Soldiers who died 75 or 80 years ago during World War Two

Volunteers at Littleborough History Centre have been researching the service personnel from the Pennine districts of Rochdale (Littleborough, Milnrow, Newhey, Smallbridge and Wardle) who died during World War Two.

This list is of men whose 75 or 80 years anniversary occurs in April 2020.

---

• Littleborough

Corporal Cyril Stott (MM)

Cyril was born in Bucklow, Cheshire on 2 December 1913, the son of William and Gladys Stott (nee Dickens). It is believed that he had 4 brothers and sisters, Doreen, Violet, Tom and Roy. Cyril attended Holy Trinity Church school and was for a time in the church choir.

Cyril married  Nellie Williamson at St Barnabas, Shore on 2 November 1937 and in 1939 they lived at 9 Whitfield Brow, Gale, Littleborough with their daughter June born 2 June 1938. Their other daughter, Margaret A was born early in 1940. Prior to enlisting in the East Lancashire Regiments (subsequently The Royal Artillery) Cyril had been employed by the Lancashire Tanning Co in Littleborough and before it closed, Messrs Heap and Sons, Bleachers and Dyers.

31 year old Corporal Stott 3392792, then serving with the 4th Bn King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry won the Military Medal on 1 March 1945 for leadership and complete disregard of his own safety during an attack on the village of Neunsbattershof, Germany but just a month later he was killed in action on 1 April 1945 during an attack on Osnabruck, Germany.

Cyril is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, grave No 61 A 11 and is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph. At the time of his death his mother Gladys lived at 3 Welbeck Avenue and his widow Nellie at 1 Co-operation Street, Walsden. Full details  of the citation accompanying Corporal Stott’s award of the Military Medal was included with the report on him in the Rochdale Observer of 14 July 1945.

 

 

Private Bert Bridge

Bert was born on 24 April 1912, the only son of Taylor and Jessie Bridge (nee Fletcher) of Littleborough, Lancashire. Bert was associated with St Andrew’s Church in Dearnley and played in their football team. He later played for St James’s Church in Calderbrook besides his employer, Messrs Frederick Scott and Co Ltd’s Gale Printworks.

On 8 April 1939 Bert married Edith Braithwaite and they lived at 1 Unsworth Passage, Featherstall. Around a year later he joined the army serving with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry becoming one of the famous desert rats in the armoured division. Having moved up into Europe he was killed in action on 8th April 1945 in Germany being buried in Hanover War Cemetery, grave 7 A 3. Bert is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph and the St Andrew’s War Memorial.

At the time of his death the Rochdale Observer of 21 April 1945 reported that his parents lived at 5 Whitelees Rd. The report also indicated that Bert and Edith had a child. Additionally the 1939 Register indicated that Edith (a hairdresser) remarried becoming Edith Murgatroyd with other records confirming she married Arnold Murgatroyd in 1946.

 

Private John Chadwick

There is uncertainty as to when John was born but he was the son of John and Hannah Chadwick (nee Randle) whose marriage was  registered in Bury in 1901. John was schooled and later he married Mary Wilson of Littleborough, Lancashire on 2 November 1940.

Prior to enlisting John worked at Shore Mills. The Commonwealth War Graves indicates John being 30 years old when he was killed during the liberation of Arnhem on 13 April 1945 when Private Chadwick 1526011 was serving with The Hallamshire Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment. John  was buried in the Milsbeek War Cemetery, grave number  II E 2 and is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph and Central School and Clegg’s Shore Mills War Memorials. At the time of his death his parents, who posted their thanks for sympathy given etc (Rochdale Observer 12 May 1945) lived at 19 Calf Hey, Shore.

 

• Wardle & Smallbridge

Private Fred Dearden

Fred was born late December 1924 but registered early 1925, the son of Simeon and Sarah Ellen (nee Dearnley) who were married in Wardle Methodist  Church), Wardle, Lancashire. It is believed that Fred had a sister named Joyce. The family lived at 7 Henry Street, Wardle. Fred went to Wardle Central School and was later employed by B Astles, Boot & Shoe Repairer. Prior to enlisting in April 1944, Fred was a messenger with Wardle Civil Defence and was also secretary of the Wardle Secondary Sunday School. After only a year’s service, 20 year Private Dearden 14746580, 1st Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment), was killed on 5 April 1945 being reported missing in Western Europe. Fred is remembered on Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands as well as on Wardle Methodist and Wardle War Memorials.

 

Lance Corporal Cameron MacGill

Cameron was born in Kirkcudbrightshire around 1917, the son of Dr Donald G MacGill (a medical practitioner, possibly Medical Officer for Wardle UDC during the War) and his wife Elizabeth M. They also had a daughter, Fannie E born  in 1918. At the time the 1939 register was compiled Cameron was absent and the 3 family members lived at 382 Halifax Road, Smallbridge together with 2 domestic servants, Mary and Elizabeth Laurie both in their early 20s.

