Littleborough soldiers who fell 100 years ago in June 1917

Bombardier Charles Louis Whittaker

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Bombardier Charles Louis Whittaker

Charles was born in Sowerby Bridge and in 1901 was recorded as living at 2 Higher Calderbrook with his parents John and Martha and his brothers and sisters.

They later (1911) moved to 1 Middle Calderbrook with Charles being a calico weaver. On the 18 July 1915, Charles married Miss Jesse Brierley of 8 Centre Vale in the Holy Trinity Church, Littleborough.

Prior to enlisting, Charles worked in the warehouse at Fothergill and Harvey in Littleborough, was a member of the Calderbrook Church choir and an Alderman.

Late June 1917 Mrs Whittaker of 89 New Platt, Todmorden Road was officially informed that her 24-year-old husband Bombardier 118483 Charles Louis Whittaker “A” Bty 174th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery had been killed in action on Sunday 10 June 1917, his body interred in grave number I A 13 Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Mrs Whittaker received a letter from the Army chaplain advising her that her husband was killed by shell fire.

Charles is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph, Holy Trinity War Memorial and on St James’s (Calderbrook) Church, Roll of Honour and War Memorial as well as on his in-law’s family grave at St James’s.

The In Memoriam column of the Rochdale Observer for 15 June 1918 carries family sentiments.

Gunner Charles H Goodier

Charles was born in Pendleton in 1887 and moved to Littleborough after 1911.

The Rochdale Observer of 4 July 1917 reported that on 2 July, Mrs Masterson of 26 Homer Terrace, Featherstall, received unofficial intimation that her brother Gunner Charles Henry Goodier had been killed.

Charles was 29 years of age and enlisted in Rochdale after returning from America at the outbreak of war.

Gunner 24983 Charles H Goodier “B” Bty 103rd Bde Royal Field Artillery was killed in action on Saturday 2 June 1917 whilst the 23rd Division were in the Wytschaete area of Belgium, south of Ypres.

He was possibly killed by interdictory fire or a random retaliatory round. His body is interred in grave number I B 40 Wood’s Cemetery, Zillebeke and his name is inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph.

His mother, Mrs Elizabeth Goodier of 41 Box Street, had already lost her son Alfred in 1915 and had another serving with the Canadian Army.

Private Arthur Winearls

Arthur was born around 1885 in Norfolk later living near Todmorden.

In 1911he lived at 9 Trafford Street, Littleborough with his wife of four years, Bertha, and children Reginald and Ethel. He was a labourer in a Calico Print Works.

In July 1917 Mrs Winearls of Jerrold Street (Off Bare Hill Street) was officially informed that her husband, 33-year-old Private 35418 Arthur Winearls 11th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers who had been previously reported as missing in action on 7 June 1917 was killed in action on that date.

His name is inscribed on panel 33, Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium as well as on the Holy Trinity War Memorial and the Littleborough Cenotaph.

The Rochdale Observer for 21 July 1917 reported on a memorial service held on Sunday evening in memory of Privates Arthur Winearls, Charles L Whittaker and Lance corporal A Rowell was held in the Littleborough Parish Church. The edition of 4 August included within the Roll of Honour sentiments from his wife and children.

Private Charles Grimshaw

Charles was born in the district of Bradford in Manchester during 1892 and continued living in the area but by 1911, the family had moved to 8 Hanover Street, Rochdale.

Charles, a cotton dyer, married Isabella Foster in 1912 and later lived at 90 Ramsden Road, Wardle. Prior to enlisting in Rochdale in April 1915, he worked at Messrs Ogden and Doodson Ltd, Dearnley Mill, Dearnley and served for four years with the local territorials.

He served in Egypt before travelling to France but Pte Grimshaw, 203300 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action on 13 June 1917 whilst in the trenches at Trescault opposite the Hindenburg Line near Cambrai and is buried in Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery B6.

The Rochdale Observer of the 30 June and 7 July editions carried sentiments from his close family. There is a G Grimshaw on the Wardle War Memorial.

Private Charles Sutcliffe

Charles was born in 1885 in Sowerby Bridge but by 1891 he was living with his family in Paul Row on Temple Lane, later (1901) at 19 Sally Street.

Charles married Winifred Emma Ogden, aged 20 from Plymouth, in Rochdale during 1907 and probably lived in Littleborough as he worked at Shore Mills and son Percy was born there in 1909. The family had moved to 39 Bury Old Road, Shuttleworth by 1911.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale, Charles lived at 10 Stafford Street, Hamer and worked for Rochdale Corporation in the stables department.

Charles served in Egypt (September 1916) prior to being posted to France in February 1917.

Just four months later, 31-year-old Pte Sutcliffe, 203294 of 1/5 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action on 16 June 1917 whilst in the trenches at Trescault opposite the Hindenburg Line near Cambrai is buried in grave No B 10 in Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery, France.

Charles left a wife and two children, the eldest of whom was eight-years-old.

His name is recorded on Littleborough Cenotaph and on St James’s Church, Calderbrook Roll of Honour.

Private Arnold Laycock

Arnold was born in Littleborough in 1890 and lived with his parent John and Emma Laycock at 1 Deanhead with his brother and sister.

By 1901 the family had moved to 107 Smithy Bridge Road and there was another sister as well as a boarder who was a Railway Labourer.

In 1911 they lived at 7 Shaftsbury Street, Smithy Bridge with Arnold being a Picker Maker, Cotton.

By 1917 his widowed mother appears to have moved to 2 Rawlinson Street, Todmorden Road. Private 240800 Arnold Laycock, “B” Coy. 2nd/6th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers enlisted Rochdale early on in the war being recorded in St Andrew's Church magazine in November 1914.

