Claro Times - 29th October 1915

One of the first Harrogate lads to fall in the war was Lance Corporal Wilfrid Jefferson, 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars, who was in the retreat from Mons, and was killed at La Bassee on October 28th, 1914, in his nineteenth year.

Mrs Jefferson, the mother, of 16 Valley Mount, has now nearly twelve months later, suffered a second loss in the death in action of her elder son, Gunner John Defty. He was Mrs Jefferson's eldest son by her first marriage, and joined the Army a fortnight after his half-brother's death, with the firm resolve to avenge his brother. He volunteered for trench mortar duty, and died in the performance of this work.

SDGW

Royal Garrison Artillery

52400 Gunner John Defty

Born : South Shields, Durham

Enlisted : Sunderland

Died : 13th October 1915

KIA

France and Flanders