Basil John Webster

Pte Basil Webster Worksop Guardian 12 October 1917 The War continues to exact a heavy toll, and this week we have again to chronicle the loss of more members of the gallant band of young men who, with stout hearts and determined will, set forth to fight the battles of their country. But for the British Army the Huns would have been here now, a fact that some people need to be reminded of. Amongst the fallen this week is Pte. Basil Webster, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Webster, 1, Market Street, Worksop, a young man well conducted and well respected, both for his own and his parents sake. Pte. Webster was born in Worksop, where he had lived the greater part of his short life. He enlisted on February 2nd 1916, joining the Sherwood Foresters, and before his training was completed he received his baptism of fire in the Irish Rebellion. He was drafted to France in February of this year, and during recent months he had taken part in the splendid forward work in which the Sherwood Foresters have taken a conspicuous and gallant part. He was engaged in the heavy fighting of the third week in September, and it would appear that he was killed by a bomb dropped from an enemy aeroplane as our lads were returning after a brilliant encounter. His death was instantaneous, Pte. Webster was only 24 years of age, and in losing him the country loses a promising soldier and his parents a good son. He was much liked by his comrades and had won the approbation of his officers. Before the war Pte. Webster was in the employ of the G. C. Railway Co., and had just been promoted to the position of head clerk at Kiveton Park Station. He was a member of the Priory Branch of the C. E. M. S., and attended regular at the Church services. Mr. and Mrs Webster has the sympathy of our readers in there sorrows. Amongst the letters which Mr. and Mrs. T. Webster, Market Street, Worksop have received on the death of their eldest son, Pte. Basil Webster, is one from the Chaplain the Rev. E. H. Dight, who writes:- “Dear Mrs Webster, -I write to express how very sorry I feel for you and yours in the great loss you have sustained through the loss of your boy, Pte. Basil Webster. He died on September 29th, and was buried the same day in the British Cemetery. I conducted the burial service, and you may be glad to know he was decently buried. Your loss is a great one, and your ordeal trying, but I trust you and yours will be divinely sustained and supported throughout, and all experience the ministry of Divine consolation. My only object in intruding upon your grief is that I thought you would like to know the place where he is interred, - with deepest sympathy, sincerely yours, E. H. Dight, C. F.” The deceased soldier was a member of the Worksop Priory branch of the C. E. M. S. and a commemoration service will be conducted by the Vicar of the Priory Church on Thursday evening next.

He is buried in White House cemetery St Jean-Les-Ypres, Belgium. CWGC - Son of Thomas and Edith Webster, of I, Market St., Worksop, Notts. Research by Colin Dannatt