Littleborough Soldiers who fell 100 years ago in February 1917

Fred Stead

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Private Fred Stead

20-year-old Private 3/10390 Fred Stead 2nd. Bn Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regt) had joined the army as a regular soldier in December 1913 and had served conscientiously but later deserted.

Following court marshals, Private Stead was shot for desertion on May 12 February 1917, with his body interred in Grave Number II C 1 Suzanne Military Cemetery No 3, Somme, France.

Along with other soldiers ‘Shot at Dawn’ he was pardoned, so in late 2016 it was determined that Fred should be remembered and a special plaque will be placed adjacent to Littleborough Cenotaph in his remembrance recognising though that he was ‘Shot at Dawn’.

Prior to leaving Littleborough he worked at E. Clegg and Son, Shore Mills, and lived in Brook Street off Halifax Road.

Private Dennis Roberts

Dennis was born in Littleborough on 11 May 1886 being baptised at the Parish Church on 16 June 1886.

Dennis, who lived at 25 Gatehouse, married Nina Harrison on 22nd April 1911 at Littleborough Parish Church. Having joined the 16th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers (2nd Salford Pals) 30 year old Private 34583 Dennis Roberts would have served during the Somme but at some time was injured and died in France on Tuesday 6 February 1917 with his body interred in Plot 2 Row 2, Grave 14 Bertrancourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France.

His name is inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph and Holy Trinity Church War Memorial and there is a Private D. Roberts inscribed on Shore Mills war memorial. The Rochdale Observer for 24 February 1917 and 9 February 1918 included sentiments from his wife and his family at Gatehouse.

Private Thomas (Tom) Lewis

Thomas was born in Southport in 1867 and having later lived in Rochdale in 1911 he lived at 2 Wrigleys Place, Smithy Bridge with Martha Ann his wife of 25 years and their son Richard.

Thomas, now 44, was a bricklayer as was his son. Thomas was employed as a bricklayer by Messrs William Henderson & Son, Featherstall.

Prior to weekending 17 March 1917, Mrs Martha Lewis, 2 Paddock Head Dearnley was officially informed that her husband, 50 year old Private T4/124299 Thomas Lewis, Army Service Corps attached 13th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery had died from an illness at the front in France on Wednesday 7 February 1917, being interred in Grave Number VI C 34 Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France.

Private Lewis had been in the forces nearly two years having enlisted at Rochdale in a Battalion for men over 45 years of age called 'The Old Tough'Uns', which volunteered for any kind of service at home or abroad, where he was ultimately sent.

His name is on St Andrew's Memorial Card and War Memorial as well as on Littleborough Cenotaph. In the Saturday 17 March 1917 edition of the Rochdale Observer Mrs Lewis inserted a memorial to her husband. Private Lewis, who turned 50 in France, was probably the oldest Littleborough serviceman to have died during the 1914-1918 War.

Private Robert Cryer

Robert was born in Littleborough in 1881, later in 1911 living with his family at 21 Railway Street. Before he enlisted on 9th November 1915, he worked at the Borough Rubber Co Works at Smithy Bridge.

He was allotted Service No 4604 in the 3/4th West Riding Regiment but later transferred to Royal Army Service Corps. Private T4/274802 Robert Cryer, 2nd Div Train, RASC the son of Mr James and Mrs Ellen Cryer, 21 Railway Street, died in France on Friday 9 February 1917.

Private Cryer was buried in Grave Number I I 12 Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme France. His name is also on Littleborough Cenotaph. The Rochdale Observer of 24 February 1917 noted that Mr and Mrs James Cryer had received information that their 34-year-old son had died from pneumonia.

Private Arthur Collens

Arthur was born in Ashton-on-Mersey around 1883 but later moved to Littleborough.

In 1911 Arthur, a market gardener, lived at 12 Frederick Street and had been married for four years to Mary Emma (31 years old and a cotton weaver). The Rochdale Observer for 24 February 1917 included an article and photograph which advised he lived at 125 Calderbrook Rd and Mr Albert Collens of Stubley Nurseries was his brother.

He later worked at Shore Mills. Private 9451 Arthur Collens, 1st Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers, enlisted in Rochdale 5 November 1914 and served in the Dardanelles where he contracted dysentery. He was invalided home.

Having recovered he was in France in June 1916 and no doubt fought in the Somme Battles but on the 9 February 1917 he died aged 34 years from acute bronchitis at a Military Base Hospital in Rouen, France. Private Collens was buried in St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, St Sever Extension.

He left a widow Mary Ellen Collens (late Mrs Mary Ellen Leach) living at 125 Calderbrook Road. His name is on the Shore Mills War Memorial and Littleborough Cenotaph and also on the Collens family grave in St Andrew's Churchyard.

The St Barnabas War Memorial and Roll of Honour includes a soldier, A Collins, who served with the Lancashire Fusiliers who, it is believed, is one and the same person. The report of 24 February 1917 also carried sentiments in the Roll of Honour column from his sorrowing wife and loving brother at Stubley Nurseries.

Private Major Dawson Gibson

He was born in Walsden late in 1896 but by 1901 he was living at 8 Rock Terrace with his parents Wright (42 a Cotton Weaver) and Mary (39) and his brothers and sisters.

In 1911 he was a Calico Warehouse Boy living at 6 Sutcliffe Street, Littleborough with his widower father, now a Calico Weaver together with his sisters and brother-in-law, Kenneth Baxter.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale November 1914, Private Gibson worked at Clegg’s Mills as a Warehouseman. Having initially been posted to D Company, 9th (S) Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 4 January 1915, less than a month later on 29 January Private Gibson R/8300 was discharged medically unfit and not likely to become an efficient soldier.

Because of his early departure from military service Private Gibson did not receive any medals although he was entitled to a Silver War Badge.

Major Gibson was discharged as he was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. He died on 11 February 1917 and was buried in St James, Calderbrook on 15 February 1917.

The Rochdale Observer for 28 February 1917 reported “On Sunday 25 February an impressive service was held at Zion Methodist Church in his memory. From a boy he had been connected with the church and for several years had served it most efficiently as organist."  

Because his death was not war related, he is not recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves register but he is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph, St Banabas War memorial and Clegg’s Mill War Memorial at Shore.

Private Gilbert Wood

Gilbert was born in Stalybridge in 1889 but had moved to Littleborough by 1901.

In 1911 Gilbert was a gig dyer cotton living at 4 Deanhurst with his mother and sister and 3 boarders. Early in 1914 Gilbert married Florrie Brearley whose father was formerly licensee of the Star Hotel, Hollingworth Lake. Prior to enlisting in Rochdale in September 1916 he was employed at Ealees Mill.

After training, he was posted to France in January 1917.

Just weeks later, weekending 10 March 1917, Mrs Dickinson of 4 Lord Street, Durn had received official information that her husband, Private 20636 Gilbert Wood Dickinson, 17th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers (Bantams) had been killed in action on Friday 23 February 1917 aged 27 whilst in Chillie Trenches, Rosieres, France.

Mrs Dickinson first received information of her husband’s death from her brother who advised that Gilbert had been killed instantly an hour after he got into the trenches.

Lieutenant Sproston wrote a letter of sympathy to Mrs Dickinson and stated that "her husband had been killed whilst carrying out his duties under very trying circumstances in the front line trenches and he had been buried in a grave behind the lines".

He left a widow and a two-year-old child and was associated with Littleborough Parish Church Sunday School, his name can be seen on Holy Trinity War Memorial, Littleborough Cenotaph and Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France Pier and Face 3C and 3D.