Private John Batley
Private William Batley
East Yorkshire Regiment
Story
John Batley was the younger son of William Batley (1884-1958) and Rebecca Prince (1893-1966). William was a veteran from the First World War, and was from Drighlington, but moved to Kippax after marrying Rebecca in 1913. The family lived at Gibson Lane, and moved to 6 Jubilee Terrace late in the War. John was born in 1919, and enlisted at the same time as his older brother William, at the beginning of 1940. John had been one of the first soldiers to be sent to Iceland, and on 30th January 1942, it was reported that he had arrived back home on leave unexpectedly, after taking a taxi from York, and met up with his brother who was also on leave, and whom he hadn’t seen for two years. After serving three years in Iceland, John took part in the Normandy landings. On 30th June 1944, he was reported to have been injured during the landings, along with Alfred Wagstaff, also from Kippax. The injuries of both men were not considered serious, and they were taken to hospital in Middlesbrough, where they were visited by family members. After the War, John married Betty Barbara Coates (pictured below) in 1947, and they lived with John’s parents at 6 Jubilee Terrace, then 11 Gibson Lane, before moving to 27 Birch Drive. John passed away in 1965 at the age of just 45.
William Batley was born on 19th August 1917. He was a painter and decorator, who joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1940, and married Jessie Moore (1918-2001) the same year. Jessie was originally from Garforth, but both her parents had passed away when she was 12 years-old, so before the War, she was working as a Tailoress, and was living at 13 South View with her older sister Marion’s family, plus her brother Harold William Moore, who also served in the War effort. William Batley gave 13 South View as his address on the Service Register. After the War, the couple lived at 5 then 10 Tatefield Place. As a painter and decorator, William was in charge of décor for Kippax Amateur Dramatic Society productions. William passed away in 1982.
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