South Yorkshire Times February 16, 1946

Appleyard Reunion

25 members of the well-known Conisbrough family of Appleyard – only four members were missing – attended a family reunion on Sunday at Croft house, Conisbrough, the home of the head of the family, Mr and Mrs Harry Appleyard’s, to welcome back their fourth son. Cpl William H Appleyard, of 65, Northcliffe Road, who arrived home on Friday demobilised, from India, where he had served just over three of his five years RAF service.

At the reunion Mr and Mrs Appleyard’s five sons, among them the youngest son Sgt George Appleyard (demobilised from the RAF five weeks before), and all but one of their daughters were present. Corporal Appleyard, who was at Cawbpore just before the recent RAF “strike” began, was met at his demobilisation centre Hednesford (Staffs) by his wife and their only son, Roger, whom he had not seen previously, but who was able to recognise his father from photographs. They had been taken to Hertfordshire by Sgt George Appleyard.

It was the first time the brothers, both of whom were aircraft fitters in the air force, had met for four years, Sgt Appleyard, who resides in March Vale Terrace, had been in the forces 5 ½ years, of which he spent nearly 3 years abroad – in Africa, Italy, Australia, and finally, in Palestine.

In Bombay, while waiting to return home, Corporal Appleyard met a former Conisbrough man, Mr Jack Wood, now of Worksop, who was formerly employed by Messrs Appleyard.

Sgnt George Appleyard

Cpl William Appleyard