Littleborough soldiers who fell 100 years ago in January 1917

Private Samuel (Sam) Kershaw

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Private Samuel (Sam) Kershaw

Although born in Shawforth in 1897 by 1911 he was living with his family at 4 Clegg Street, Littleborough.

Prior to enlisting in Bury during February 1915, he was employed at E. Clegg & Son, Shore Mills and previous to that at the Littleborough Laundry. Sam was associated with Shore Primitive Methodist Chapel.

Samuel Kershaw, a Private in 1st Batt Devonshire Regiment was posted to France in October 1915 but early in 1916 was wounded. The Rochdale Observer for 13 May reported that he had written to his family saying that he was in the trenches and all right but later advised that he was injured in the leg. He was also wounded in June 1916 and was invalided home to a hospital in Scotland later returning to France in November.

The Rochdale Observer for 13 January 1917 reported that “he was now in hospital suffering from serious wounds in the chest and right leg. This is the third time he has been wounded”.

At weekending 27 January 1917 Sam’s parents were informed that their 20-year-old son had died in a casualty clearing station on Thursday 11 January 1917 of wounds whilst with a machine gun.

Private Kershaw is buried in Grave Number VI A 60 Bethune Town Cemetery, France. The St Barnabas Parish Magazine for May 1917 records, “Another loss through the war has befallen the family of Mrs Kershaw of Turf House, in the death of their son, Pte S Kershaw. This poor lad was wounded several times and succumbed to the last injury received on the battlefield of France. RIP”.

Pte Kershaw’s name is on Shore Primitive Methodist Chapel War Memorial and Littleborough Central School Memorial (both now in Littleborough’s History Centre) and Shore Mills, St Barnabas and Littleborough War Memorials.

Sergeant Walter Whitworth

Walter was born in Dukinfield (Cheshire) in 1891 but the family had moved to 10 Bradshaw Street, Rochdale by 1911. By then, Walter was a cotton piecer.

The Rochdale Observer for 28 February 1917 noted that he worked at Clover Mill. It added that “He was stationed in India when war broke out and went from there to France. After a year and five months he went to Mesopotamia in January 1916.

His regiment was one of a number that made an unsuccessful attempt to relieve the British Forces at Kut.

He was wounded in March and was sent back to India for treatment re-joining his regiment in September.

Sgt Whitworth was a bachelor and was last home in November 1915 and his mother has not received a communication from him since September 1916. The family moved to 82 Little Clegg Road, Smithy Bridge but it isn’t clear if that was before he enlisted in Manchester.

26-year-old Sergeant 11969 Walter Whitworth, 1st Bn Highland Light Infantry was killed in action in Mesopotamia on Thursday 11 January 1917. His name is inscribed on Panel 35 and 64, Basra Memorial, Iraq and on the main Littleborough War Memorial.

Private George Nunn

George was born in Littleborough on 14 June 1890 and in 1911. H lived at his aunt and uncles’ house at 3 Turf Terrace, Shore, Littleborough with his sister Annie and Clara and nephews. He married Bertha, nee Jackson, at Milnrow Parish Church on 14 November 1914 and they had two children, Ben born on 9 August 1916 and Harry born on 16 April 1915. Before he was married he worked at Clegg’s Mill in Shore. He was also a member of the Shore Institute.

The family later moved to Milnrow and George was employed as a weaver at the Haugh Spinning Co at Newhey.

Private 34648 George Nunn, 11th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers enlisted in Rochdale on 2 June 1916. 26-year-old George was killed in action on 22 January 1917 when, “The enemy bombarded the allied front trenches from 2pm to 6pm sending over raiding parties and taking a few prisoners. No material damage to our workings but a slight amount of gas entered the galleries. Galleries were cleared of gas the same night. A carrying party of 50 men and two officers were organised to carry bombs and ammunition. George was killed in the trenches at St Yves (near Ploegsteert, south Belgium) in that German raid”.

He is buried in grave No I M 7 Berks Cemetery Extension, Belgium.

George left a widow Bertha (who later remarried) and two children living at 69 New Hey Road.

The St Barnabas Parish Magazine for May 1917 reported: “Still another death has to be recorded in that Private George Nunn of Turf Terrace, Shore. Since his marriage he has resided in Milnrow and leaves a young widow and two children. RIP.” 

Pte George Nunn is listed on the Milnrow War Memorial.