Soldiers who died 80 years ago during World War Two

To remember the fallen, 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 article details men from Milnrow who died in June and July of 1941.

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Corporal Harold Morris

Harold was born in Rochdale on 28 December 1918, the son of William Edward and Emily Morris (nee Gorton) and brother to Donald.

Prior to enlisting during 1939, Harold was a cotton operative employed by Richard Barnes Sons at Firgrove Mill. He married Mary Dyson at St James Parish Church in Milnrow on his birthday, 28 December, in 1940 and he and Mary lived at Shore View, Nall Street, Milnrow.

The Rochdale Observer for 14 June 1941 advised that Harold was a member of the choir at St Anne’s Church, Belfield.

Harold survived Dunkirk but later, 22-year-old Corporal Morris 3451779, 1/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers drowned on 9 June 1941 whilst on manoeuvres.

The 18 June 1941 Rochdale Observer reported that he was buried with Full Military at Rochdale Cemetery, Square Y. C of E, in Grave No 36919. Harold is remembered on Milnrow and St James war memorials.

Flight Sergeant Observer Robert Victor Collinge

Robert was born in Rochdale on 25 April 1919, the son of William and Mabel Florence Collinge (nee Roberts), and the brother of Patricia and William of 14 Tandle Hill Terrace, Thornham. The family later lived at Burnedge House, Broad Lane, Milnrow.

Robert’s father was the managing director of Collinge Motors and Robert also worked at Shell Mex in Manchester.

Robert joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939 before the war started and in late July 1941 survived a daylight raid on La Pallice. Just 30 hours later, 22-year-old Flight Sergeant Observer Collinge, 581204, 35 Squadron, RAFVR was killed on 26 July 1941 when his Halifax Bomber, L9507 TL-W, out of Linton on Ouse, was lost over Germany in a night raid.

He is buried on M I D Berlin 1939 - 1945 War Cemetery, grave No 8 Z 2, and remembered on Milnrow and St James war memorials.

Sergeant Norman Victor Edwards

Norman was born in 1918 in Cardiff, the son of Edward George and Clarissa Edwards. He later married Joan Kathleen Davey in Birmingham during spring/early summer 1940.

22-year-old Sergeant Edwards, 937838, 144 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was killed on 6 June 1941 when his Hampden I bomber, AD871 was lost without trace when on a mission targeting Brest in France.

Norman is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 42, and the Hall of Memory in Birmingham, but is not on any known local war memorial.