WARRINGTON,
SACRED HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Stephen Nulty 2008
The
Warrington Sacred Heart memorial is to be found in the Roman Catholic
Church of that name in Liverpool Road, Warrington. It is in the form
of a triptych made from mahogany wood, intricately carved in Gothic
style, highly polished with plaster figures. The dedication is on the
front of a broad base upon which is mounted a painted pieta. A backboard
behind this bears the names and is mounted with finials. The lettering
is goilded. There are 23 names listed for World War 1 only. The memroial
was dedicated by the Very Reverend Dean Calrke 5th June 1921 and details
appeared in the Warrington Guardian 4th June 1921.
|
Photograph
copyright © Stephen Nulty 2008 |
"THY
WILL BE DONE"
R.I.P.
SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY ON THE SOULS
OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE INSCRIBED
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR GOD, THEIR
KING AND THEIR COUNTRY
1914 - 1918
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
ATHERTON |
James |
Private
6180, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died 31st
October 1914. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate)
Memorial, Panel 41 & 43.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Crowley
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed In Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
James
Atherton’s birth was registered in Warrington in the June
quarter of 1878, Volume 8c, Page 174.
The
earliest census record for James Atherton is from 1881. This shows
the Atherton family living at 33, Bostock Street, Warrington. Parents
James (a 28 year old Labourer) and Martha (24) have children Sarah
(5) and James (3). By the time of the 1891 census, the family had
moved to 50, Radcliffe Road, Aspull. In addition, the family has
grown, with four more children; Annie (10), Martha (7), Lilie (4)
and Dina (1).
James
Atherton married Alice Shaw in the June quarter of 1899 in Wigan,
Volume 8c, Page 30.
Service
Information
James
Atherton was a soldier long before the outbreak of the First World
War. His original attestation shows that he signed up on 27th October
1899 at Chorley. He stated that he was aged 20 years 10 months and
worked as a Collier. He noted at that time that he had previously
served with the Lancashire Fusiliers Militia. On the form giving
his description, however, he states that he is aged 21. This also
shows him to be 5ft 9 ¼ inches in height, with a 34-inch
chest expanded to 36 inches. He had a scar on his right forearm
and several scars on the back of his left hand.
With
regard to his service with the Militia, he was discharged on 24th
July 1898 after serving just 22 days, upon payment of £1.
At that time, he was described as aged 19, of a fresh complexion
with grey eyes and dark brown hair. Between 1899 and 1907, he was
posted in areas such as Malta, Cyprus, Crete, Gibraltar and South
Africa. He was discharged in 1910 but rejoined in 1911.
At
the outbreak of war in August 1914, the 1st Battalion, Loyal North
Lancashire Regiment, was based in Aldershot but were sent to France
within a few days, moving into Belgium in September.
The
history of the Regiment states the following with regard to the
1st Battalion on the date on which Pte. Atherton was reported as
Killed in Action. The Battalion was located near to Hooge in Belgium,
trying to prevent the German advance as part of what later became
know as the 1st Battle of Ypres.
“As
a result of the hasty reinforcing of the line during the day, units
were now much mixed up, and sorting and reorganization went on long
after dark. And there was other work to be done. A new line of trenches,
roughly north and south through the 8th kilometre stone, opposite
the cross-roads captured by the enemy, and half a mile from them,
had to be dug during the night, and the line re-allotted; entrenching
tools were scarce and time was lost in trying to find more.
During
the night of the 30th-31st, the four companies of the Battalion
were strung out along a line of trenches, most of the time under
a heavy bombardment; and on the early morning of the 31st, the Battalion
was ordered to retire through the wood to Hooge, where it formed
up. On the receipt of fresh orders it went forward again at 9 a.m.
and, in company with the Gordon Highlanders, made a successful attack
ending with a bayonet charge on the enemy, inflicting considerable
loss upon him. Advancing again, the Battalion occupied a position
facing the village of Gheluvelt.
By
this time the losses to the Battalion were very serious, some eight
officers and four hundred other ranks being missing, while their
fate, whether killed or wounded, was wholly uncertain.”
Private
Atherton was one of those killed, although it is not clear how he
met his death, or if and where he was buried. For this reason, his
name appears on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing.
His
war service records that he went abroad early in August 1914 and
was posted missing on 31st October 1914. The War Office wrote on
10th June 1916 that for official purposes, Private Atherton was
to be regarded as having died “on or since 31st October 1914”.
His
next of kin is listed as his wife, Alice, of 4, Rutters Building,
Scotland Gate, Choppington, Northumberland. He had married Alice,
nee Shaw, on 6th May 1899 in Haigh and Aspull. Their children are
listed as Margaret (b. 05/05/1899, Wigan), James (14/08/1910, Warrington),
Harry Nathan (18/08/1912, Choppington), Sydney (01/12/1904, Warrington
(Adopted)) and Thomas (11/04/1907, Warrington (also adopted)).
In
October 1915, Mrs Atherton was awarded a pension of 18/6 per week
(18 shillings and six pence) for herself with effect from 1st November
1915, plus an additional allowance of 14/- (fourteen shillings)
per week in respect of the children Sydney and Thomas, this latter
payment “not to extend beyond 31st December 1915”. The
pension was subject to increase on verification of his wife’s
age. |
BLACKSTOCK |
Christopher
[Rowland] |
Aircraftman
1st Class F/22914, HMS President II, Royal Naval Air Service. Died
4th September 1917. Aged 26. Son of George and Phoebe Blackstock.
Buried in Great Sankey (St Mary) Churchyard Extension, Ref. I. 40.
Personal
Information
Born
– Old Swan, Liverpool
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Died
Theatre of War – Home
Birth
registered Q1/1891, West Derby
Recorded
in the 1891 census, Christopher is aged 10 days living at 26, Black
Horse Lane, West Derby, Liverpool along with his parents George
(43), a shepherd and Phoebe (38), and siblings Elizabeth (15), James
(11), Robert (8), Jane (7), Jessie (6) and George (3). By the time
of the 1901 census, the family, which by now included an additional
daughter Maud, aged 7, had moved to Hood Lane in Sankey.
Service
Information
Christopher’s
military service record survives at the National Archives in London.
It shows that he was born on 16th January 1891 in Old Swan, and
that by the time he enlisted on 30th October 1916, he was working
as a Commercial Traveller. He is recorded as being 5 foot 7in height,
37 inch chest, Brown hair, Grey eyes and with a fresh complexion.
His
complete record is shown to be with President II, which was the
accounting base for the Royal Naval Air Service. As such, a person
may have simply been recorded as serving on President whilst they
were “in between” ships, serving at an external base,
and also as it was an accounting base someone listed at President
II could also be on a ship or boat too small for it’s own
paymaster.
From
30th October 1916 to 2nd November 1916 he is shown to be an Aircraftman
2nd Class serving at Crystal Palace. From 3rd November 1916 to 26
February 1917, he served at Cranwell, and then from 27th February
1917 to 2nd August 1917 at Calshot.
On
3rd August 1917, he is shown to have been promoted to Aircraftman
1st Class but is then shown as “DD”, which stands for
“Discharged Dead”. This occurred on 4th September 1917
when he is shown to have been accidentally killed by a seaplane
propeller. His discharge further records his conduct as “Very
Good” and his Ability as “Satisfactory”.
Newspaper
Reports
The
Warrington Guardian of 8th September 1917 reported,
STRUCK
BY A PROPELLER
-------
TRAGIC DEATH OF MR C. R. BLACKSTOCK
Second
Aircraftman Christopher Rowland Blackstock of the Royal Naval Air
Service, youngest son of the late Mr George and Mrs Blackstock of
26 Hood-lane, was accidentally killed on Tuesday.
The news was contained in an official notification from the Admiralty,
received on Wednesday afternoon as follows; ‘I regret to inform
you that the telegraphic information has reached this department
that Christopher Rowland Blackstock, Aircraftman Second Grade, belonging
to the Royal Naval Air Service, was accidentally killed at Calshot
this morning (9th inst.) by a blow on the head from a seaplane propeller’.
By the same post his wife received a letter dated 4th September
from his chum who wrote ‘I really do not know how to express
my feelings to you in having to give you the sad information that
your dearly loved husband was fatally injured this morning at 9.35
and passed away five minutes afterwards. Try and bear this loss
as well as you can and rest assured that you have the sympathy of
all the lads on the station, by whom he was loved, one and all.
He never knew anything about it or suffered any pain. It was not
through any fault of his own; the propeller shaft broke clean off
and hit poor Rowland’.
Second Aircraftman Blackstock was born at Stoneycroft, Liverpool
and was 26 years of age. He was educated at Arpley-street School
and afterwards entered the service of Messrs. W. D. Houghton and
Co. Ltd., Sankey Wire Mills, eventually becoming their London traveller.
He was secretary of Warrington Town FC and was extremely popular.
He was a member of Sankey St Mary’s Church Choir and Bible
Class. He joined the Air Service in October 1916 and was married
as recently as January last to Miss Elizabeth Moran of Pickmere-street,
Warrington. His brother Robert, who was serving with the Royal Garrison
Artillery at Gallipoli, was seriously wounded in the head and in
consequence received his discharge. Another brother, Corporal John
P Blackstock of the Royal Field Artillery, has been on active service
for about two years.