During the war Cameron’s mother was involved in the Women's Voluntary Service with an article in the Rochdale Observer detailing her involvement in collecting household furniture, bedding, crockery etc (but not clothing). Items were to be donated to the bombed households of Ilford, London. Items could be left at Ratcliffe Bros, Mount Green, Dearnley. It is not clear what occupation he took up prior to the war, but Lance Corporal MacGill 2878553, 1st Bn. The London Scottish, Gordon Highlanders was killed , aged 28, on 24 April 1945 near the River Po Operation Grapeshot and is buried in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy, grave No II B 12. Cameron is remembered on St Andrew's War Memorial.

 

• Milnrow & Newhey

Guardsman William Edward Robinson

William was born on 25 September 1925 in Rochdale, the son of William Henry and Lily Robinson (nee Gordon) who also had a daughter Marjorie (born 4 January 1929.  William was a pupil of Castlemere Central School. At the time of the 1939 register his father was a police sergeant and they lived at 48 Buersil Avenue, Rochdale.

Prior to volunteering, William was an apprentice fitter working for Brierley, Collier and Hartley, Engineers, Bridgefield Street and was a member of the local ARP. The Rochdale Observer of 24 February 1945 reported that Guardsman William Edward Robinson had met up with fellow Rochdalian, Guardsman William Frost (who was not in the same unit) in a Dutch café and a month later it reported on him being hospitalised for a short time having been knocked by a shell blast. Unfortunately, less than a month later 19 year old Guardsman Robinson 2666445, 5th Bn, 3rd Co Coldstream Guards was killed on 3 April 1945 capturing a bridge North of Elms near Lingen. William was originally buried in Lingen but was re-buried on 15 Aug 1947 in Sage War Cemetery, Germany, Grave No 6 B 8 and is remembered on St Anne's War Memorial.

 

Sapper Ernest Helliwell

Ernest was born in Milnrow on 22 August 1913, the son of Arthur and Annie Helliwell (nee Shepherd) who in 1939 lived at 41 Charles Lane Milnrow. At that time he was a paviour (paving layer). Ernest married Edith Simons in St James’s Church, Milnrow on 17 August 1940.

31-year-old Sapper Helliwell 1904994, 716 Artisan Works Coy. Royal Engineers  was killed on 4 April 1945 and was buried in Lille Southern Cemetery, France in Plot 5. Row E. Grave 5. Ernest is remembered on Milnrow, St James and Milnrow Working Men’s Club War Memorial. The Rochdale Observer of 5 April 1947 carried a sympathies in its Memorial Column from his parents Arthur and Hilda at 31 Charles Lane, Milnrow.

 

 

Lance Corporal George Edward Moore

George was born in Heywood on 9 March 1925, the son of George Henry and Lucy Moore (nee Harris) (nee Wilkinson), of Firgrove, Rochdale, Lancashire. Besides George Edward there were his brothers George H, Leonard, Joe, John (Jack) Harris, Percy and sisters Mary, Beryl, Annie. Prior to enlisting in 1943 George was employed by J Bell, coal merchants in Stuart Street.

20-year-old Lance Corporal George Edward Moore 14605254 1st Bn East Lancashire Regiment was killed on 12 April 1945 during the crossing of the River Aller, Germany and is buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, grave No  8 J 14. George is remembered on Milnrow War Memorial. The Rochdale Observer of 28 April 1945 reported that his parents living at 173 Rochdale Road, Firgrove had been officially notified of their son’s death and advised that three brothers of his were also serving in the forces. These were George H, Joe and Jack. Jack became a fulltime regular and Percy fought in Palestine after the war. Leonard worked on the land so was exempt. 

 

Gunner William Prestwich

William was born in Newhey on 21 July 1910, the youngest son of Benjamin (a printworks labourer) and Harriet Prestwich who in 1911 lived at 2 Higher Ogden with their five daughters and three sons Ann, Mary, Ann, Herbert, Harold, Victor, Betty, Rose, Alice and of course William plus a lodger (32 year old Jacob Holden, a coal miner).

On 7 May 1938, William married Gladys Spencer at St Thomas' Church, Newhey and later, in 1939 was registered as living at 33 Huddersfield Road, Milnrow. William was recorded as a joiners labourer whereas Gladys was a ring piecer, cotton spinning. In 1943 their daughter Sheila was born. Prior to enlisting in August 1944 William worked for De Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd and before that Haugh Spinning Co Ltd, Newhey. He was also a member of Newhey Conservative Club.

34-year-old Gunner Prestwich 14820279, 195 Field Regt. Royal Artillery died on 23 April 1945 due to shock from severe facial injuries incurred after falling from a swing. William was buried in Newhey St Thomas’s Churchyard, North Plot. Row I, Grave 10 and is remembered on Milnrow and St Thomas War Memorials.