HARRY Wellman may have been a father figure to the men he served with in the West Lancashire Royal Engineers.

In his late 30s, the sergeant would have seen many much younger men killed during his four years in the army during the First World War.

It was Harry’s turn to die in the last year of the war, on April 9, 1918, just shy of his 40th birthday.

His wife Leah, of Broom Terrace, Oakworth, did not find out until several months later when she received a letter from one of Harry’s superior officers.

The Keighley News reported on November 5 that Harry’s death had been painless and he had been buried in a cemetery just behind the lines.

Major McKead wrote that Sgt Wellman had died instantaneously from shellfire, while in his billet.

Harry was born Henry Wellman in Haworth in 1879, growing up in the village, and at the age of 12 was working as a worsted spinner along with his four sisters.

In 1900 Harry married Warwickshire girl Leah Deeming and spent the next few years working as a carpenter and joiner, while bringing up little Doris and John William.

Leah continued living in Oakworth until at least 1948.