The funeral will take place at Sankey Cemetery tomorrow (Sunday)
afternoon at 3.45 |
CALLAGHAN |
Daniel
[Patrick] |
Private
242449, 1st/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died 19th April 1917.
Aged 23. No known grave. Commemorated on Jerusalem Memorial, Panels
12 to 15.
Personal
Information
Enlisted
– Warrington
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Died
Theatre of War – Palestine
1901
Census
The
Callaghan family lived at Fulwood Barracks in Preston, home to the
South Lancashire Regiment. The family comprised father Daniel, a
45 year old Sergeant in the Infantry, mother Elizabeth (28), and
children John (12), Frank (10), Daniel (8), Catherine (4) and David
(2).
Service Information
Daniel
Callaghan attested into the 5th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment,
stating that he was 24 years of age and that had previously served
with the as Private 20290, No 3 Supernumerary Company, 3rd Battalion,
South Lancashire Regiment and also as Private 493, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own).
He
was a labourer, 5 foot 8 inches in height and weighed 154 pounds
with a 35 inch chest measurement.
His
previous service is further reported to have been initially as a
Private with the South Lancs. Regiment from 5th May 1915 to 28th
July 1915, on which date he was promoted to Corporal, then transferring
to the Norfolk Regiment on 2nd November 1915.
His
conduct sheet shows two entries.
1) On 20th December 1915, when based at Halton Camp, Wendover,
he was “absent off pass from 11 pm on 20/12/15 to 10 pm
on 21/12/15”. For this offence, he did not receive any punishment.
2)
That on 31st March 1916, based at Picquet Camp, Ismailia (Egypt),
he committed the offence of “When on Active Service, was
drunk in camp about 5.50 p.m. when called to guard”. On
3rd April, he was punished with “a severe reprimand”
by the Company Sergeant Major. He reverted to Private at his own
request on 24th February 1917.
Following
the first battle of Gaza in March 1917, in which the Allies had
failed to dislodge the Turkish Army from the ridges between Beersheba
and Gaza, orders were received to re-engage with the enemy to capture
the heights as they formed the only realistic route into Palestine.
Despite the fact that the Turks, under German command, were now
fully aware of British and Allied intentions, a full frontal assault
on the 18,000 strong Turkish force was undertaken on 19th April
1917 by an Allied force with a 2:1 manpower advantage, with the
usual artillery barrage preceding the assault.
However,
due mainly to the highly effective Turkish defensive system, the
attack was called off after three days having made only minor gains
and yet incurring over 6,000 casualties killed, wounded and missing.
The 4th & 5th Territorial battalions of the Norfolk Regiment
suffered 75% casualties in the battle.
On
19th April 1917, Private Callaghan was officially reported as missing.
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial.
In
April 1920, his family reported to the Records Officer of the Norfolk
Regiment that Daniel Callaghan was not married, and that his parents,
as next-of-kin, were Daniel and Elizabeth Callaghan, of 152 Wellfield-street,
Warrington. Brothers John (30), Francis (28), William (19), Stephen
(15) and Bernard (12) were listed, along with his sisters Catherine
(23) and one other (name illegible), aged 16.
Newspaper
Reports
Warrington
Guardian 19th May 1917
“CORPORAL
D. P. CALLAGHAN
News is wanted of Corporal Daniel Patrick Callaghan of the Norfolk
Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs D. Callaghan of 152, Wellfield-street,
Warrington, who was reported missing after an engagement on April
19th. He joined the South Lancashire Regiment in July 1915 before
afterwards transferring to the Rifle Brigade and again in February
to the Norfolk Regiment. He is 23 years of age and an old scholar
of Sacred Heart School. He attended the Sacred Heart Church. Before
enlisting, he was employed in the Soapery of Messrs. Joseph Crosfield
& Sons.“ |
CROWE |
[Justin]
James |
Private
34433, 14th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 14th April
1918. Aged 32. Son of Matthew and Annie Crowe. No known grave. Commemorated
on Ploegsteert Memorial.
Personal
Information
Born
– Liverpool
Enlisted – Ormskirk
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed In Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
The
birth of Justin James Crowe was registered in the June quarter of
1888 in West Derby, Volume 8b, Page 626.
In
the 1891 census, Justin Crowe is 2 years old and is living at Signalman’s
Cottage, Station Road, Penketh with his parents Matthew (39, a Railway
Signalman) and Ann (37, a dressmaker). Also there are his siblings
Austen (5) and Harold (1). His maternal grandmother, 82 year old
Elizabeth Gore is also resident at the address.
By
the time of the 1901 census, the family has an additional daughter
- Valeria, aged 8. They still lived at the same address as 1891.
Service
Information
Also
served in Italy, Formerly 43001, South Lancashire Regiment
Extracted
from ‘The First Birmingham Battalion in the Great War’
by J E B Fairclough.
The
5 Div. (13 Bde.,14 RWR) were occupying a line from Robecq in the
south through the forest north to La Motte Chateau facing Merville.
‘In
the evening of the 13th, Major St. J. S. Quarry arrived to take
over command of the battalion, and orders were received for “B”
Company to attack Le Vertbois Farm that night. The farm was successfully
re-captured, but in the attack we lost our new CO., who was killed
whilst gallantly leading his men. Unfortunately the farm had to
be evacuated later as it formed a too exposed salient in the line.
Captain R. C. Watts again assumed command of the battalion.
Determined
attacks were resumed against us on the 14th, and one attack caused
a slight withdrawal on part of the battalion front, but a support
company of the Devons immediately counter-attacked and promptly
restored the situation. Very heavy attacks were delivered on the
left, and several times during the day concentrations of infantry
and mounted detachments were seen. Our artillery, with plenty of
ammunition, had now come up into position, and put down some accurate
and devastating barrages, thereby smashing up several attacks.
All
the attacks were preceded by bombardments, and it was extremely
difficult to move up any reinforcements through the belt of fire.
The task of breaking up attacks devolved upon the infantry and machine
guns in the front line, who had been there from the beginning and
who stolidly stood their ground with the utmost gallantry and coolness.
The
practices in musketry indulged in on the Piave front had yielded
excellent results and the tradition of the British army for rifle-shooting
was well maintained. The artillery, too, deserved praise for they
had carried out a rapid march and on arrival quickly got into action.
We felt much happier in having their support, for when they did
start, they did excellent work and proved of the greatest assistance
in repelling the heavy attacks. The front line battalions were relieved
on the night of the 14th-15th, the 14th Royal Warwicks being relieved
by the Royal West Kents, and the battalion moved back into the wood,
as reserve. It had been a very trying time for all ranks; seven
attacks had been beaten off in forty-eight hours and the casualties
had been very heavy. Our losses were : officers killed 2, wounded
4 ; other ranks killed 25, wounded 109, missing 29.’
It
is not clear how Pte. Crowe met his death, or if and where he was
buried. For this reason, his name appears on the Ploegsteert Memorial
to the missing.
Newspaper Reports
The
Warrington Guardian of 1st June 1918 reported:-
“Official
news has been received that Private Justin James Crowe, Royal Warwickshire
Regiment, who was posted as wounded and missing on April 14, has
been killed in action on that date.
Private
Crowe, who was the second son of Mrs Crowe, 39, Thewlis-street,
Warrington, was a member of a well-known local family. He joined
the Army Service Corps in 1916, but was afterwards transferred to
the South Lancashire Regiment. Subsequently he was attached to the
Royal Warwickshire Regiment, serving in two theatres of war. An
old scholar of the Sacred Heart School, Private Crowe completed
his education At the Secondary School, Widnes. He was 30 years of
age.”
(Note
that the reported age does not agree with that held by CWGC). |
DORRIAN |
James |
Private
49018, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Died 23rd August 1918. Aged
19. Son of John and Catherine Dorrian, of 79, Liverpool Rd., Warrington.
Buried in Warrington Cemetery, Ref. C RC 147.
Personal Information
Born
– Glasgow
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Died of Wounds
Theatre of War – Home
In
the 1901 census, the family are shown as living at “Halecliff”
in Hale. The youngest child, James, is shown as aged 1 and had been
born in Scotland, so the family must have only recently moved. The
head of the household, 39 year old John, is a foreman Shipbreaker.
Along with wife Catherine (34), there are also children Patrick
(8) and John (5), as well as James. Bridget Gibbons, a 60 year old
widow and mother of Catherine, is also living with the family. The
three adults are all shown as being born in Ireland.
Service
Information
James
Dorrian passed his medical as fit for active service on 3rd March
1917. As he was still aged 17, he could not join the services immediately
and it was August 1917 before he joined the 72nd Training Reserve
Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment at Warrington, being
allocated service number 58490. He gave his address as 79, Liverpool
Road, Warrington. At the time, he was single, worked as a Clerk
and was aged 18 years 1 month. He was 5 foot t inches tall and had
a 34 inch chest measurement, expandable by 2 inches. His father,
John, was listed as his next of kin.
He was transferred into the 51st (Young Soldiers) Battalion of the
King’s (Liverpool) Regiment on 8th December 1917 before finally
being transferred into the 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
His
records show that he trained in the UK until 4th April 1918, when
he embarked for France.
