Hearing
of the Calpin family's contribution, King George
Had
no hesitation in forwarding his utmost congratulations.
The
news being conveyed to his Majesty's attention,
By
Sir William Carrington of a Yorkshire family's ten sons -
Ten
men who did not hesitate, from this patriotic family,
To
answer the posters calling out their recruiting message -
Of
Kitchener's hand, 'Your King and Country Needs you!'
Along
with proud recognition from Prime Minister Asquith,
A
letter from the Palace conveyed the King's gratification
To
say; 'with his best wishes, to them for success, health,
And
happiness in their noble career.'
In
a small square in Column 4 on page 4, the headline says
'Ten
Sons with the Colours' - These young men would
Never
have dreamt that their faces, a hundred years on,
Being
noted, nor their actions across the world wide Internet.
Believed
to be the biggest band of brothers ever to go to war,
Lived
ten young men, bothers between 18 and 37 years,
In
modest houses on a terraced street in the city of York.
Two
of them already serving abroad, must have played
An
inspiration to the remaining eight, to join the forces.
So
off they marched together, to the office of recruitment.
When
some weeks into war, a Buckingham Palace letter,
Addressed
to Sarah and Patrick Calpin - Paddy a builder's
Labourer
and Sal a housewife - Whose story from Ireland
And
County Mayo, to escape the last century's potato famine.
Being
born within walls of York, returned to raise their children
There
- living their basic lives, in the lowly slums of Walmgate.
This
family could not have expect fame and recognition which
Came
from Henry Rhodes Brown, the Chief Magistrate
Of
York, whose letter dated September 7th 1914 arriving
Extolling
virtues of 'the wonderful patriotism of your house.'
Giving
them an invitation for 'daughter Anna, wife and you
Will
call at the Mansion house.' From the slums of Walmgate,
And
celebrated at a civic reception, at the Empire Theatre,
Must
have seemed a world away, in such strange recognition.
The
Lord Mayor, Henry Rhodes Brown, in congratulations
Proclaimed
'it will be hard for anyone in the Empire to equal
Your
record of ten sons, all serving their country.' As the war
Wore
on, came further admiration for the Calpin family name
Being
used in recruiting drives and in local cinema broadcasts.
Almost
a regiment of their own came a roll call of the Calpin's:
David,
18 HMS Ariadne, Ernest, 21 HMS Dreadnought,
Henry,
22 Royal Field Artillery, Arthur, 24 East Yorks,
Thomas,
27 West Yorks, Martin, 29 9th West Yorks,
James,
33 4th West Yorks, William 32 3rd West Yorks,
Patrick,
36 Army Remounts Depot, and the eldest
John,
39 the National Reserve - The youngest brothers
Joined
the Navy, as six brothers signed for the army,
In
regiments of the East and West Yorkshire infantry.
Three
brothers already had a military background - as in
James,
a former Yorkshire Boxing Champion, serving
In
the Boer War - while Arthur Calpin, being in India
At
war's outbreak, serving eight years in the Army.
While
the eighth man William Calpin, serving in Malta.
Assigned
to HMS Ariadne the youngest, David, served
On
the ship, a minelayer until 26 July 1917 when a U-boat,
Under
Otto Steinbrinck, sunk the cruiser at Beachy Head.
David
Calpin from the water, watched the sinking, only
To
suffer severe exposure, by the time of being rescued.
The
experience no doubt affecting his health, until some
Years
after the war, he died at the young age of 32.
Ernest
Calpin, serving upon HMS Dreadought, did not
Take
part in any navel battles - the boat being refitted in 1916
During
the battle of Jutland. Yet the battleship was the only
One
to sink a submarine, ramming the SM U-29 in 1915.
The
manoeuvre being made as U-29 broke the surface,
To
torpedo another dreadnought - The
ship relegated
Took
part in coastal defence until the final year of 1918.
Ernest
one of nine brothers returned to his home, to serve
Again,
in yet another world war.
The
eldest brother, Private John Calpin, 3/9865, "B" Coy.
12th
BN., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own),
Was
then serving in the trenches of France, being gassed.
As
a casualty, was returned to a hospital in Nottingham.
He
sent a Red Cross postcard to Elizabeth, his wife, to say
That
he had landed safely back in England - but the effects
Of
gas being too much, he died on 18th November 1916,
At
the age of 39 and now lies in perpetuity in York Cemetery.
Except
for John, one by one all the ten brothers variously
Experienced
the war, returned to their Yorkshire homes.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Ten Sons with the Colours - King's
Congratulations. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 Aug. p.4. Col.4.
Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077845/Daily-Telegraph-September-12-1914.html
[Accessed: 12th August 2014].
CWGC,
2014. Casualty Details - CALPIN,
JOHN. [online]
Available at: < http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/408218/CALPIN,%20JOHN>
[Accessed 12 September 2014].
Harris,
P., 2014. Band of TEN brothers:
When the call came to serve King and Country, all the sons in one family went
off to World War One. Amazingly, every one came home. Mail Online, [online] (Last updated 08:02, 24 March 2014). Available at: <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2587596/Band-TEN-brothers-When-call-came-serve-King-Country-sons-one-family-went-war-Amazingly-one-came-home.html#ixzz3DHtGJMAT>
[Accessed on 12 September 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 Sept
2014).
Wikipedia,
2014. HMS Ariadne (1898). [online] Available at:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ariadne_(1898)> [Accessed 12 September
2014].
Wikipedia,
2014. HMS Dreadnought (1906). [online] Available at:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dreadnought_(1906)> [Accessed 12
September 2014].
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