Littleborough soldiers who fell 100 years ago

Lance Corporal Archie Middleton Rowell

Archie was born in Littleborough in 1884 and in 1891 was living at the Red Lion Hotel with his parents John and Frederica and his sisters.

Aged 23, he married Edith Davies in the Stoke on Trent area and in 1911 was a pork butcher living with Edith at 4 Garden Street, Smithy Bridge. Also living there was Mary Davies, aged 14, who was presumably Edith’s sister.

Archie and Edith later moved to Lodge Farm, Robertsbridge, Sussex but were subsequently reported as living at Burgess Hill and Norwood.

On Tuesday 10 July 1917, his parents now living at Elm Cottage, Little Clegg Road, Smithy Bridge were officially informed that their 33-year-old son, Lance Corporal 5667 Archie Middleton Rowell, 7th Bn City of London Regiment (Attached Grenadier Guards) had died of wounds on Sunday the 8 July 1917 in a hospital in Norwich.

He is buried in grave 26.241 in the Norwich Cemetery, Norfolk, England and his name is on the St Andrew’s Memorial, Littleborough Central School Memorial, Holy Trinity War Memorial and on the Littleborough Cenotaph.

The St Andrew’s parish magazine for August 1917 recorded his death: “he had been wounded several times previously and had had a long time in France. RIP.”

The Rochdale Observer for 21 July 1917 reported on a Memorial Service held in Littleborough Parish Church in memory of Pte Arthur Winearls, Pte C L Whittaker and L/Cpl A Rowell.

Private William Thomas Jones

Although born in Hebden Bridge in 1894, in 1911 he lived with his parents and Sarah Ann at 10 Bamford Street, Littleborough and was employed as a velvet works labourer.
He enlisted in Rochdale in November 1915 and at the time lived at 68 (or 168) Featherstall Road and was a dress coat maker.

He was posted to France in June 1916 embarking from Southampton on 3 June. Private 21396 William Thomas Jones, Machine Gun Company, 11th Bn King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) was killed in action in the normal trench warfare conditions on the Somme on Thursday 12 July 1917.

The article in the Rochdale Observer for 28 July 1917 added: “A letter from his sergeant states that Private Jones was killed instantaneously on 12 July. Private Jones was 23 years of age. He enlisted on 29 October 1915. Formerly he attended the Featherstall Sunday school.”

His name inscribed on Pier and Face 5D and 12B Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

He is also remembered on the Cenotaph in Littleborough, the Littleborough Central School Memorial and St Barnabas Church War Memorial.

Private Frank Howarth

Frank was born in Littleborough during 1885 and in 1901 he lived with his widowed mother Martha and his brothers and sisters at 16 Bare Hill Street.

Frank (16) was employed as a warehouse boy.

In 1909 he married Mary Jane (Lambert) and was recorded in 1911 he was living at Higher Shore Farm, Littleborough with his wife, her father and her three brothers.

Frank was by now a cloth looker, cotton weaving. Prior to enlisting he was employed at Messrs Clegg’s Shore Mills.

On 26 July 1917 Private 41384 Frank Howarth, 18th Bn, 2nd South East Lancashire (Bantams) (enlisted Bury) was killed in action with two more of his comrades whilst they were in the trenches at Little Priel Farm, north of Lempire, SE of Villers-Guislain by the explosion of a German shell, his body interred in a grave near where he died.

32-year-old Frank left a widow and two young daughters, Ellenor and Mary, all of whom were recorded as living at 21 Calf Hey, Shore. At the time of Private Howarth’s death, he had two brothers serving in the army both of whom survived.

He was subsequently reburied in Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery, Somme, France (Grave number II G 51).

His name is also commemorated on the Littleborough Cenotaph, Holy Trinity, St. Barnabas and Shore Mills War Memorials and also on a private memorial located in St. Barnabas’ grounds. In the ‘Roll of Honour’ column of the Rochdale Observer for Saturday 18 August 1917 sentiments were included from his wife, and family at Higher Shore.