The
7th Battalion of the Norfolks were heavily involved in The Battle
of Amiens, which began on 8 August 1918. This was the opening phase
of the Allied offensive later known as the “Hundred Days Offensive”
that ultimately led to the end of World War I. Allied forces advanced
over seven miles on the first day, one of the greatest advances
of the war.
It
is likely that Private Dorrian suffered his wounds in this battle,
with his records noting that he suffered from a Gun Shot Wound to
the neck. This appears to have occurred around the 11th August.
He remained in France until 15th August 1918, when he was sent back
to the UK for treatment, arriving in the UK and being admitted to
Southampton War Hospital on 16th August 1918.
He
died on 23rd as a result of his wounds. The hospital wrote to his
unit on 26th August advising them that he had died at 8:10 a.m.
on 23rd August as a result of a gun shot wound to the throat, also
advising them that his family had been informed. In the same communication,
they reported that his body had been sent to Bank Quay Station for
internment by the family.
The
War Office wrote to the Regimental records officer on 11th January
1919 requesting that any personal effects of Private Dorrian be
returned to his father at the Liverpool Road address, also any medals
which were to be issued. The medals, as shown on the Medal Index
Card below, were posted on 9th November 1921.
To
determine the ownership of his Memorial Scroll and Plaque, his father
completed the Next of Kin form on 19th April 1919. In addition to
his parents, this showed his brothers as Hugo (26), John (20) and
Edward (age unknown).
The
Memorial Scroll for Private Dorrian was sent to his father on 30th
January 1920, receipt being acknowledged on 2nd February. In May
1921, the Imperial War Graves Commission issued the Final Verification
Form to the Norfolk Regiment, asking them to confirm the details
of Private Dorrian for the IWGC records.
His Medal Index Card, shown below records his entitlement to the
Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Newspaper
Reports
The
Warrington Guardian of 17th August 1918 reported:-
“Mr
& Mrs John Dorrian, 79, Liverpool Road, Warrington, received
a telegram last Sunday to the effect that their eldest son, Private
James Dorrian, Norfolk Regiment, is lying dangerously wounded at
an Australian general hospital at the front.
Private Dorrian was called up twelve months ago and had been on
active service since last April. He was educated at the Sacred Heart
School and was formerly employed by the Pearson and Knowles Iron
and Coal Co. Mr & Mrs Dorrian have two other sons serving their
country. Second Air-Mechanic Hugh Dorrian joined the RAF a few months
ago and Second-Mate John Dorrian, Royal Naval Transport, has been
with the forces since the outbreak of the war.”
The
Warrington Guardian of 24th August 1918 further reported:-
“Mr
& Mrs Dorrian of 79, Liverpool Road, Warrington, have received
news that their son, Private James Dorrian, Norfolk Regiment (last
week reported as lying dangerously wounded at an Australian Field
Hospital), died of wounds on Thursday”.
It
is noted that Pte. Dorrian is recorded within “Soldiers Died”
as having died in the “Home” theatre of war and is buried
in Warrington cemetery. This indicates that he had been moved from
the Australian hospital mentioned in the initial newspaper report
and had arrived in the UK for further treatment before dying. The
inscription on the family headstone in Warrington Cemetery, shown
below, confirms this, stating that he died on Southampton War Hospital
from wounds received in France. |
EDMUNDS |
Peter |
Private
3406, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died 25th
September 1915. Aged 17. Son of Catherine Edmunds. No known grave.
Commemorated on Loos Memorial.
Note:
Peter Edmunds name appears to have been spelt in different ways
between his birth and death, with some references to “EDMONDS”
and some to “EDMUNDS”. Analysis of the various data
sources confirms that these both relate to the same man.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
The
birth of Peter Rylands Edmunds registered in the June quarter of
1898 in Warrington, Volume 8c, Page 214
The
1901 census shows Peter, aged 3, living at 54 Selby Street, with
his mother Catherine, aged 30, and sister Jane, aged 1. His father
is not present, although his mother is shown to be married and the
wife of the head of household. Information that his father fought
in the Boer War explains his absence from the census.
Service
Information
Peter
Edmonds attested to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Warrington
as Private 3406 on 28th August 1914. He was aged 18 years 6 months
and recorded that he worked as a Labourer. His next of kin was listed
as his father, Peter of 29, Crossley Street, Warrington. He stood
5 foot 11 inches tall, weighed 105 pounds and had a 33 ½
inch chest measurement, expandable by 2 inches. His complexion was
described as “sallow” and he had dark hair and eyes.
He recorded his religion as Roman Catholic. Peter passed his medical
and was deemed to be fit for active service.
Initially
assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the Regiment, he was posted to
the 11th Battalion on 30th October 1914, then back to the 3rd Battalion
on 5th February 1915. At Felixstowe on 3rd March 1915, he was charged
and found guilty of “Inattention at Lecture Parade”
and sentenced to 2 days Confined to Barracks. Then on 23rd March,
he was again charged and found guilty of “Being Absent from
Musketry Parade until about 3.15 p.m.” and sentenced to 7
days Confined to Barracks.
He
was finally posted to the 1st Battalion on 5th April, his final
day in the UK, as he embarked for France on that date, arriving
there the following day.
Details
of Private Edmonds movements over the first few months with the
British Expeditionary Force are not clear, but by September, his
battalion was ready for involvement in the forthcoming Battle of
Loos.
The
combined British and French offensive at Loos would attack on a
20 mile front eastwards towards the German lines. The plan was brutally
simple; the strong enemy positions would be crushed by 4 days continuous
bombardment, with a 4-hour final crescendo before the infantry attacked.
The latter would be arrayed in great depth, each Division placing
no more than half of two Brigades in the first line. A constant
flow of men would follow, as would the reserves behind the assaulting
Divisions. It was decided to use intense smoke barrages to conceal
the front as far as possible, and also to employ Chlorine gas for
the first time as a means of compensating for the relatively lightweight
artillery.
The
attack commenced at 5.50 a.m. on 25th September 1915 with the release
of the gas cloud, The gas forms a 30 to 50 feet high blanket, moving
forward slowly in places (although still short of the enemy positions
at 6.25am), but is virtually standing still in the British assault
positions in other areas.
The
left-hand 1st Division began to advance a few minutes late, after
casualties were suffered from the British gas which had drifted
back into the assault trenches. On the right front of 2nd Brigade,
which included the Loyal North Lancs., it was discovered that the
enemy wire was undamaged, having been out of direct observation
over a crest line, and two German machine guns and heavy rifle fire
played across the lines of advancing troops as desperate efforts
were made to cut the wire. The succeeding lines of infantry could
not move forward and took to ground just below the gentle crest
line. By 7.30am the gas and smoke had cleared, completely exposing
the pinned-down troops in no man's land.
The
1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancs., lost 489 men, including Private
Edmonds, in the initial assault. The Battle of Loos continued until
it petered out on 13th October. By that time, the British Army had
sustained over 61,000 casualties, of which almost 8,000 were dead.
Private
Edmonds body was initially recovered from the battlefield and his
service record shows that he was buried on 3rd November “on
the battlefield in the neighbourhood of LE RUTOIRE and HULLOCK”.
However, this grave was lost in subsequent fighting and was never
relocated in the post war years. Private Edmonds is now remembered
on the Loos Memorial to the missing.
On
8th November 1915, the Regimental Records Officer wrote to the Paymaster
asking for details of any individual who was drawing on Private
Edmonds pay, or had a Separation Allowance. The Paymaster replied
that there were no such cases.
Peter
Edmonds father, also Peter, wrote to the Records Office at Preston
on 20th May 1919 with details of Private Edmonds family, enabling
the records Office to determine ownership of the memorial Plaque
and Scroll. He recorded himself as father, but under “Mother”
he wrote “none”. Peter’s mother, Catherine, had
died in 1907. Peter’s siblings were listed as Thomas (15),
Jane (20) and Florence (16).
Newspaper
Reports
Warrington
Guardian, 27th November 1915
“KILLED
AT THE BATTLE OF LOOS
YOUNG
SOLDIER’S LAST LETTER HOME
Official
news has been received by Mrs Crozier of 16, Crossley-street, Warrington,
of the death in action of her nephew, Private Peter Edmonds of the
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Private Edmonds, who was quite young, enlisted last year, soon after
the outbreak of war, and went to the front last March. It was while
taking part in the battle of Loos that he was killed. A comrade,
Private Preston, whose home is in Winwick-road, has written saying
that he saw Private Edmonds body hanging in some wire entanglements
before the German trenches. Three of his comrades volunteered to
go out and fetch the body; one of them was shot dead and another
wounded.
In the last letter his aunt received from him, written shortly before
the battle of Loos, Private Edmonds said, “Give my best respects
to all at home, as we are about to go into a warm time. I think
I shall get over but if I do not it will not matter, so good-bye
and good luck.”
Private Edmonds father is serving in France with the 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). He is an old soldier and fought through
the Boer War. Before enlisting, Private Edmonds worked for Messrs.
Monks, Hall and Co. Ltd., He attended the Church of the Sacred Heart.” |
EVANS |
Henry |
Corporal
13285, “C” Company, 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Died 21st February 1916. Buried in Rue-Du-Bacquerot No.1 Military
Cemetery, Laventie, I.F. 5
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
Service
Information
The
9th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers had formed
in Wrexham in September 1914 as a result of Kitchener’s call
for 100,000 recruits, and after training, it crossed to France in
July 1915.
