Private Arthur Kershaw remembered

Private Arthur Kershaw

Arthur Kershaw was born in Littleborough during 1883 and in 1891 he was living with his parents Walter (a Fulling Miller) and Elizabeth Kershaw at 27 Gatehouse together with his three sisters.

In 1901 the family were living at 4 Gatehouse and he had four sisters and a brother.

By 1911 the family had moved again to 3 Pennine Villas, Halifax Road, Littleborough. There were now two sisters and a brother living in the house.

Arthur had attended both the day and Sunday schools of the Littleborough Parish Church.

Prior to enlisting at Bury in November 1914, Arthur had been employed as a moulder at Tweedale and Smalleys, Castleton.

Just over a year after joining the army, 33-year-old Private Arthur Kershaw 12259, 1st Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers, died in Lord Derby’s Hospital (England) on 14  January 1916 after contracting dysentery whilst serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles.

His body was brought to his parents home at 3 Limefield Terrace, Blackstone Edge Road and from there it was taken to St James’s Churchyard for burial on Tuesday 18 January 1916. Amongst the many floral tributes there was one from the staff at Lord Derby’s Hospital and another from Tweedale and Smalleys, Castleton.

His name is inscribed on the Cenotaph in Littleborough and on the Oddfellows, Lodge 3397, Roll of Honour – State Section now preserved in the history centre.