Private Clifford Firth - the last soldier from Littleborough to die before the Armistice

Private Clifford Firth, last soldier from Littleborough to die before the Armistice

Private Clifford Firth

Clifford was born in Littleborough in 1898 and in 1911 he was living at 24 Excelsior Terrace, Smithy Bridge with his parents Nathan, 45, a Foreman in a chemical works and Betty, 43, together with brothers Arthur and Wilfred and sister Lucy, nine.

Wilfred was an assistant in a chemical works, presumably the same one his father worked in.

Clifford enlisted in Bury and served in France.

Just before the Armistice, 20-year-old Private 20815 Clifford Firth, 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards died, on Friday 8 November 1918, in a military hospital from wounds he had received during the Last Hundred Days Offensive.

Clifford was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France Grave Number XLI4. D. 24.

On the grave of the Firth family in Dearnley Cemetery, Littleborough is inscribed ‘Clifford Firth who died of wounds in France 8 November 1918 aged 20 years.

Clifford’s name was added to Littleborough Cenotaph in 2018.