A CEREMONY next Monday will mark a century since the death in battle of Askam soldier Henry Webster.

Pte Webster was killed in action in Belgium on April 24 in 1917.

His sacrifice will be commemorated by the lighting of a candle at 6pm at the Askam and Ireleth War Memorial.

Members of Askam and Ireleth History Group have been researching the men whose names are recorded on the memorial and holding a ceremony for each of them on the 100th anniversary of their death.

The story of Pte Webster’s war service has been developed with help from Peter Donnelly, curator at the King’s Own Museum in Lancaster.

Pte Webster had the army number 242690 and served with the 1/5th Battalion of the King’s Own.

He was aged 24 and is buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, three miles from Ypres town centre.

His grave was visited by some members of the history group in 2015.

Pte Webster was a member of the Askam Town Brass Band and in 1917 the flags at the Council Schools, where he was a former pupil, were hoisted at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Before the war he had worked as a labourer at Park iron ore mines, near Askam and had three brothers and a sister - Thomas, Francis, Jane and Edward.

His father, Frank, worked as a labourer for Lancashire County Council and was born in Flookburgh.

His mother was born in Egremont.

Webster and his comrades in the 1/5th battalion were at Ypres, having relieved the 1/5th Kings Liverpool Regiment.

The troops were in the Cambridge Trench and faced a heavy artillery bombardment through the night which left two dead and four wounded – including Pte Webster.

A letter to Webster’s parents from company commander, Lt H. B. Bennett, noted: “Your son was on a listening post a little in advance of our front trenches when the enemy opened an intense artillery fire in front of our line.

“The NCO in charge of the post called him in, and in endeavouring to get back he was hit in the back of the head with a piece of shrapnel.”Webster was one of my four company runners and he was always very smart and willing and I shall very much miss him, as really good men are scarce.”

Pte Webster had joined the army at the beginning of the war and had been in 17 engagements – having several narrow escapes from death.

Newspaper reports from the time of his death noted: “He was a fearless young man, with plenty of grit and energy.

“His parents had only received a letter from him a fortnight ago, saying he was in the best of health, and then looking forward with much optimism to the great push – they were all eager for the fray to give the Germans a beating.”

Askam and Ireleth History Group is holding a Memories and Memorabilia session from 7.30pm this Thursday at the Duddon Road Methodist Church, Askam. All are welcome.