He was killed in action on Wednesday 13 June 1917, aged 27 years during an attack whilst in the trenches at Festubert.

Arnold’s name is inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph and Panel 45 & 46 Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Private John William Hardman

John was born in Ramsbottom in 1899 but by 1911 the family had moved to 17 Frederick Street, Littleborough and he now had two younger brothers.

John worked in a warehouse. Prior to his enlistment in Rochdale on 22 February 1917, he was employed as a labourer in the size house at Shore Mills.

Just four months later, 18-year-old Private 14929 John William Hardman, 52nd Bn Manchester Regiment, died of an illness at Prees Heath Camp, Whitchurch on Sunday 17 June 1917.

He was interred in grave number S55 Littleborough (Dearnley) Cemetery on Thursday afternoon 21 June 1917 a Union flag draped over the coffin, four soldiers acted as pall bearers.

The St Barnabas Parish Magazine for July 1917 records: “We regret to record the death of Private Hardman of Shore Road, on 17 June. The deceased was well known and an active member of the Primitive Methodist Chapel. The parishioners generally feel much sympathy for the family."

The Rochdale Observer of 23 June 1917 also reported on the funeral adding: “Services were conducted in the house, Shore Primitive Methodist Church and the graveside by Rev J A Smith. Round the graveside were several people connected to the Shore Primitive Methodist Church. A wreath was sent from the mill of E Clegg & Sons and another from Shore Primitive Methodist Church.”

Pte J W Hardman’s name was entered on Shore Primitive Methodist Roll of Honour and he is listed on their War Memorial, Shore Mills War Memorial, St Barnabas Memorial and Littleborough Cenotaph. His name is recorded on the family grave in Littleborough (Dearnley) Cemetery.

Private Charles William Highley

Charles was born in Walsden in 1889 and was recorded as living at 16 Throstle Street, Walsden with his family in 1901 and 1911, by which time Charles was a cotton weaver, like his father.

He married Mary Carr in Todmorden early in 1915 and possibly moved to Littleborough as his widow, Mrs Mary Highley lived at 33 Rock Nook, Summit.

Charles William 27 year old Private 27557 Charles William Highley 15th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers who enlisted in Todmorden was killed in action on Friday 23 June 1917 (CWGC/SDGW 22 June 1917), from the 18 June until the 23 June the 15th Bn in the trenches Nieuwpoort Bains, his body interred in grave number IV A II Ramscapelle Road Military Cemetery, Nieuwpoort, Belgium and his name is inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph and on St James (Calderbrook) Church, Roll of Honour and War Memorial.

The Roll of Honour in the Rochdale Observer of 14 July 1917 included sentiments from “a few of his friends at the mill”.

Private John Lord

John was born in Littleborough in 1879 and in 1881 he lived at Cleggswood Road with his family.

His father Samuel was a coal miner.

By 1891 the family had moved to 21 Oak Street and his father was still a coal miner.

John was recorded as a woollen mule piecer.

By 1901 the family had moved to 46 Hare Hill Road and his father was a colliery coal manager.

John married Alice Annie Reeves in 1900 quarter three in Rochdale and in 1901 lived at Starring Grove. He was now a bookbinder.

By 1911 John and Alice, together with their son Wilfred, were living at 16 Hamer Hall Terrace, Rochdale.

38-year-old Private DM2/129937 John Lord, Army Service Corp, who enlisted in Rochdale, died in a London hospital of pneumonia on 23 June 1917 and was buried in grave number G. G3 on Wednesday afternoon 27 June 1917 in St James's (Calderbrook) church yard.

This was after a service in his parent’s home followed by a service in Littleborough Wesleyan Chapel.

Soldiers from Bury acted as pall bearers and there were members of Castleton CC in attendance.

The Rochdale Observer of 30 June 1917 advising details of the burial service also noted that he was a well-known local cricketer.

Private Lord left a widow and two children living at 1 Harvey Street, Hamer.

His name is inscribed on the War Memorial of the Victoria Street Wesleyan Chapel (now in the History Centre) and also on Littleborough Cenotaph.

Pte Harry Mason

Harry was born in Littleborough in 1898 and in 1911 was a woollen piecer living with the family at 25a Todmorden Road, Littleborough.

Prior to enlisting in Bury, Harry worked for the Littleborough Dyeing Co in Calderbrook.

Private Mason served in the Liverpool Regiment before he transferred to the 58th Labour Corps.

20-year-old Private Harry Mason died of wounds on 28 June 1917. The Company was in the Elverdinghe area and were repairing roads according to Captain Thomas: “Our luck deserted us. A party of fifteen had just passed the same spot, when the first shell of a series fell right amongst them, killing the N.C.O. and four others instantly, and wounding seven others.

"Worrall and the nearest section, despite the continued shelling, rushed up and succeeded in getting the wounded away.

"One of these, Private Murphy, although wounded seriously in four places, after being carried to a place of safety, stated he was all right and begged his rescuer to go back, 'as there were others worse than himself'.”

Private Harry Mason was buried in grave 14 III F Ferme Oliver Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium.

The Rochdale Observer for 2 November 1918 reported on the sad news being sent to his parents that their eldest son Alfred had been killed in action.

The article also reported that about three weeks ago a postcard had been received from Private Harry Mason stating that he had been injured and admitted to hospital adding that ‘since when nothing was heard’. This suggests some terrible confusion regarding when Harry died.

Ultimately, his parents learnt that they had lost their only two sons. Unlike his brother Alfred, Harry does not appear to have been remembered on any local war memorial.