Littleborough soldiers who fell 100 years ago in March 1917

Photo from a World War One tench

Private John Edmund Holt

John was born in Littleborough in early 1881 and for many years lived with his family in Calderbrook.

By 1911 John had left the family home and was living at 40 Fenton Street being employed as a carter for a flannelette finisher.

John subsequently left for Canada where he resided at Mayberry, Saskatchewan.

He entered his birth as in Littleborough and his next of kin as his father, Jacon, from Winton Street, Littleborough.

He showed his trade as a farmer.

He signed up on 5 April 1916 at Moose Jaw, Sask. He was Private 782354 in the 2nd Bn Canadian Mounted Rifles and died on 27 March 1917 and is buried in Grave IV H 28 in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont – St Eloi, NW of Arras.

Private Samuel Stott

Samuel was born in Smithy Bridge in 1893 second quarter and by 1911 the family, including four children, lived at 86 Little Clegg Road.

His father was a grocer with his mother helping him whilst Samuel was a lap carrier cotton.

He later married Evelyn Brierley at St Peter's, Newbold, Rochdale, on 24 May 1914 and they had a son, Jack born in October 1914.

Samuel subsequently lived at 67 Little Clegg Road being employed as a tanner.

He enlisted in Rochdale on 5 December 1915 and joined his unit on 26 October 1916 in Rochdale and was in the UK until he went to France on 11 January 1917.

Some three months later the Rochdale Observer for 28 April 1917 reported that his widow, Mrs Evelyn Stott (by now) of 40 Little Clegg Road, Smithy Bridge was officially informed that her 23-year-old husband, Private 203849 Samuel (Sam) Stott 2nd/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers had been killed in action on Friday 30 March 1917.

In October 1917, his widow was given a pension of 22 shillings 11 pence per week (£1.25) for herself and two children. She later received his possessions from the Army.

Private Stott’s name is on St Andrew's Church War Memorial and Memorial Card and Littleborough Cenotaph.

Like many bereaved families, his wife and children inserted sentiments in the 28 April 1917 issue of the Rochdale Observer under the Roll of Honour column.

The St Andrew's parish magazine for May 1917 commented: “We hear with regret of the death in action of Sam Stott of Smithy Bridge. He was not personally known to the vicar but no doubt many of our lads knew him. May God comfort his near ones. RIP.”

Private Stott’s father John William died 22 June 1918 aged 59, his mother Sarah Elizabeth died 13 May 1924 aged 64.

A letter dated 20 April 1921 advised that his widow remarried and as Mrs Milward lived at Burnedge near Oldham.

Private Percival Ashworth

Percival was born in Smallbridge, Rochdale late in 1894. In 1911 he was living with his family at 18 Stott Street, Hurstead, Rochdale and was recorded as a cotton weaver.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale in early 1915, he lived at Holland Street, Hurstead and was employed by Clegg’s Mill in Shore. He attended the Smallbridge Congregational Church where he was a scholar at their Sunday School.

An article in the Rochdale Observer for 2 October 1915 noted that “Private P Ashworth, 9th Lancashire Fusiliers, was severely wounded in the forearm in the second battle of Sulva Bay in the Dardanelles. He has already reached England and after a short period in hospital in Manchester has now been transferred to Glossop. The surgeons are hoping to save the injured arm but they have not been able to report much progress."

The St Andrew’s magazine included a report from Company Quartermaster Sgt Major T Stott advising that “Percy Ashworth of my company who lives at Hurstead, got a very bad wound on the arm in addition to having it broken. It was feared at first that he would lose his arm but that danger is passed now and although his arm has not yet been seen he is doing very well."

It is unclear whether he returned to the front but 22-year-old Private Ashworth 29778, 3rd Bn Leicester Regiment (formerly 9455 Lancashire Fusiliers) died at the Ambulance Drill Hall, Summer Street, Rochdale on 30 March, 1917.

The Rochdale Observer of 31 March 1917 added that “he was discharged from hospital as convalescent and came home on leave a month ago. Unfortunately, he then became ill through an affection of the neck which proved fatal."

Percival Ashworth was buried with full military honours in grave number EE 27531 in Rochdale Cemetery.

Details of his death were recorded in St Andrew’s magazine for May 1917: “Many of our lads will hear with sorrow that Percy Ashworth (of Holland Street) died in hospital and was interred in Rochdale Cemetery on Tuesday in Holy Week. Percy was not one of our Dearnley lads but he called with Jim Unsworth to see the vicar a couple of times after they had enlisted. Both have died for England and freedom. God bless them ever more.”

The family of Private Ashworth included sentiments in the Roll of Honour of the Rochdale Observer of 7 April 1917.

Private Ashworth is remembered on St Andrew's and Wardle War Memorials. His name is also included on the Clegg’s Mills Memorial at Shore and the Oddfellows, Lodge 3397, Roll of Honour – Voluntary Section.