LIEUTENANT ARTHUR BURNELLL

FALLS IN ACTION

Sincere and widespread sympathy has been evoked towards Mr and Mrs Abel Burnell of Monk Fryston, and their family, by news of the death of their gallant son, Lieutenant Arthur Burnell, which occured in France on July 20th, and was first communicated to the father by the deceased officers Captain. So far the circumstances of his death are not known.

Lt. Burnell received his commision with the K.O.Y.L.I. in October 1915 and afterwards went through the usual officers training and passed over to France. He had only been in France about eight weeks when he was invalided home. This was in October 1916 and during the interval he was with the K.O.Y.L.I. at Clipstone and Rugeley, and also assisted in recruiting.  On 7th June this year the deceased officer was again on active service in France just six weeks before his death.

On leaving Ferrybridge Elementary School as a boy Mr Burnell obtained work in the Pottery Works of Messr's Poulson Bros. His ability, industry, and perserverence soon won attention and approbation and he was marked for advancement, eventually becoming general manager of the works. He repaid this preferment by ceaseless and painstaking devotion to duty, always studying the interests of his employers who had the fullest confidence in him. He was most courteous, cheerful, bright and intelligent, and secured a friendly regard from the workpeople. His prospects when he received his commission were industrially most promising and his future secured, He voluntarily threw in his lot with the British cause and carried his genial influence into the Army, and the soldiers of his Battalion admired him for his kindly disposition and thoughtfulness.

As a Ferrybridge citizen he was proud of the village and always took an interest in its affairs, especially in regard to Ferrybridge's part in aiding the Pontefract Dispensary and Leeds Infirmary; nothing gave him more pleasure than been found in this work. Messr's Paulson Bros will sorely miss him. His position with them was assured had he returned from military service. The deceased soldier was highly popular in the district and also in business circles. He was connected to the Freemasons Lodge at Pontefract, and had held important offices in that connection. This gallant Ferrybridge man's death at the age of 30 years, ends a most promising career.

Captain Percy Bentley (late of Knottingley) writing to Mr E.L.Poulson says, "We all feel his loss."

Pontefract and Castleford Express June 7th 1918

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