A year later, the In Memoriam column in the Rochdale Observer for 27 July 1918 included four sentiments from his wife and family still living at Higher Shore; his Mother, sisters and brothers and in-laws including Tom (in France) and Fletcher (wounded in Dewsbury Hospital).

Rifleman Thomas (Tom) Holt

Born in Littleborough in 1892, Thomas was the son of James and Ellen Holt and lived at 20 Calderbrook Road with his sister Mary.

Thomas went to the Central School and later returned as a pupil teacher and also attended Victoria Street Congregational Chapel.

He enlisted in London in early 1916 living in Stratford.

Rifleman 392290 Tom Holt, 9th Bn London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) was killed in action on Sunday 8 July 1917 and is interred in Grave Number IV B 20 Hermies Hill British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

His name inscribed on the Littleborough Cenotaph and the Victoria Street Congregation Chapel War Memorial as well as on the Littleborough Central School War Memorial (now relocated in Littleborough’s History Centre).

Private Fred Mitchell

Born in Littleborough in 1893 by 1911 Fred lived at 4 Elim Street, Gale with his parents Tom and Sarah and brother and sister. Fred was a machine minder.

Private Fred Mitchell enlisted in Rochdale initially as 43158 in the Liverpool Regiment.

The Rochdale Observer for 27 April 1918 noted that Pte Mitchell of 8 Hudsons Passage, Gale was reported missing on 10 July of last year but is now presumed to have been killed.

23-year-old, Private 28689 Fred Mitchell, 11th Bn Border Regiment was killed in action in Belgium on Tuesday 10 July 1917.

His name inscribed on Nieuwpoort Memorial, Nieuwpoort, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

His name is also recorded on a special roll by his employer, the Littleborough Dyeing Co and on the Oddfellows, Lodge 3397, Roll of Honour – Voluntary Section (both displayed in the History Centre).

He is also listed on the Cenotaph in Littleborough and on St. James’ (Calderbrook) Church Roll of Honour and War Memorial.

The ‘Roll of Honour’ in the Rochdale Observer for 27 April 1918 included a sentiment from his loving wife Ada (possibly nee Robinson), 8 Hudsons Passage.

Gunner Joseph Harvey

Joseph was born in Oldham on 8 January 1896 and in 1901 he lived at 293 Lees Road, Oldham with his parents Joseph and Elizabeth and his brother and sisters.

His early schooling was at Roundthorn County Primary School, Oldham.

The St Andrew's Church magazine for November 1914 recorded that Joseph had enlisted early on in the war in Blackpool.

Gunner 680295, Joseph Harvey 'B' Bty 276th Bde Royal Field Artillery died of wounds on Thursday 12 July 1917 and is buried in grave Number I C 9 Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium with his name being included on the St Andrew’s Memorial Card and War Memorial.

The St Andrew’s, Parish Magazine for August 1917 included: “Many will hear with sorrow that another old choir and guild boy whose family left Dearnley nine years ago, Joe Harvey, died in France. The sad news reached the vicar in a Blackpool newspaper. May he RIP.”

The Rochdale Observer for 3 August 1918 reported that a Memorial Service was to be held tomorrow, Sunday 4 August in St Andrew’s Church.

Private John Thomas Leeming

The Rochdale Observer reported on 9 September 1916 that an appeal by John T Leeming (36) of Antioch, Rakewood for being enlisted was refused.

Less than one year later, on Saturday 28 July 1917, Private 235240 John Thomas Leeming, 19th Bn The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) formerly 203593 Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium.

His name inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph and on panel four and six, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) indicates he was born in Littleborough enlisting in Rochdale.

He was also one of six soldiers who died for King and Country who are remembered on the Rakewood Village Roll of Honour (now in the History Centre at Littleborough) which was located in St Hilda’s Church, Hollingworth.