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 December 2020.

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• Littleborough

Sapper William Birtwistle

William Birtwistle was born in Littleborough on 27 March 1902 to parents William and Georgenie. In 1911, the family lived at Paul Row, Summit. William’s father, aged 60, was a dyehouse labourer (there were two local dyeworks nearby) whilst his sister Elizabeth, aged 13, was a factory operative. William had another sister, Amy, aged 11 and an 8-month-old brother, George.

In 1939, William was a General Labourer in the Highways Department and lived at 21 Sand Street, Smallbridge with his wife Ellen (Rhodes) who he had married on 14 August 1926 in Rochdale.

38-year-old Sapper Birtwistle, 1941280, 98 Bomb Disposal Coy., Royal Engineers, died following an accident at home on 21 December 1940 and is buried in Littleborough (St James) Cemetery, Row 20. Grave 16. William is not remembered on any local war memorial. Ellen Birtwistle remarried in 1949 to Henry Holmes.

Sapper Richard Henry Sloan(e)

Richard was born in Bury on 6 November 1911, the son of Richard Henry and Annie Sloan of Littleborough. In 1939, he was recorded as an unemployed labourer living with the Roberts family at 29 Charles Street, Tyldesley, Lancashire.

Richard married Kathleen Goulding at Ince (near Wigan) four years later, early in 1943.

34-year-old Sapper Sloan(e), 1912525, Royal Engineers died on 24 December 1945 and is buried in Littleborough (Dearnley) Cemetery Plot R.C. Row M. Grave 64. He is not remembered on any local war memorial.

 

 

• Milnrow

Sergeant Wireless Op/Air Gunner Eric McConnell

Eric was born in Bury early in 1921, the son of Robert Charles Thomas McConnell and Beatrice Turberville (nee Banks). His mother died during 1925 and his father then married his second wife, Frances Bleazard, in 1926 at St Marys, Bury. They lived at 19 Belshill Crescent, Belfield.

19-year-old Sergeant Wireless Op/Air Gunner McConnell, 175525, 50 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was killed on 11 December 1940 when his Hampden I, X3117, aircraft was hit by flak (its target was Mannheim) and crashed near Tier, Germany at 22.40hrs.

Eric is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Collective Grave 9 D 1'6-19 and is remembered on St Annes War Memorial.