given. I have been in a few small battles, and I have done my bit in a bigger one. We do not fear the Germans. We feel sure of victory. In purpose we are united and devoted to duty. We shall win.“
Bertie became the fifth Kippax man to win the Military Medal, and his presentation was described in the press on 1st March 1918:
Kippax Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Comforts Fund
On Wednesday evening the committee had the honour of presenting a gold watch to Sapper B. Plows, R.E., who had been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on October 25th 1917. This took place at a concert in the Wesleyan Schoolroom. Mr G.P. Walker presided, and Mr. W. H. Wilkinson made the presentation. The watch was suitably inscribed. Sapper Plows briefly expressed his thanks for the kindness of the friends. The following articles contributed to the programme: Miss Ward, Miss Radcliffe, Mr. H. Taylor (Garforth), Mr. J. H. Taylor (Micklefield), vocalists, and Miss Saunders (Castleford), elocutionist. Mr. W Halliday was the accompanist. There was a large audience.
Bertie returned to briefly live at Park Place, Kippax after the war. He moved to Rotherham where he married Frances Maud Russon (1894-1984) in 1920. The couple moved to Bridlington, but Bertie kept in touch with friends in Kippax. In 1970, Bertie and Maud celebrated their Golden Wedding, and featured in the local press, describing how they had met.
Bertie passed away in Bridlington, aged 88.
Kippax Roll of Honour 