On the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium is the name of 18693 Private William Rosekilly Jarvis serving with the 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment who died 14/10/1917.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Rosekilly Jarvis was born at Lanchester in 1897, the only son of George Robert Jarvis, known as Robert, born July 6th 1870 at Cambridge Place, West Hartlepool and Ruth Rosekilly of Lanchester born 1873, whose parents William and Matilda Rosekilly originated from Colaton in Cornwall. They had married in the district of Lanchester in 1894. William was baptised at Lanchester Parish Church 17th February 1897. George Robert Davis died during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1900, only 30 years of age, leaving his widow with 3 young children, William was 4 years old, his sisters Matilda 5 and Elizabeth Jane 2 years of age.
In 1901 Ruth and her children were living at Front Street, Lanchester where she is listed as the head of the household living under her own means. She gave birth to a son during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1901 who she named Edward Jarvis, father unknown.
She married August 6th 1903 to John Minto born 1874 at Carrville, near Durham City. They had 3 children together: Annie Isabella born 1904, John 1907 and Catherine 1908. John Minto supported his family employed as a coal hewer, William (14) worked below ground as a pony driver, Matilda (15) assisted her mother with domestic duties, Edward (9) was a scholar, the younger children were at home with their mother. To increment the family income, they had taken into their home at Front Street, Lanchester, 59-year-old widower John Parry, a coal miner originally from Wales.
Ruth Minto-Jarvis nee Rosekilly died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1911 aged 38 years, John Minto remarried April 13th 1912 to Ethel Gordon Graham with whom he had a son Joseph Stewart Minto born August 22nd 1914.
William Rosekilly Jarvis enlisted in 1915 when he turned 18 years of age, assigned as Private 18693, 10th (Service) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, a Kitchener Battalion, part of the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. After initial training in England he would have joined his regiment in spring 1916 during preparations for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. The 10th Battalion saw action at the opening battle at Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Battle of Morval September 25th-28th and Battle of Transloy October 1st-18th 1916.
During 1917 they fought during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 15th before moving to the battlefields of the Ypres salient in Belgium and participating during the 3rd Battle of Ypres also known as the Battle of Passchendaele.
Private William Rosekilly Jarvis is presumed to have been killed October 4th 1917 on the Ypres salient. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 34,000 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms part of the perimeter wall of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and New Zealand who died on the salient as of August 15th 1917 until November 1918 and who have no known grave.
Money owed to him by the Army was divided between his sisters Matilda and Elizabeth Jarvis in the sum of 16 shillings 4 pence each. A further £1 12 shillings 8 pence was to be divided between his step-sisters Annie (13) and Catherine Minto (9) was assigned to their father John Minto as their guardian. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, Private William Rosekilly Jarvis was 20 years of age and single.
His step-father John Minto also served during WW1 with the Royal Garrison Artillery.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Rosekilly Jarvis is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01