After
taking part in the Battle of Loos between September and October
1915, the battalion moved around in and out of the line in standard
rotation. It is likely that Corporal Evans was part of a working
party when he was killed, rather then in any set piece action or
battle.
Corporal
Evans’ Medal Index Card (showing the usual way of interchanging
of the names Harry and Henry), confirms his entry into the France
& Flanders Theatre of War on 19th July 1915, qualifying him
for the 1915 Star in addition to his British War Medal and Victory
Medal. It also notes that he was killed in action.
Newspaper
Reports
Warrington
Guardian, 26th February 1916
“CORPORAL
HENRY EVANS
UNOFFICIAL
NEWS OF HIS DEATH
Mrs
Evans, of 148, Lovely-lane, Warrington, has this week received unofficial
news that her son, Corporal Henry Evans of the 9th Battalion, Royal
Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action on Monday February 21st.
The news was conveyed to Mrs Evans by one of her sons comrades on
leave, Private Smart, who said that Private Evans was one of a covering
party for a section of the Royal Engineers who were fixing barbed
wire entanglements when he was killed. He was buried with military
honours.
Corporal Evans, who before joining the army was employed by the
Co-Operative Society on the Boot Department, enlisted in September
1914 and was sent to the front in July last year. He was highly
popular among his comrades at the front.” |
FARRINGTON |
Thomas |
Lance
Corporal 16562, 7th/8th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
Died 9th August 1916. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial,
Pier and Face 4A & 4D.
Personal
Information
Born
– Fulham
Enlisted – Warrington
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
In
the 1901 census, the 10 year old Thomas is living at 10, Glasshouse
Row, with his parents Thomas (40), a chemical labourer and Anne
(37). Also recorded are siblings William (14), Mary (7) and Patrick
(4).
Service
Information
Lance
Corporal Farrington’s Service Number suggests that he enlisted
around 9th November 1914.
The
book “Battalions on the Somme” by Ray Westlake gives
the following information.
7th/8th
(Service) Battalion. 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division:
Reached
Candas from Bethune sector (28/7) . To Flesselles (31/7), Molliens-au-Bois
(4/8), Franvillers (5/8), Becourt (7/8) and from there to forward
positions near Martinpuich. German counter attack - (17/8). Casualties
- 224. Relieved by 10th Scottish Rifles and to camp just outside
Albert on Amiens Road (18/8). To support trenches (29/8), front
line (31/8), Scots Redoubt (4/9). Moved forward (14/9) - attack
and capture of Martinpuich (15/9). Relieved and to Behencourt (18/9).
War Diary gives casualties since arriving in Fourth Army area (28/7)
as 34 officers and 886 other ranks. To Albert (30/9), Scots Redoubt
(9/10). Took over trenches near Le Sars (15/10). To Lozenge Wood
(18/10), front line (28/10), Millencourt (3/11), Baizieux (13/11).
Later to Havernas and Wargnies.
Newspaper
Reports
Warrington
Guardian, 26th August 1916
“Official
notice was received yesterday that Lance Corporal Thomas Farrington
of the Scottish Borderers was killed in action on August 9th by
a shell. He was the only support of his widowed mother, Mrs. A.
Farrington, of 24, Beswick-street, Warrington, to whom he was much
attached. Lance Corporal Farrington, who was in his 25th year, was
for 11 years employed by Messrs. Monks, Hall & Co. Ltd. He was
keenly interested in football, playing for the Wellfield-street
Juniors. He enlisted in October 1914 and was wounded at the battle
of Loos. He was an old boy of Sacred Heart School.”
Lance Corporal Farrington’s body was never identified and
he is remembered on the Thiepval memorial to the Missing of the
Somme. |
FLEMING |
George |
Rifleman
Z/332, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Died 9th May 1915. Aged 19.
Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Fleming, of 18, Howard St., Warrington.
No known grave. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 10.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
George
Fleming’s birth was registered in the March quarter of 1896
in Warrington, Volume 8c, Page 262
Service
Information
Most
of the Rifle Brigade men with the “Z” prefix to their
service number enlisted around August and September of 1914 and
were moved to France in mid-March 1915 as reinforcements, following
the battalion’s involvement in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle.
On 9th May 1915, the 2nd Battalion took part in the ill-fated attack
on Aubers Ridge, part of the Battle of Fromelles.
At
5.00 a.m. on the morning of the 9th, the bombardment of the German
trenches commenced, many of the shells falling short of their intended
target and causing severe casualties amongst the men waiting to
attack.
At
5.40 a.m. the guns were lifted and two huge mines were detonated
by the 1/13 London Regiment, taking with them forty-eight men of
16 Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. The detonation of the mines
was the signal for the infantry attack to begin. The 2nd Battalion
had only one hundred or so yards of open ground to cover, but as
soon as the first line of men began to advance from the forward
sap, they were met by a withering hail of rifle and machine-gun
fire, resulting in severe losses.
The
only place where the German wire had been successfully cut by the
artillery bombardment was that part which lay directly opposite
the 2nd Battalion. None of the attacks to the right or left of the
Battalion had succeeded and only a 250 yard section of the German
trench was taken.
The
men of the 2nd Battalion, and just a handful of men of the Royal
Irish Rifles, found themselves alone and without any further support.
Despite this, the men barricaded both ends of the trench, all the
while being bombed by the enemy from either side.
At
about 6.45 a.m. a number of men were seen to be retiring from the
trench, an unauthorised order to retreat having been given. Brigadier
Lowry-Cole mounted the parapet in an attempt to halt the retreat
and was fatally wounded. German prisoners, running towards the British
trenches, gave rise to the mistaken belief that a counter-attack
was taking place and the prisoners were fired upon.
Meanwhile,
“A” and “C” Companies had reached the German
trench, relieving “B” and “D” Companies
who now pressed on and were able to occupy the line of the road,
but they were subjected to very heavy machine-gun fire from left
and right and from the rear. At about 8.00 a.m., with nearly all
of the officers having been killed or wounded and being unable to
move any further forward, the men began to drift back to the captured
trench.
At
about 12.00 noon, Colonel Stephens, the Battalion’s commanding
officer, received the message telling him that, following the death
of Brigadier-General Lowry-Cole, he now had command of the Brigade.
Also at about this time, 2nd Lt. Gray (the Battalion’s machine-gun
officer) and approximately fifty reinforcements made their way across
the open, but such was the ferocity of the opposition, that only
the officer and about fifteen men arrived, the rest becoming casualties
along the way. 2nd Lt. Gray succeeded in repairing a captured machine-gun
and this proved invaluable when the enemy counter-attacked at about
7.30 p.m.. The attack failed and by 8.30 p.m. all was quiet.
At
about 2.00 a.m., and under cover of darkness, the enemy attacked
again. Having had time to plan, the Germans came prepared. The men
were subjected to attack from the left, right, front and rear, the
frontal attack being met by machine-gun fire and repelled. By now
the defenders’ supply of bombs had been exhausted and the
barricades at either end of the trench were destroyed, the men being
driven into the centre of the trench.
A
fierce, hand-to-hand battle ensued, the men now fighting for their
lives, but by 3.00 a.m. it was all over, the exhausted remnants
of the Battalion making their escape, but suffering heavy losses
from the following machine-gun fire. 2nd Lt. Gray was the last man
to leave the trench, using the captured machine-gun to hold the
enemy at bay, thereby giving the men a chance to escape.
In
the meantime, Colonel Stephens, desperate to save his battalion,
had managed to gather together some men of the 2nd Battalion Queen’s
Regiment, but this took some hours and by the time he returned to
the front line, there was nothing left to save.
At
5.00 a.m. on 10th May and out of a battalion which twenty-four hours
before had been nine hundred strong, two officers and one hundred
and ninety-five men marched back to their billets in Sailly.
Fifteen
officers and two hundred and forty-eight were men killed. Of this
number, only two officers and fourteen men have known graves, the
rest, including George Fleming, are commemorated on the Ploegsteert
Memorial to the Missing. Some of the dead were buried by the Germans,
but the majority lay out on the battlefield until clearance began
in 1919. By this time, their bodies could not be identified.
A
Catholic priest, serving with the German Army, later wrote “After
two hours fighting the enemy was beaten back. You can scarcely have
an idea of the work this represented. How these Englishmen had in
twelve hours dug themselves in! The hundred fellows who were in
our trenches had brought with them an enormous quantity of ammunition,
a machine gun, and one they had captured from us. With the aid of
the material laying about they had everything ready and ship-shape
for defence. Almost every single man of them had to be put out of
action with hand-grenades. They were heroes all, brave and true
to the end, until death. We captured about fifty of them, well set
up, extremely muscular soldiers. In the course of the day we picked
up about thirty more of them wounded. These were men of the active
English Rifles-Brigade.” |
FAY |
John
[Edward] |
Private
64884, Depot, Lancashire Fusiliers. Died 12th November 1918. Aged
23. Son of James and Annie Fay, of 192, Wellfield St., Warrington.
Buried in Warrington Cemetery, Ref. X RC 543.
