VICKY Slowe, director and curator at the Ruskin Museum, Coniston, has been looking at the military careers of three men with close links to the village who were killed fighting with the King’s Own on August 8 a century ago today.

She said: “It took longer than it does today for the sad news to reach their families and loved ones.”

Newspaper articles almost a fortnight after the attack gave news of the death of Richard Usher and Solomon Robinson but it took almost a year for confirmation that Ben Kirkby – missing since August 8 – was presumed to be dead

The Westmorland Gazette, on August 19, said that Usher, 23, the acting regimental quartermaster, was from Torver and his parents lived at Low Kiln Beck, and that L/Cpl Robinson, 33, was from Field House, Coniston.

Usher had worked with his father in the building trade before the war.

The article noted: “He was a keen footballer, a smart tennis player and a promising cricketer with the village clubs.

“Cpl Charles Shaw, also of Coniston, was with him when he died.”

It was noted L/Cpl Robinson was a rugby football half-back with the Old Coniston Club and a quarry worker.

Cpl Benjamin Atkinson Kirkby was reported to be wounded and was the brother of Sgt W. Kirkby who had lost his sight on active service in 1915.

It took until July 21 in 1917 until newspapers could confirm his death.

The three Coniston men are named on the village’s Norse-inspired War Memorial, designed by W. G. Collingwood.

If anyone has photographs or family stories of the men who died on August 8, or any of the other village men who fought in the First World War, the Ruskin Museum would like to have copies to include in its displays.

The museum is also keen to put names to all the faces on a picture of Coniston recruits before they left for the Western Front in 1915.

It has been suggested that the man kneeling in the front row, second from the right, is James Hewitson the Coniston Victoria Cross winner.

The man kneeling in the front row, second from the left, may be Thomas Shaw, who served with the Manchester Regiment.

You can get in touch with the museum on 015394 41164 or send an email to information@ruskinmuseum.com