LISTER LANE CEMETERY - Key Persons

Arthur Womack was the son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Womack, of then 33, Thomas Street South, Hopwood Lane, Halifax. The family had moved from Gildersome (where Arthur was born) to Halifax a few years before and prior to enlisting in January 1917, Arthur was employed at Dean Clough. He joined the 2nd Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment and after eleven weeks training he was sent to France, leaving the day before Good Friday. In the Halifax Courier, dated Saturday, October 13, 1917 it was reported that his parents had received several letters from the Front informing them Arthur, aged 25, had been killed on October 2nd. Second Lieutenant G.H. Bond had written: "...He was one of my platoon and whilst we were in the front line this time he was unfortunately buried by a shell. Everything possible was done to extricate him, but by the time we had got him out he was dead. I am very sorry indeed to lose him as he was a good and brave fellow..." Arthur was buried at Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave reference XX. A. 29. (CWGC)

Job Titles:

• Private John Edgar Pulman & Sergeant

Wilfred Bentley Leek was the son of John William and Ruth Ann Leek, and the grandson of William Bentley. He was educated at Halifax Secondary School and following a move from Illingworth to Manningham, Bradford in 1910, he worked as a commecial traveller. Prior to enlisting in January 1915, he was a member of the Bradford City Volunteers. After training at Eastbourne, he was sent to France on 2nd September 1915. He died from wounds on 27th September 1915, aged 21. At the time of Wilfred's death, his elder brother Frank Bentley Leek was an assistant paymaster with the Royal Navy Reserves and another brother, Horace Bentley Leek was with the Bradford 2nd Pals at Salisbury. He was buried at Chocques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave reference I. E. 20. (CWGC)

Fred Pulman's father John [1822-1903], was a joiner and carpenter, and not involved with the metal business. Fred himself was born at 39 Lister Lane in 1849, and raised at Upper Brunswick Street. He trained as a master joiner, and then ran a successful business. In 1873, he married Martha Hannah Tuley; and they lived for their early married life in St Mary's Street, but later at 40 Hopwood Lane. They had at least ten children, of whom six were boys. By 1911 Fred and his wife were living at Heath Mount, later they were recorded at Savile Park Street. Fred Pulman died in 1920, and his widow Martha in 1927; both were buried at Lister Lane Cemetery, where their two sons with no known grave are also commemorated. Many years ago, the family headstone - listing four generations of Pulmans, including the original Abram - fell flat on its face. The Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery, knowing of the inscription, but unable to view it, determined to have the stone re-erected. That task was carried out in 2015, with the expert help of a local stonemason.

Hubert Norman Mitchell was born 23rd September 1886, son of Isaiah and Elizabeth Mitchell, of 13 Daisy Bank. He married Dora Winifred Page in 1913 and their son, Arthur Page was born in 1915. Before enlisting he worked as a shell inspector for Campbell's (Gas Engine Company Limited) and was a scoutmaster for St Jude's Church at Savile Park. He was one of the first to attest under the Derby Scheme and served as a private with the 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Hubert was sent to France as a Lewis gunner in the November before his death on 10th April 1918, aged 31. Dora (a spirella corsetiere known as Madame Page), received official notification from the War Office of her husband's death shortly after having had a parcel returned marked 'deceased'. Hubert was buried at the Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave reference II.G.17. (CWGC) During the Second World War, their son Arthur, aged 26 was killed on 15th August 1941 whilst serving as a flying officer with the Royal Air Force's, 218 Squadron. He was buried at Becklingen War Cemetery, Niedersachsen, Germany, grave reference 26. G. 1. (CWGC) Hubert Norman Mitchell is commemorated at Lister Lane Cemetery on the gravestone of grave number 1418

John Edgar was the sixth and youngest son of Fred and Martha Pulman, being born in August 1890. Being a younger son he decided to seek his fortune in North America, and in 1906 emigrated to Canada, settling at Regina, Saskatchewan, where he worked initially as a clerk, and later as a machinist. In 1915 he joined the 28th battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment), which was soon deployed to Europe. On 6th June 1916, the Germans detonated four mines under the British trenches at Hooge, following which John Edgar was missing, presumed killed. Much later his name was inscribed on the Menin Gate. John Edgar Pulman is commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, memorial reference Panel 18 - 26 - 28. (CWGC)

John Richard Seed was the younger son of Richard and Lena Seed. Educated at the Secondary School (Halifax), he became a student teacher under the Halifax Education Committee, and then went on to Bristol College. At the time of enlisting he was a teacher at Taunton. John enlisted in the West Riding Regiment on 1st June 1915 and at the time of his death on 29th April 1918, he was serving as a lance corporal in the 1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The circumstances of his death were reported in the Halifax Courier, dated 11th May 1918, where Captain Fenton stated John was killed during enemy bombardment: "...A shell struck the house in which we were, and poor John was struck by a splinter. Death was mercifully, almost instantaneous, and he died without pain. We all feel his loss very deeply. He was always known to be one of the most cheerful men in the battalion, and has always shown himself to be willing, able and feareless. Ours is the loss of a true comrade. In your loss, which is so much greater, may the thought that he died bravely for all we hold dear lighten the burden..." He was buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, grave reference Coll. grave V. C. 2. (CWGC) John Richard Seed is commemorated at Lister Lane Cemetery on the gravestone of grave number 4181

Leonard Tetley Seed was the youngest son of Joseph and Jane Ellen Seed of 24 Park View, Halifax. He served in the 2nd/4th Batallion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). He was killed in action on 28th July 1918 aged 23 years. The report in the Halifax Courier, dated Saturday, August 24, 1918 read: "...Sig. Seed has been in the Army over two years and went to France in Jan.,1917. He has been wounded once and returned to France last Christmas. Sig. Seed was an ardent worker at Queen's-road U.M. Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher. He was also well known in Halifax as a local preacher. He was employed by Messrs. S. Hodgson and Co. electrical engineers, Pellon-lane..." He is commemorated at Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France. (CWGC) Leonard Tetley Seed is commemorated at Lister Lane Cemetery on the gravestone of