Personal
Information
Born
– Widnes
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Died of Wounds
Theatre of War – Home
The
birth of John Edward Fay was registered in the September quarter
of 1895 in the Prescot registration District (which covered Widnes),
Volume 8b, Page 681.
In
the 1901 census, the family, comprising parents James (28, a Cooper)
and Annie (25, a school teacher), children John (5) and Mary (4),
along with Annie’s widowed father John Murray (58, a chemical
labourer) were living in Bridge Street, Widnes.
Service
Information
Although
at the time of his death Private Fay was serving in the UK with
the Depot Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, the National Archives
holds his Medal Index Card, thereby indicating that he did see overseas
service. However, no date is given for the date on which he first
served overseas, and this is usually an indication that a serviceman
only went overseas after 1st January 1916
His
death was registered in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne registration district.
It seems likely that he died in hospital of wounds received in action.
|
HAMBLETT |
Richard |
Serjeant
6473, 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Died 23rd April 1915.
Aged 36. Husband of Lucy J. Hamblett, of 38, Selby St., Warrington.
Buried in Chester Farm Cemetery, Ref. I A 12 A.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Fleetwood
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
Richard’s
birth was registered in the March quarter of 1881 in Warrington,
Volume 8c, Page 199.
In
the 1891 census, the Hamblett family are shown to be living at 13
Dutton Street, Warrington and comprises parents Richard (40, a bricklayer),
his wife Ann (38) and children Mary Jane (19), James (18), John
(12), Richard (10), Frederick (8) and Sarah (5).
By
1901, Ann is widowed and the family live at 9, Ellesmere Street,
Warrington. There is an additional daughter Annie (9). Richard,
now aged 20, is shown to be a Wire Rope Maker.
Service
Information
On
the 4th August 1914, the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment
were based in Ireland and at 5.25pm they received orders to mobilise
for active service. As part of the 14th brigade, 5th Division they
left Ireland on the 13th August and arrived at La Havre on the 16th/17th.
They
spent the next few months in the thick of the action, taking part
in Battles of The Marne and Aisne, before the establishment of the
trench lines and the beginning of the trench warfare which became
so well known.
January
1915 saw the battalion back in billets at Dranoutre, being brought
back up to strength with drafts from England. In the following months
there was little activity but casualties continued to mount up as
the battalion took its turn in the line.
In
April the division moved to a sector on the Ypres front, taking
a line east of the mound at St Eloi to the western end of Armagh
wood, in preparation for the attack on Hill 60. The attack on Hill
60, which came to be known as the Second Battle of Ypres continued
for three weeks. It was in this fighting that Richard Hamblett was
killed. His body was recovered from the battlefield and he rests
in Chester Farm Cemetery.
Newspaper Reports
The
Warrington Guardian of 1st May 1915 reported,
LOCAL
SERGEANT KILLED
FOUGHT
IN SOUTH AFRICA WAR
Sergeant
Richard Hamblett of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, whose
home was at 28, Selby-street, Warrington, was killed in action on
April 23rd.
The
news reached his wife, Mrs Lucy Hamblett, on Thursday morning in
a letter from a comrade of her husband, Corporal Ferguson of the
Battalion Headquarters. Writing on April 24th, he wrote, ‘I
regret to inform you of the death of your husband, Sergeant Hamblett,
who was killed facing the Germans on April 23rd. His loss is greatly
felt by all who knew him, for he was a brave soldier and well liked.’
Sergeant
Hamblett was the son of Mrs and the late Mr Richard Hamblett, He
was 35 years of age and was a Special reservist. Sergeant Hamblett
had just returned from his annual two months training when the war
broke out. Until he was sent to the front three months ago, he was
engaged in drilling recruits at Cleethorpes.
Sergeant
Hamblett fought in the Boer War and earned his third stripe and
also a medal with five bars. While in South Africa he contracted
rheumatism and fever but recovered and was able to return home.
Sergeant Hamblett , who leaves three young children, was employed
by Messrs. J. Crosfield & Sons Ltd. He attended the Sacred Heart
Church |
HANCOCK |
William |
Rifleman
A/203045, 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Died 10th July
1917. Aged 19. No known grave. Commemorated on Nieuport Memorial.
Personal
Information
Born
– Earlestown
Enlisted – Warrington
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Died of Wounds
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
On
the 1901 census, William, aged 3, is living with his parents William
(28, a Steam Engine Fitter) and Theresa (27) at 31 Liverpool Road,
Warrington. Also at the address are his brothers Bernard (6) and
Charles (5 months).
The
birth of William Joseph Hancock is recorded in the September quarter
of 1897 in Warrington registration district, Volume 8c, Page 186.
His father, William, had married Theresa Colquitt in the June quarter
of 1893 in Warrington, Volume 8c, Page 296
Service
Information
Formerly
Z/2073, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). This number suggests that he signed up for
“Short Service” (denoted by the “Z” prefix.
“Short Service” meant enlisting for three years or the
duration of the war. The low number (2073) is amongst a batch used
for recruits in late August and early September 1914.
The
Battle of the Dunes took place at Nieuport in Belgium, at the extreme
northern end of the front line stretching from Switzerland. The
Belgian Army manned this sector throughout the war except for a
brief period in spring/summer 1917. Following their flooding of
the area by the opening of the Nieuport sea locks and sluices under
fire the Belgians had maintained a bridgehead on the northern riverbank
of about a mile in depth. The British took over the area in preparation
for a push up the coast to capture or stop the main U-boat base
of Brugges and its seaward end of its canal at Zeebrugge. This was
planned to be in conjunction with the Passchendaele offensive further
inland.
It
appears that there were difficulties in the British takeover early
in July 1917, particularly with poor quality bridges over the river,
which meant that artillery support was particularly inadequate.
Once the Germans realised what was happening they launched a pre-emptive
strike on 12th July. Their artillery quickly smashed up what bridging
there was leaving the British troops isolated in the sand dunes
which covered all this part of the coast. Those in the bridgehead
were overrun, killed captured or escaped by swimming the river if
they could. As a result the bridgehead was lost and never recovered,
that part of the British plan was abandoned and Passchendaele became
a bloody slog to capture the ridge and high ground with a view to
further operations northwards to the U- boat bases the following
year. By September the British had returned that part of the line
to the Belgians.
2nd
Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps suffered heavy casualties in this
operation, and Rifleman Hancock was one of those. He has no known
grave and is remembered on the Nieuport memorial. |
HARDY |
William |
Private
201955, 2nd/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Died 13th April
1917. Aged 19. Son of Henry and Emma Hardy, of 83, Cartwright St.,
Warrington. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Ref. VI D 10.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Died of Wounds
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
William’s
birth was registered in the September quarter of 1897 in Warrington,
Volume 8c, Page 256. On the 1901 census, he is shown as the youngest
son, aged 4, of Henry (35, a Wiremill Labourer) and Emma (34) and
lived at 14, Kean Street, Warrington . Also there were his brother
John (11) and sisters Sarah (13), Elizabeth (7) and Mary (6).
Service
Information
The
battalion was formed at Wigan in August/September 1914. In November
1914 they became part of the 199th Brigade, 66th Division. They
remained in Lancashire until about May 1915 then to Crowborough
area. In March 1916 the battalion moved to Colchester, remaining
here on Home Service until early 1917
In
February 1917 the 2/5th landed in France. At the time of Pte. Hardy’s
death, the 2nd/5th Manchesters were part of the 66th Division and
were tied up in holding the line north of Arras. There are no records
providing details of any specific actions taking place at that time,
so it is likely that William Hardy was a victim of the daily trench
warfare being fought at that time. Being recorded as Died of Wounds
suggests that he was evacuated from the front line to a Casualty
Clearing Station, where he ultimately died.
For
much of the First World War, Bethune was comparatively free from
bombardment and remained an important railway and hospital centre,
as well as a corps and divisional headquarters. The 33rd Casualty
Clearing Station was in the town until December 1917. It is likely
that this is where Private Hardy died.
Private
Hardy’s Medal Index Card does not add much to his story, simply
confirming his entitlement to the British War Medal and Victory
Medal.
Newspaper
Reports
The
Warrington Guardian reported:-
“Official
notification has been received that Private William Hardy of the
Manchester Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs Hy. Hardy, 83, Cartwright-street,
Warrington, was killed in action on April 13. Private Hardy, who
was in his 20th year, had been at the front only six weeks. Before
enlisting in May 1916, he was employed by the Whitecross Co. Ltd.,
An old boy of Sacred Heart School, he also attended Sacred Heart
Sunday School. He was a member of the ‘Whitecross Own’
Troop, Boy Scouts.” |
HASTRY |
John |
Private
2773, 1st/4th Battalionn, Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). Died 31st July
1916. Aged 37. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Hastry; husband of Mrs. L. Mock
(formerly Hastry), of 42, Aikin St., Warrington. Born at Warrington.
Buried in Warrington Cemetery, W RC 358.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Died
Theatre of War – Home
The
1901 census records John, aged 22, as still living at home (6, Blackhurst
Road, Warrington) with his parents Patrick (48, a general labourer
born in Ireland) and Margaret (44), along with siblings William
(21), Margaret (16), Annie (14) and Agnes (8). John is shown to
be a Labourer. His marriage to Louisa Lomax is recorded in the September
quarter of 1902 in Warrington, Volume 8c, Page 332.
