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 May 2020.

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• Littleborough, Wardle and Walsden

Fusilier Robert Clayton

Robert was born in 1920, the son of Harry and Martha Clayton (nee White) who married in Rochdale in 1916. When the 1939 Register was created his mother was a widow living at 9 Gloucester Avenue, Wardle. Robert's father passed away in 1929 aged 51.

Robert had numerous jobs locally and joined the Territorials on 5 May 1939. His last job was with the Lancashire Tanning Co in Littleborough, which had been set up by Jewish Émigrés from Europe seeking to escape from the Nazis.

Robert, then a Fusilier went to France with the 1/6th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers in April 1940 but just one month later 20-year-old Fusilier Clayton, 3450427, was killed in action on 22 May 1940 at Tournai, Belgium and was buried in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension grave No VI C 13. Robert is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph.

 

Ernest Holt

Ernest was born in Hull late in 1925, the son of Harriet Holt (nee Cooper), and step-son of Edward Fletcher Hewitt, of Smallbridge, Lancashire. Ernest and his family lived in Hull until around 1939 when they moved to the Smallbridge area.

Prior to enlisting in June 1944 Ernest was employed by Fothergill and Harveys at Greenvale Mill, Littleborough. 19-year-old Private Holt 14770630, 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action in Burma on 29 May 1945. Ernest was buried in Rangoon War Cemetery, Grave No 1 C 15 and is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph. At the time of his death his family were living at 383 Halifax Road, Smallbridge.

 

 

James William Dawson

James was born in 1913, the son of Charles Dawson and Ellen Eliza Dawson (nee Clarke) of Walsden, Todmorden who were married in 1903. Prior to enlisting James worked for Breda Visada at Python Mill, Littleborough.

26-year-old Private James William Dawson 1464394, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) was injured at Dunkirk and died in the Royal Naval Hospital, Gillingham on 31 May 1940. James is buried in Walsden (St. Peter) Churchyard, Sec. Grave 238 and is remembered on the Breda Visada War Memorial now in Littleborough Library.

 

• Milnrow

Lance Corporal Fred Humphreys

Fred was born in Rochdale on 22 August 1910, the son of Charles and Ethel Humphreys and they lived in Firgrove. Fred married Edna Brine at the Wesleyan Chapel in Milnrow on 19 May 1934 and in 1939 they were recorded as living in Bury.

Fred was a lorry driver at the Orama Mill in Rochdale as well as being reservist with the 12th Hussars and was called up in August 1939 (a week before the outbreak of war).

29-year-old Lance Corporal Humphreys 549956, 12th Royal Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps was killed in the defence of the Dunkirk retreat on 21 May 1940 and was buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Plot 2 Row 6 Grave 4. Fred is remembered on Milnrow and St Thomas War Memorials.

During August and September 1940 the Rochdale Observer reported that Fred’s wife, Edna had received a telegram to report that he was missing and subsequently in Jan 1942 the same paper reported that Edna, living at 55 Charles Lane, Milnrow with their two children, was notified that Fred was confirmed killed at Dunkirk.

 

Private Fred Burdekin

Fred was born in Glossop on 13 July 1905, the son of William Henry and Charlotte Ann  Burdekin (nee Goddard who was born in the USA. They had another son Horace (born 1902) and two daughters Elsie (born 1904) and Ethel (born 1909).

Fred married Hilda White of Firgove in Glossop in 1935. 34-year-old Private Burdekin, 3530876, 1st/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment was killed during retreat to Dunkirk on 23 May 1940 and is remembered on the Dunkirk Memorial and Glossop War Memorial. His wife Hilda died in Rochdale in April 1996.