The village of Aylesby has three memorials in St Lawrence Church - a wall plaque, a roll of honour and a window inscription. The wall plaque commemorating the four young men of who lost their lives in the First World War reads:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN
MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING
WHO, FROM THE PARISH OF
AYLESBY, GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR KING AND COUNTRY IN
THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919
Pte John Adlard
East Yorks Regt, March 1915
Capt Francis Willmer McAulay, MA
RFA, TA, May 1916
Pte William Marshall
North Staffs Regt, Sept 1917
Pte Harry Wilkinson
Duke of Wellington’s Regt. Nov 1918
Faithful unto Death
ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS 1919
JOHN ADLARD
Private 12248, 7th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
Killed in action: 29 March 1918
Born in Grimthorpe
Resident of Hull
Enlisted in Beverley
Buried: Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, France
Background
The memorial states that Private Adlard died in 1915. However, there are no records which confirm this date. Research indicates that it is likely that Private Adlard died in 1918 and is buried at Bouzincourt Ridge. The Aylesby Role of Honour records three Adlards – Ellis, Frank and John. The 1901 census has an Adlard family living in Riby Village – father John, a 40-year-old agricultural labourer born in Skibrook, wife Sarah, aged 34 from Devon, sons Thomas (14), John K (10), Frank (five), Ellis (four) and Sidney (two). Tracking the family back a further decade to the 1891 census revealed that they were living in Edenham. Father John was, at that time, a shepherd and wife Mary was from Binbrook. Thus Mary must have died and John remarried. This census revealed more sons – Alfred C, aged five, born in Dunsby, Thomas, aged four, born in Edenham, Joseph, two, and John K, six months, both born in Grimthorpe. John married Evelyn Lawtey in Barton in 1913. John’s brother Ellis died in Grimsby in 1986.
FRANCIS WILLMER McAULAY
Captain, Royal Field Artillery, B Battery, 230th Brigade
Killed in action: 21 May 1916, aged 25 years
Born in Aylesby in 1891
Only son of Samuel and Maud Mary McAulay of Aylesby, Grimsby
Buried: Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, France
Background
Francis was the oldest child and only son of Worthing-born farmer, Samuel McAulay, and his wife Maud Mary nee Pocock, who came from London. The couple were married in Windsor in 1890. Francis was born in Aylesby in 1891. His two younger sisters, Grace Marion, and Phyllis Maud were also born in Aylesby. At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at The Farm in Aylesby. Although they rented their farm from the Earl of Yarborough, the McAulays were, at this time, quite comfortable and employed five live-in servants. Frances Johnson (30) was employed as a governess to teach the children. Eliza Jane Sharp (33) the household cook was assisted by a 16-year-old kitchen maid – Laura Ellen Hogg. There were two housemaids - Kate Draper (26) and Edith Mary Sharp (20). Samuel McAulay appears in Yarborough Estate records in 1914 when he is paying £62 a year rent for one year for 96 acres of grazing on part of Brocklesby Park. When Francis’ medals were sent to his mother, she was still living in Aylesby. Captain McAulay’s parents dedicated a stained glass window in the village church to commemorate their lost son. However, the family may have emigrated to South Africa at some time. Maud Mary McAulay is recorded as arriving in Southampton from Durban in South Africa – on 17 August 1925 and 13 April 1931.
WILLIAM MARSHALL
Private 40959, 8th Battalion, North Staffs Regiment; was private 38306 in the Lincs Regiment
Killed in action: 20 September 1917, aged 20 years
Born in Keelby
Son of Christopher and Mary Ann Marshall, Cemetery Road, Laceby
Resident of Limber
Enlistment in Grimsby
Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
HARRY WILKINSON
Private 34680, 1st/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment
Killed in action: 1 November 1918, aged 19 years
Born in Aylesby
Son of Martha Wattam (formerly Wilkinson), 31 Buller Street, Grimsby, and the late Joseph Wilkinson
Resident of Aylesby
Enlisted in Grimsby
Buried: Maing Communal Cemetery Extension, France
ROLL OF HONOUR
The Roll of Honour is also in the church. It's arranged in two columns.
For King and Country
1914-1918
Ellis Adlard
Frank Adlard
John Adlard
Charles Dobson
Henry Dobson
George Fisher
Francis W McAulay
Alfred Ward
Robert Ward
John Davy
John Smith
Alfred Howsham
William Marshall
Henry Wilkinson
Jesse Marshall
Alfred Little
Robert Wm Plumb
The final memorial in the church is a stained glass window inscription, which reads:
Francis Willmer McAulay, MA, Capt RFA, TF, only son of Samuel and Mary McAulay of this parish, who fell in action in France, 21st May 1916, 25 years.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THESE MEMORIALS AND THOSE COMMEMORATED? IF YOU DO, YOU CAN POST A COMMENT BELOW OR EMAIL ME ON mcisaacs@parliament.uk. | 