Service
Information
The
1st/4th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment was a Territorial
Battalion, created from the old 1st Volunteer Battalion (Warrington
and Newton). When war was declared, the battalion had just commenced
its annual training in camp at Hornby. Notices calling all ranks
to the colours were posted in Warrington and the local area by 10
p.m. on the evening of 4th August, whilst additional recruitment
amongst the men of Warrington was initiated. On 13th August the
battalion was sent to Dunfermline for additional training and by
12th September, the strength was 31 officers and 1342 other ranks.
In October, the battalion was sent to Tunbridge Wells were it saw
out the remainder of the year, before finally leaving for France
on 15th February 1915. Pte. Hastry has no medal entitlement recorded
at the National Archives, which suggests that he never served overseas.
The newspaper report of his death (below) reports that it occurred
“on the East Coast”, It seems likely, therefore, that
he was retained in the UK for training or administrative purposes.
Newspaper
Reports
The
Warrington Guardian of 9th August 1916 reported:-
“SOLDIER’S
DEATH FROM HEART FAILURE
The
funeral took place with military honours, on Saturday at Warrington
Cemetery, of Private John Hastry, of the South Lancashire Regiment,
whose home is 44-Aiken-street, Warrington, and whose death took
place from heart failure on the East Coast on Monday July 31st.
The Rev. Father Rockliff officiated.
The
mourners were:- Mrs. Hastry (widow), his young children –
John, Ernest, William, Lewis and Stanley; Mr. W. Hastry (brother),
Mrs. Whittaker, Mrs. McQue, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Horrocks, Mrs. Ayres
(sisters); Mrs. Williamson (mother-in-law); Mr. Walker (brother-in-law),
Mr. P. Lawless (Uncle), Mrs. Moores, Miss S. Lomax, Mrs. Robinson,
Mrs. Hastry (sisters-in-law), Mr. S. Lomax (brother-in-law), Miss
S. Lomax (niece), and Mr. and Mrs. J. Joyner.
Wreaths
were received from the following:-
“His wife and children”, Mr. & Mrs. W. Hastry, Mrs.
Whitaker and family, Mrs. McQue and family, Mrs. Walker and family,
Mrs. Horrocks and family, Mrs. Ayres and family, Mrs. Williamson
and family, Mr. P. Lawless, Mrs. Robinson and family, Mr. S. Lomax.,
Mr. And Mrs. J. H. Joyner, “His non-commissioned officers”
and “His neighbours”.
The
late Private Hastry was a married man with six children and was
37 years of age. Before he enlisted in September 1914, he was employed
as a mechanic by the St. Helens Cable and Rubber Co. Ltd, at Warrington.
He was educated at St. Mary’s school and was a keen all-round
sportsman. As a boy he was captain of the St. Mary’s School
football team for several years and was a member of the Cable Works
cricket team. His brother, Private William Hastry, whose home address
is 96, Algernon-street, is serving with the same Regiment, and it
was he who sent the news to Warrington.
Captain
J. O’Connor, writing to Mrs. Hastry, under date August 2nd
says, “As officer commanding the company, I wish to express
to yourself and family the most sincere sympathy of officers, N.C.O.’s
and men of my company on the sad loss you have sustained by the
death of your husband, Private Hastry, who died suddenly whilst
in execution of his duty. He was a good soldier, and did his work
cheerfully and without complaint, and it came as a great shock to
me and his comrades to hear of his untimely decease. It may be some
consolation to you to know that he has given his life for his country
just as surely as if he had fallen in action. May God in His mercy
enable you to bear your great loss with fortitude and may his soul
rest in peace.” |
LLOYD |
David |
Private
9592, 1st Battalion, Kings (Liverpool Regiment). Died 28th October
1914. Aged 26. Son of Edward Lloyd, of 140, Evelyn St., Warrington,
Lancs., and the late Margaret Lloyd. Buried in Ypres Town Cemetery,
Ref. A1 16.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
14
year old David is shown on the 1901 census to be one of 9 children.
Living at 140, Evelyn Street were Edward (44, an Iron Worker) and
Margaret Lloyd (43), with children Margaret Ellen (22, a Cotton
Weaver), Clara (19, a Cotton Trimmer), Arthur (18, a Striker), Harry
(16, a Furnace Helper), David (14, an Iron Cutter), Ernest (11),
William (9), Alfred (6) and Frederick (2).
David’s
birth was registered in the March quarter of 1887 in Warrington,
Volume 8c, Page 218.
Service
Information
Private
Lloyd originally enlisted in the Army in 1906. After his term had
expired, it is likely that he signed on as a reservist which would
have ensured that he attended annual training camps. He would also
have been mobilised immediately on the outbreak of war. The Regimental
history for the 1st Battalion states that they were quartered in
Talavera Barracks in Aldershot in August 1914 and that mobilising
the battalion took three days, all being “ready for anything”
by 8th August. But then the reservists joined them and a further
few days were spent in bringing these men up to date with items
such as the new short rifle, which they had not used before.
Eventually,
the battalion left Aldershot on 12th August at 6 a.m. and marched
to Farnborough Station were they entrained for Southampton at 8
a.m. , arriving at 9.30 a.m. They embarked aboard the S.S. Irrawaddy
and steamed away at mid-day, arriving it Le Havre at dawn the following
day.
The
battalion was in the midst of the fighting at Mons, the Marne and
the Aisne, before finally, in late October 1914, they became involved
in the defence of Ypres from the initial German assault on the city.
The
diary of the 1st Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment), records
the following:-
“October
27th 1914
Heavy shelling and attacks all day. S. Staffs were pushed through
on our left to Point 27.
D and C companies were heavily attacked and the Germans charged
but were mopped up and didn’t get far. Ammunition supply was
very busy all day and did excellent work.
Casualties
4 N.C.O.’s and men killed and wounded. Gunners got an 18 pdr.
up into our front line which did good work.
October
28th 1914
Another heavy attack in morning but was repulsed. The gunners have
done excellent work in repelling these attacks. Partial attacks
were going on all day, also yesterday. The Germans are wonderful
people for their offensive. Our guns blew down several houses in
front of us, one only 80 yds in front where the enemy had machine
guns.
Were relieved by the HLI at night, relief carried through without
any mishap. Moved into billets and bivouac behind old Head Quarters.
2 N.C.O.’s killed and wounded. Received message from G.O.C.
6th Brigade 28/10/14 ‘I appreciate fully what a very important
part your battalion has taken in the last few days operations and
am very sorry your officers and men should have been hit so hard.’
October
29th 1914
Orders received that everyone was go get as much rest as possible.
1 p.m. received orders to move at once into Divisional Reserve.
At NW corner of Polygon Wood.
Stayed there till dark and dug in. General MUNRO came and saw Major
S. and said to him ‘Your Regiment has done magnificently,
whether on the march or in the field, and even as orderlies., everyone
who comes in tells me so. Tell the men from me they ought to be
proud of themselves’.
30th
October 1914
Received orders at 6 a.m. that we were put back under orders of
the 6th Brigade again and moved back to our last nights billets
at NORD WESTHOCK. About 3.30 heard that Germans had broken through
the line of the Connaught Rangers. C Company sent up to cover that
flank. Heavy shell fire but were quite comfortable in our trenches
and spend a quiet night.”
From the diary entries, it is hard to be precise about where and
exactly when Pte. Lloyd was killed, but his body was recovered from
the battlefield and he now lies on Ypres Town Cemetery.
Newspaper
Reports
Warrington
Guardian, 28th November 1914
“MEMBER
OF A MILITARY FAMILY
A
member of one of the most noteworthy of Warrington’s many
military families, Private David Lloyd of the 1st Battalion, King’s
(Liverpool Regiment), son of Mr. Edward Lloyd of 140, Evelyn-street,
Warrington, is reported by the authorities to have been killed in
action on October 28th. Prior to the war, he was in the employ of
Messrs. Joseph Crosfield and Sons, and he was recalled to the colours
as a reservist of the Regiment with which he had previously served
in India. Private Lloyd was one of five brothers who were serving
their country in the forces.” |
MAHER |
George |
Private
8812, 13th Battalion, Kings (Liverpool Regiment). Died 28th March
1918. No known grave. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Bay 3.
Personal
Information
Born
– Liverpool
Enlisted – Liverpool
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
George
Maher was born in Liverpool in 1887, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs.
Michael Maher. At the time of his death, his parents lived at 44
Elizabeth St, Warrington.
In
the 1901 census, the family lived at Rathbone Street in Liverpool
and comprised Michael (39, a Labourer), his wife Charlotte (36)
and their children George (14), Charlotte (13), Michael (8), John
(4) and Mary (8 months).
In
1910, George Maher, aged 23, married Maria Goncalves in Liverpool.
They had four children, including George (b. 1912), Thomas, (1914)
and John (1918).
Service
Information
Private
Maher embarked for France on 12th August 1914 and was badly wounded
in fighting on the Aisne, doctors being unable to remove the bullet.
He was also wounded by shrapnel in April 1917. He served with the
1st Kings (Liverpool Regiment), and also with the 17th before finally
transferring to the 13th, probably on recovery from wounds.
From The Regimental History of the 13th King’s, and referring
to 28th March 1918, when the German Army began their offensive.
