Lt Col Harry S Atkinson, TD, JP

Harry Stanley Atkinson was the second President of the Spenborough Branch of the Royal British Legion, elected by the members on 3 April 1922.

He was a local man, born in Cleckheaton in 1871 to parents Charles and Mary E. Atkinson (formerly Anderton), when the family was living at Eldon House, Cleckheaton (on Bradford Road, close to the bus station).

He attended a boarding school in Birkdale, Lancashire, from a young age and then returned home to live at the family home at Howard House, 13 Dewsbury Road, Cleckheaton.

The family firm was William Atkinson and Sons Ltd, located at St Peg Mills, and Harry was a "master worsted spinner."

Harry married in late 1904 to Ethel Mary Elizabeth Walker. Shortly afterwards, he underwent a serious operation, and since in 1911 he was living in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, perhaps he was recovering from this illness? His occupation at that time was given as Managing Director (employer) in a worsted spinning mill.

Following the formation of the Territorial Force, he became Officer Commanding the 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.

Now with the rank of Lt Col H. S. Atkinson, he would have been with the Battalion on annual camp at Marske-by-the-Sea when, on 4 August 1914, war with Germany was declared.

They returned home, and on 5 August, they marched to the railway station, destination Hull, to guard the docks and Naval Signal Station. Since the war had started so suddenly, the Battalion was not given a public send-off at the station. Whilst at Hull, they were also tasked with rounding up German aliens for internment on board the SS Borodino.

Further guarding duties were undertaken at Immingham in April 1915, with more training at Riby Park, Marsden, and Doncaster. Very few arms were available at this time, since these were being delivered to the "New Armies" rather than the Territorials.

Finally, on 12 April 1915, Lt Col Atkinson took his Battalion to Southampton, destination Le Havre, on board the SS Invicta, with a subsequent march route to Estaires.

Now part of the 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th Division, IV Corps, 4th Army (Gen Rawlinson), his Battalion was involved in the defence of the line at Fleurbaix.

His serious operation some three years earlier was now taking its toll, and on 24 May 1915, Lt Col Atkinson was invalided home. The Battalion history stated that "he had kept out of the way of doctors and had he gone through a proper Army medical, he would not have been allowed to leave England."

Still interested in the welfare of the soldiers formerly under his command and other ex-servicemen, he was involved in the affairs of the Spenborough Branch of the Royal British Legion and was elected its second President from April 1922 until his death in 1928, aged only 57.