Field Pass's Story.
Field Pass Tasker's birth was registered in Chester in the June Quarter of 1894 (Vol: 8a, Page:404). He was the son of William W & Amelia Tasker and on the 1901 census they lived at "Brookfield", Hoole Road, Newton-by-Chester, Hookersbrook, Cheshire. William, 49 was a Retired Hotel Keeper,, his wife Amelia, 41 and all the children had been born in Chester. The family was made up of Frank M., single, 17 and an Apprentice Plumber, son Harry W. was 16, son Field Pass, 5 and Eric D., 3 made up the family. There was a domestic servant Mary F. Wright, single, 21 who had been born in Whitford, Flintshire.
The 1911 census shows that the family had moved to Moulson House Kilmorey Park Hoole Road Newton by Chester, which had 11 rooms. William Warhurst Tasker, 59, was still head of the household and living on "Private Means," Amelia his wife, 50, they had been married for 29 years and ther had been 4 children born to them, all still living. Field Pass Tasker, 16, single and still at school, as was his brother Eric Dewsbury Tasker, 13. There was a General Domestic Servant, Jane Nield, 17, single and born in Tattenhall, Cheshire.
According to the Hawarden County School Register Field Pass Tasker had entered the school on the 15th September 1903, previously having private tuition. His father was described as being an "Owner of property," retired. Field left the school at Easter 1911 and was to become an Engineer apprentice. His number in the register was 179 (4 in red ink), making me wonder if the red ink was to differentiate between the boys who died or the ones who enlisted. I have been unable to find out up to now.
So Field may have travelled every day from the Northgate Station in Chester, which would mean that he passed through, the Hawarden Bridge works and then Shotton on his way to the Hawarden Station. If he did, he did this for 8 years. Or was he driven here, I would love to know.
His family from way back had owned Hotels in Chester. However his Grandfather Edward was a Cabinet Maker and had married Elizabeth Pass, in 1851 in Chester, so we now know where the name of "Pass" came from. Then owning the George Inn, Black Diamond Street, Saint Oswald, Chester, his occupation being a Painter and Victuller.
Over 3 censuses the family were running the Bars Hotel at 126 Foregate Street, Chester, during which time William Warhurst Tasker took over after his marriage, bringing us up to 1901.
Field’s father William Warhurst TASKER was a Passenger on the Ship “Regina” on a visit to see his Son Eric Dewsbury TASKER, Moulson Ranch, Hornby Island, Vancouver and then on tour. He then made a return journey home from Canada on the “Montcalm,” a Canadian Pacific Steamship in 1922, to see his son Eric, who lived in Vancouver.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Additional Information:
Son of William Warhurst Tasker and Amelia Stanworth Tasker, of Moulson House, Hoole Rd., Chester. Born Chester. Formerly Cpl. 1st/5th (Earl of Chester's) Bn. Cheshire Regt. (T.F.). Volunteered 9th Sept., 1914. Flanders, 14th Feb., 1915.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919about Field Pass Tasker confirms the regimental details above, and that he died of wounds.
F P Tasker in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his father William Warhurst Tasker who was paid £54 19s 11d on the 21st March 1918 and his War Gratuity of £16 10s on the 20th November 1919. Also on the 7th February 1918 there was a charge of £2 16s 8d
Field's father William W. Tasker died in the June quarter of 1927 in Chester (Vol. 8a, Page: 432). He was 75 years old.
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 about William Warhurst Tasker. : - TASKER, William WARHURST of Moulson House, Hoole Road, Hoole, Cheshire died 5th May 1927. Probate London 28 October to Henry Ebrey CRANE secretary and Frank Moulson TASKER, Plumber. Effects £11723 1s 9d. Resworn £12073 10s 3d.
Field volunteered on the 9th September 1914 joining the 1/5th Cheshire Regiment. The 1/5th battalion were in Chester in August 1914 by the end of the month they had moved to Northampton, in December 1914 they moved to Cambridge. On the 15th February 1915 Field and the 1/5th battalion landed at Le Havre.
Field served with the 1/5th in to the early part of 1917 during this time he saw action at numerous locations along the Western Front including the Somme, on the 1st July 1916 the 1/5th were involved in operations at Gommecourt, going over the top at 7:30am that morning the 1/5th suffered nearly 200 causalities. On the 29th May 1917 Field was discharged to commissionand he was Gazetted Second Lieutenant on the 28th June 1917.
He joined 16th Battalion in the reserve lines on the 7th August, he saw his first action as an officer two weeks later when the battalion took over the lines at OPPY WOOD. On the 25th September, the battalion had moved and were in billets a SERQUES a week later the 2nd October they were in billets at THIEUSHOUK preparing for operations on the 3rd
The Battalion war diary lists Field as dying on the 7th October from wounds received while Commonwealth War Graves list it as the 6ththe battalion diary states the following:
4pm 5th October 1917 the 16th Royal Warwicks will move into support H.Q at the tower and will have two companies in the trenches immediately North of the Ypres – Menin Road, the two companies will dig in.
12:10am 6th October 1917 Message from O.C “D” company to say that he is digging in 400 yards north of the Menin Road and has had several causalities. A, B and C companies are in position.
At 5:35pm A company moved up into trenches vacated by A company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment.
In the early hours of the 7th October S.O.S signals were sent to say that a dressing station had been blown killing nearly all there including Aid Post staff and RAMC bearers.
It was during these actions that Field was wounded, dying shortly after.He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Grave Ref XX.G.4. This cemetery is located around 12KMs west of Ypres (Iper) and was used as a casualty clearing station, 9,901 Commonwealth soldiers are buried here making it the second largest Commonwealth Cemetery in Belgium.
Researced and compiled by Stepehn Benson and Mavis Williams.