This became known as the First Battle of Arras, 1918.
“At
4.30 a.m. the enemy put down an intense barrage on the whole of
our sector. The trench-mortar barrage on the front line was more
intense than anything previously experienced. The Reserve Line was
barraged with light guns and heavies. Under cover of this barrage
the enemy launched a terrific attack with masses of troops. In spite
of the intensity of the bombardment, the front line stood firm and
poured a devastating fire into the enemy, whose attack was beaten
off with colossal casualties to the attackers. The value of this
steadfastness against tremendous odds cannot be estimated; it gave
the enemy his first check at a point where he was subsequently checked
throughout the day. The enemy came back again in a second attack
with even greater numbers. The battalion on our right was forced
back and the enemy poured in behind “C” and “D”
companies from the right flank. What happened on the left is not
known, All that is known is that these two companies, attacked on
all sides, mounted the parapet and fought to a finish on the ground
on which they stood.
Under
cover of the barrage, the enemy came on up the hill to the reserve
lines. Owing to the nature of the ground, he could not be observed
along most of the battalion front until nearly on our wire. The
barrage lifted and in dense waves the Germans swept on to out lines.
It was the beginning of a fierce battle which lasted until 2.00
p.m.
The
coolness, courage and endurance of the garrison were beyond praise.
Every rifle and Lewis gun brought a tremendous volume of fire to
bear on the approaching masses. In spite of his losses, the enemy
continued to push on until the thin line, wavering, could go no
further and turned down the slope again. Our men mounted the parapet
to keep him under fire so long as they could keep him in sight.
The first attack on the front line had been beaten off and our line
was everywhere intact. The enemy now resumed his barrage on our
positions by firing green lights. An intense barrage came down for
10 or 15 minutes. As soon as it lifted, the enemy immediately came
on to another attack. This also was repulsed with heavy loss to
the enemy”
The
history goes on to state that the battalion were instructed to withdraw
at 3.30 p.m. that day, and that despite strong enemy action, the
withdrawal was completed by 5.00 p.m. The battalion diary records
casualties for the day as one officer killed, two wounded and eight
missing, and in other ranks, twenty one killed, ninety-two wounded
and 254 missing.
There
is no way of knowing in which part of the battle George Maher lost
his life. He has no known grave and is recorded on the Arras memorial
to the missing.
Newspaper
Reports
Private
Maher was first reported wounded in the Warrington Guardian of 10th
October 1914, when it stated that he was in hospital at Oxford with
a bullet wound to his breast. A later article in the Warrington
Guardian (date not known) reported:-
“An
old soldier with 12 years service to his credit before the outbreak
of war – Private George Maher, King’s (Liverpool Regiment),
3, Ernest Street, Warrington – was killed in action on March
28th. A native of Liverpool, Private Maher was employed by Messrs.
Joseph Crosfield and Co. He was among the first to be sent to the
front. He had been through many notable engagements and besides
being wounded on the Aisne – the bullet of which he carried
until his death - was also wounded with shrapnel in April 1917.
Private Maher was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Michael Maher, 44
Elizabeth-street, and leaves a widow and four children, the eldest
of who is only eight years of age.
He
had two brothers and both are on active service. John is with the
Machine-gun Corps and Michael with the Royal Engineers” |
MALLIN |
William |
Serjeant
17628, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). Died 1st September
1918. Buried in Westouter Churchyard and Extension, II E 1.
Personal
Information
Born
– Dublin
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
In
the 1911 census of Dublin, there is an entry for a 25 year old William
Mallin, living at Bride Road, Wood Quay, Dublin. It is not clear,
however, if this is the same man.
Service
Information
Distinguished
Conduct Medal. Military Medal. Formerly Private 5870, Lancashire
Fusiliers
London
Gazette 30340, 16 October 1917.
Award of Military Medal announced to “17629 Cpl. (A./Sjt.)
W. Mallin, S. Lan. R. (Warrington)”.
No citation published, but it was normal for the award to be announced
approximately 3 months after the action for which it was awarded.
The
Regimental History of the Battalion, written in 1934 by Captain
Whalley-Kelly, reported that the activities of the 2nd Battalion
in August and September 1918 were confined to “minor enterprises”.
This was as a result of the major offensives in which they pushed
the Germans back to and beyond the Hindenberg line. It is not clear
in which of these actions Sgt. Mallin was killed, but his body was
recovered and he rests at Westouter Churchyard, Belgium. |
MULHARE |
John
[James] |
Private
27641, 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Attached POW
Company). Died 31st March 1919. Buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery,
Wimlille, XV B 43.
Personal
Information
The
birth of John James Mulhare was registered in the September quarter
of 1895 in Warrington, Volume 8c, Page 255. The 1901 census shows
him, aged 5, as the son of Richard (45) and Kate Mulhare, (43),
living at 8, Wakefield Street Warrington. Also resident is John’s
8 year old sister, Annie. (In some cases, the surname is spelt as
MULHERE).
Newspaper
Reports
The
Warrington Guardian of 5th April 1919 reported,
DIED
IN BOLOUGNE
SOLDIER
VICTIM OF INFLUENZA
Telegraphic
information has been received by Mrs Mulhare, 13 Arkin-street, Warrington,
of the death from influenza and pneumonia on the 31st ult. At No
7 Stationary Hospital, Bolougne, of her husband Private John James
Mulhare of the 2nd/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment.
Private
Mulhare, who was 23 years of age, joined the Colours on May 13th
last, and subsequently proceeded to France, where he served with
the 37th Prisoner of War Company. In his last letter home he referred
quite cheerfully to his task of ‘guarding Jerry’. Upon
his admittance to hospital a very kind letter notifying the fact
was received by his wife from Sister L. W. Rowntree of Ward M1.
Private
Mulhare was formerly a pupil at the Sacred Heart School and for
some time served on the altar of the church. He was employed in
Messrs. Rylands Bros. Wire Netting Department.
John Mulhare’s Medal Index Card shows that he had served with
the Royal Irish Regiment prior to his service with the Royal Dublin
Fusiliers. He was seconded to the Royal Berkshire Regiment but retained
his RDF service number. His medal entitlement is shown as Victory
Medal and British War Medal |
PERFECT |
William
[Lewis] |
Private
379552, Western Command Labour Centre, Labour Corps. Died 9th February
1919. Aged 37. Husband of Annie Maud Perfect, of 40, Elizabeth St.,
Warrington. Buried in Warrington Cemetery, X RC 972.
Personal
Information
Named
as Lewis Perfect on the Sacred Heart Memorial, this man is shown
as William Lewis Perfect on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
database.
Lewis
W. Perfect was born in Malta around 1887. It isn’t clear when
he first came to England, but the first official record to be found
is the 1901 census, which shows him as aged 14, living as 2 Princes
Street, Plymouth in Devon. His father is not shown, but his mother
is 44 year old Eliza Goodwin, a laundress. Lewis occupation is shown
as a Bill Poster. Also there are Lewis’ brothers John, aged
19, and Alfred, 11, and sister Martha Goodwin, aged 5. This suggests
that Eliza had remarried. Lewis is the only family member shown
as being born in Malta; the remainder were all Devon born.
The
next record for Lewis shows him as marrying Annie Maud Carroll in
the September quarter of 1911 in Rugby, Warwickshire. Volume 6d,
Page 1133. They had two sons; Lewis W J Perfect was born in Cardiff
in 1911 and Leonard J Perfect in Warrington in 1913.
His
death in the Whitchurch district register for the March quarter
of 1919, Volume 6a, Page 1246, records him as Lewis W, Perfect and
shows him as aged 32, which suggests that the age held by CWGC (37)
is incorrect, probably as a result of a scanning error when the
records were digitised.
Service
Information
Although
he is serving with the Labour Corps at the time of his death, William
Perfect had previously served overseas as Private 66622 with the
Royal Fusiliers. He has a Medal Index Card at the National Archives
which confirms that he saw active service, and he was probably transferred
into the Labour Corps as a result of being designated unfit for
front line service after being ill or wounded. |
RIGBY |
James |
Rifleman
S/2048, 10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Died 15th January 1915. Aged
20. Son of Charles and Rachel Rigby, of 25, Albert Terrace, Howley,
Warrington. Buried in Warrington Cemetery, G CE 388 (???).
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
Residence – Warrington
How Died – Died
Theatre of War – Home
The
birth of Arthur James Rigby was registered in Q3/1894 in Warrington,
Volume 8c, Page 188
The
1901 census shows the Rigby family to consist of Charles (47, a
letter press printer), Rachel (48) and their children Albert (20,
a tannery labourer), Elizabeth (17, a cutter ), Phillip (15, a wire
worker), Mary (12), Maud (9) and Arthur (7). They lived at 70 Scott
Street, Warrington.
Service
Information
No
details of James Rigby’s service have yet been located |
ROWE |
Paul
[Leo] |
Private
20705, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 22nd September 1916.
