Six local heroes added to Littleborough War Memorial

Six local soldiers who died during World War One have been added to the Littleborough Cenotaph via a Supplementary Plaque.

The soldiers were previously not listed on any local war memorial in Littleborough and were added prior to the 11 November 2018 Armistice Remembrance.

Private John William Connolly

John was born in Manchester in 1884. By 1911 he was boarding with his cousins, the Playford family, at 1 Featherstall Square Littleborough, working as a velvet finisher at the Littleborough Dyeing Co.

On Friday 7 September 1917, his cousin Jane Playford, now of 10 Middle Newgate, Calderbrook Road, received news that Private 241821 J. W. Connolly, 1st/6th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, enlisted Rochdale, died of wounds in a casualty clearing station located near the village of Lijssenthoek, Belgium, on 7 September 1917, his body interred in grave number XVIII H 16A Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.

At 7.15am on Thursday 6 September, after heavy artillery bombardment, three companies of the 1st/6th Bn left their trenches to capture German-held positions in Beck House and Iberian farm, in the Ypres Salient.

After early success and having heavy casualties, the remnants of the companies under heavy German counter-attacks and machine-gun fire were forced to retire to their original trenches.

The Rochdale Observer 7 September 1918 edition included sentiments within its In Memoriam column from the family at 10 Newgate.

Private Clifford Firth

Clifford was born in Littleborough in 1898. In 1901 he lived at 24 Smithy Bridge Road with his parents Nathan, foreman in a chemical works, and Betty together with elder brothers Arthur, a Reacher, Wilfred and sister Lucy.

By 1911, the family had moved to 24 Excelsior Terrace, Smithy Bridge with Wilfred, an assistant in a chemical works, presumably the same one his father worked in. Clifford, now 13, was still at school.

Having enlisted in Bury, he served in France but 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 November 1918, the British (1st, 3rd and 4th Armies) and French offensive on 30-mile front from east of Scheldt at Valenciennes to Guise on Oise, reaching to east of Le Quesnoy, half way through Mormal Forest, past Landrecies on Sambre and across Sambre-Oise Canal (incl. Capture OF Le Quesnoy).

It is possible that Private Firth was injured within that campaign but could have been injured in earlier battles during the Last Hundred Days Offensive.

His body is interred in Etaples Military Cemetery, France, Grave Number XLI4 D24 and remembered on the family grave.

Private Harry Mason

Harry was born in Littleborough in 1898. In 1901 he lived with his parents, Thomas and Mary Elizabeth, and older brother Alfred, aged six, at 11 Bare Hill Street, Littleborough.

By 1911 Harry was employed as a woollen piecer living with his parents at 25a Todmorden Road.

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

20-year-old Private Harry Mason, 58th Labour Corps, died of wounds on 28 June 1917.

The Company was in the Elverdinghe area.

The following extracts are from Captain Thomas's 58 Company's history.

‘Sunday, the 24th, we had a rest day; at least it was intended to be restful, but Fritz thought otherwise. Just after our midday meal he started shelling the woods heavily.

‘One fell just short of our camp and another in a direct line just beyond us. Anticipating the rest to land right amongst us, we rushed all the men out of camp into the open field beyond, and there sat down and watched, and waited.

‘Again, we were lucky to escape with no casualties, but the camp on either side suffered; one of the Guards pioneer battalions just beyond us losing eleven men. The following day, while forming the grade across the Woesten Road, four shells fell in quick succession on the Pave road.

‘The men dived into the ditches until the salvo finished, and then bolted for shelter. All survived.

‘Our luck deserted us two days later. 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 - three so seriously that they died that night; three others were knocked down by the concussion, and one man only out of the party escaped untouched.

‘Lieut. 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.”

‘This was our first bad smash, and all behaved magnificently, every man volunteering for rescue work.’

Private Harry Mason is buried in grave 14, plot 3, row F in Ferme Oliver Cemetery, near 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 then 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 wasn’t recorded on Littleborough Memorial.

Sapper Harry Barker

Harry was born in Bury in 1883 to Alice A Barker, and in 1891, lived with his brother and two sisters at 19 Fletcher St, Castleton.

By 1901 Alice had remarried to Mr Thos Harrison from Clifton, Yorks.

Harry married his wife, Mary Jane Barker, nee Greenwood, at Rochdale Registry Office on 24 December 1904. They lived at 54 New Road, Dearnley, Smithy Bridge.

By 1911, Harry, and Mary Jane, a weaver, lived with their son Thomas Henry at 124 Featherstall Road.

Harry was a stonemason before enlisting in December 1915.

He attested on 11 December 1915 and was mobilized on 7 August 1916 and was posted to the Lancashire Fusiliers.

In November 1916 he was posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment and must subsequently have been posted to the Royal Engineers. 

38-year-old Sapper Barker, 346622 Royal Engineers, died on 5 April 1921 of wounds received during the war and is buried in Grave 24R at Dearnley St Andrew’s Churchyard. He left behind his wife, Mary Jane, who moved to 130 Meraflores Terrace, Stubley Brow in Littleborough.

Private Ernest Schofield

Ernest was born in Smithy Bridge in 1899 and lived with his parents John and Charlotte and brothers, Thomas and Walter, at Schofield Hall in 1911.

Prior to enlisting, 19-year-old Ernest Schofield lived at 5 Antioch, Rakewood and was a butcher at Littleborough Co-op.

Private Schofield 244513 11 Bn Cheshire Regiment was missing since 3 October 1918 whilst a prisoner of war.

It was later confirmed that he was killed on that date.

The Rochdale Observer of 10 May 1919 reported that he had been buried in grave No II F 15 at Glageon Communal Cemetery, France. Private Schofield’s name is included on the Roll of Honour of Rakewood Wesleyan Church.

Private Fred Stead

Fred was born in 1883, being recorded as living in Littleborough in 1891 and 1901.

Fred lived in Brook Street, off Halifax Road, worked at E. Clegg and Son, Shore Mills, before he left Littleborough in December 1913 to join the army as a regular soldier.

His mother and sister, Mrs Ann Gibson lived in Back William Street, Featherstall. Ann’s husband, Sergeant Thomas Gibson had died earlier in the war.

34-year-old Private Stead, 3/10390 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regt) was court martialled and was shot for desertion on 12 February 1917.

Fred was buried in Grave Number II C 1 Suzanne Military Cemetery No 3, Somme, France.

Nowadays, Fred would have been treated for a mental illness, not cowardice, which previous service showed he did not have.