Arkendale is a quaint and attractive village situated close to the northbound A1(M) motorway and north-east of Knaresborough. The tower of St Bartholomew’s Church dominates the skyline. The church cemetery extension lies adjacent to the village public house, the BlueBell Inn. John William Deighton rests here. He sucumbed to influenza and pneumonia on November 19 1918 aged 21 at nearby Marton cum Grafton. Though still legible, his headstone is heavily weathered.
John William Deighton was born in Nether Poppleton, Yorkshire, on October 6 1897, the first child of John and Emma (nee Cartwright). His baptism took place on Halloween.
When the Census was taken in 1901, John, aged 3 and his family still resided in Nether Poppleton. The Deighton family had grown with the arrival of his sister Emily the year before.
A decade later, John and his family lived in Flaxton, where his father worked as a farmer. John, now aged 13, was attending school. The household had expanded further with the addition of daughters Marian and Lena.
At some point between the 1911 Census and his death, the Deighton family relocated to South Farm, Arkendale.
I could not find any evidence to suggest that John served in the armed forces during the First World War. His agricultural occupation, which was deemed ‘Vital War Work’ under the Military Service Act 1916, excused him from conscription to the armed forces.
His death was registered by his sister Emily two days later.
Sources: Ancestry, Find a Grave, General Register Office
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