Aged 22. Son of Peter J. and Amelia Rowe, of 129, Lovely Lane, Warrington,
Lancs. Buried in La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, Ref. II F
15.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Manchester
How Died – Died of Wounds
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
The
birth of Paul Leo Rowe was registered in the March quarter of 1894
in Prescot registration district, Volume 8b, Page 691. The 1901
census shows him to be the youngest child of Peter Joseph Rowe,
53, a Musical Instrument Agent and Amelia Rowe (48) of 153 Orford
Lane, Warrington. The children are shown as twins Kathleen &
James (19), Norah (17), John Joseph (15), Amelia (13), and 7 year
old Paul. Both of the parents are shown to have been born in Dublin,
while all the children were born in Widnes, which was part of the
Prescot registration district.
Paul
Leo Rowe is also commemorated on the memorial at Our Lady’s
Church in Latchford.
Service
Information
Taking
into account that Pte. Rowe died of wounds and is buried at La Neuville,
it seems likely that he was injured in the Guards assault, during
the battle of Flers-Courcellette in mid September 1916, towards
Guedecourt and was sent back “down the line” to 21st
Casualty Clearing Station, based at La Neuville, where he subsequently
died and was buried.
Newspaper Reports
Warrington
Guardian, 27th September 1916
“KILLED
OR WOUNDED
PRIVATE
P. L. ROWE
Doubt
prevails as to the fate of a member of a well known Warrington military
family – Private Paul L. Rowe of the Grenadier Guards –
as a letter has been received by his mother, Mrs P J Rowe, who is
residing with her son-in-law Mr B. B. Ashbrook at 129, Lovely-lane,
Warrington, stating that he was killed in action, while other letters
convey that he has been wounded.
On
Sunday September 27th, Mrs Rowe received the following letter from
a comrade who signed himself “E. Rigg”.
‘Just
a few lines concerning your son Paul. We have been chums since we
joined the army and we agreed to write to each other’s parents
if anything happened to either of us. I am sorry to say that I now
find it my painful duty to write and let you know that Paul was
killed inn the trenches on September 14th. He put his head too high
over the trench and a sniper shot him through the head. He was very
well liked by all his section and platoon. Only a few weeks ago,
the platoon sergeant asked him to take promotion but he refused.’
On
the other hand, the same post brought a letter from the Rev. Joseph
Leo Prescott, who says, ‘Your son Paul has asked me to write
to you to tell you of his wounds. I am afraid it is serious and
hence I want you to pray very hard for him. Don’t be surprised
if worse news follows. I have given him the last sacrament.’
More
conflicting news was received on Wednesday of last week from the
Rev. P. Casey, who wrote, ‘Your son Paul asks me to let you
know he is wounded and gone to hospital – not seriously, I
hope’.
Private
Rowe, who is 22 years of age, was educated at St. Benedict’s
and St Alban’s schools. He was afterwards employed by the
Pearson and Knowles Coal and iron Co. Ltd. In the weighing office,
Dallam Forge. He has taken part on 14 months of fighting. His favourite
recreation is billiards.”
The
“E. Rigg” referred to in the Guardian article was probably
Private 21464 Ernest Rigg, of the same battalion. He survived the
war
Warrington
Guardian, 20th September 1916
“DIED
OF WOUNDS
All
hope which Mrs Rowe had entertained as to the fate of her son, Private
Paul L. Rowe, 3vanished when she received a letter from a sister
at a base hospital.
‘Dear
Mrs Rowe
I
very much regret having to inform you that Private P. L. Rowe,
Grenadier Guards, died at 4.45 a.m. on the 22nd. He was brought
into hospital very badly wounded in the body, and from the first
there was very little hope of saving his life. He was buried in
the cemetery attached to the hospital.’”
|
TRAYNOR |
Thomas |
Bombardier
71866, 47th Battery, 41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died 23rd
September 1914. Buried in Vendresse British Cemetery, Ref. II F
13.
Personal
Information
Born
– Warrington
Enlisted – Warrington
How Died – Killed in Action
Theatre of War – France & Flanders
Thomas
birth was registered with the surname “TRAINER” in the
September quarter of 1895 in Warrington, Volume 8c, Page 263.
At
the time of the 1901 census, the family lived in Goulden Street,
Warrington. The census records the spelling of the surname as “TRAINOR”.
The family comprises Head of household Peter Trainor, 44, a bricklayer’s
labourer and his second wife, Ann, 46. Ann’s children from
her first marriage are also there, Mary Price (26), Ann (25), Theresa
(20), May (19), Winifred (16), Joseph (14) and George (13). Their
own two children are Patrick (8) and Thomas (5).
Service
Information
The
41st Artillery Brigade, RFA, including the 47th Battery, went out
to France on the 18th August, just a few days after the outbreak
of war. They quickly engaged with the German Army as part of the
still mobile battles of the Rivers Marne and Aisne.
On
the 14th September, the Regimental diary reports that they moved
to a position North West of the town of Verneuil, where they dug
in and remained under a heavy shellfire until the 19th, when the
47th Battery moved south of Tilleul. For the period 21st –
30th September, the Regimental diary reports “…during
this period nothing of particular interest occurred”, although
they suffered 3 men killed and 16 wounded. Only one casualty was
recorded on 23rd September, Bombardier Traynor. He now rests in
Vendresse Military Cemetery.
The
neighbourhood of Vendresse-Et-Troyon was the scene of repeated and
severe fighting in which British troops took part in 1914 and 1918.
Vendresse British Cemetery was made after the Armistice by the concentration
of graves from other cemeteries and from the battlefields. It is
likely to he would have initially been buried close to where he
fell, and moved into the cemetery as part of the post-war battlefield
clearance.
Newspaper
Reports
Warrington
Guardian, 7th October 1914
NOBLY
DOING HIS DUIY
WARRINGTON
MAN’S HEROIC DEATH
STRUCK
BY GERMAN SHELL
How
a Warrington soldier, Bombardier Thomas Traynor of the Royal Field
Artillery, was killed whilst performing a particularly heroic act
on the battlefield is described in a letter received by his father,
Mr Peter Traynor, 5, Mill-lane, Warrington, on Saturday. Bombardier
Traynor had left the shelter of a trench in order to repair a telephone
line which had been cut by the enemy’s guns, when he was struck
on the head by a shell and killed instantly.
The letter, from the major commanding the battery is as follows.
‘47th
Battery, 44th Brigade, RFA
2nd Division
British Expeditionary Force
24th September 1914
Dear
Mr Traynor,
It
is with great sorrow that I am writing to tell you that your son
was killed in action at about 11 a.m. yesterday, 23rd September.
He was nobly performing his duty, ender heavy fire from German
artillery, and you may well be proud of his memory.
The enemy’s guns had cut the telephone wire which connected
the observing station with the battery, and as it was most important
that it should be mended, your son left the cover of the entrenchment
to go and carry out this important duty. A large splinter of a
shell struck him on the head and killed him instantly.
He was buried by his comrades the same evening in a spot close
by. The whole battery mourns his loss and feel the greatest sympathy
with you and his mother in your bereavement.
Believe
me, yours sincerely,
M. W. NEWCOME, Major, R.F.A.‘
Bombardier
Traynor, who was only 19 years of age, was brought up in the Bank
Quay district, and in his earlier years attended the Sacred Heart
School. For a time he was employed at the Bewsey forge of the Pearson
and Knowles Coal and Iron Company, but military life had a great
attraction for him and two years ago he enlisted. He was home on
furlough last Christmas.
Last week his parents received a postcard from him stating that
he was quite well and was having ‘a rather exciting time’.
Bombardier Traynor was a great favourite with all his friends, who
while regretting his death at an early age, will be proud that he
gave his life in such an heroic manner.
Mrs. Traynor’s eldest son, William Price, who has seen eight
years military service, has been called up with the Lancashire Fusiliers
and is at present stationed at Hull. Another son, Joseph Price,
of the South Lancashire Regiment, was recently invalided home from
India and has returned to civilian life.” |
WHITEHEAD |
Henry |
The
only information determined about Henry Whitehead is a report in
the Warrington Guardian on June 19th, 1915 which includes, amongst
a list of Warrington men wounded, the following:-
“Private
H. Whitehead, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, Sankey Hall Farm”.
The article is reproduced below, with Private Whitehead’s
listing at the end.
It
has not been possible to determine if and when he died or any further
family information. However, a search of the files held by CWGC
reveals the following entry:-
Name:
HOGAN, WILLIAM
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 33
Date of Death: 14/07/1916
Service No: 8698
Additional information: Son of Charles and Maria Whitehead, of Sankey
Hall Farm, Mill Lane, Warrington.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 3 A.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
This
gives a link to a) the name Whitehead, b) the Guardian entry for
Sankey Hall Farm, and c) the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment.
A Medal Index Card exists at the National Archives for William Hogan,
serving with this number in RIR.
But
why is the casualty named “William Hogan”? “Soldiers
Died” informs that Hogan was born at St. Mary’s Dublin,
that he enlisted in Curragh, Co. Kildare, and that he resided in
Warrington.
Aged
33 when he died, he must have been born in 1882 or 1883.
The
1901 census does show a Charles & Maria Whitehead living in
Warrington (though not at Sankey Hall Farm), but their children
are Agnes and Teresa. In addition, Charles is 39 and Maria 33, so
they would be too young to be the parents referred to on the CWGC
entry. It seems more likely that Maria Whitehead had been married
previously, to a man called Hogan, and that William was their son.
She may have then been widowed and remarried to Charles Whitehead.
|
Last
updated
27 September, 2008
|