Four Littleborough soldiers remembered 100 years on

Sergeant James Edward Mills, Private John Albert Hall, Private James Unsworth and Private Alfred Goodier

Four soldiers from the Littleborough area, Sergeant James Edward Mills, Private Alfred Goodier, Private James Unsworth and Private John Albert Hall, will be remembered 100 years after their deaths in the coming weeks.

Sergeant James Edward Mills was born in Butterworth in 1876. Prior to enlisting in 1897, he was a clerk at Smithy Bridge station.

For much of the time, he served abroad though latterly, he was a drill instructor in Hull.

On 1 April 1915, he embarked for France - although he actually served in Belgium. On the 2 April 1915, James’ brother Ernest, who lived at 64 Brown Lodge Street, Smithy Bridge, was informed that Sergeant 5577 James Edward Mills of the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had been killed in action on Monday 17 May 1915 in Belgium.

Private Alfred Goodier died on Sunday 16 May 1915 after being wounded on 13 May. Born in Pendleton in 1980, Alfred married Jessie Wolfenden in 1913. They later had a daughter.

Private Goodier was a member of the Rochdale Territorials for four years and was previously employed in the mixing room at the Clough Print Works.

Private Goodier was 25-years-old when he died.

Private James Unsworth was born in Rochdale around 1871/2. He moved from Littleborough to Wardle with his wife Alice Royds where they lived with their two children, John and Edmund.

Prior to enlisting on 5 November 1914, he was employed at Shore Mill as a weaver.

Private Unsworth was home for Christmas in 1914 and subsequently went to France in May 1915. Not long afterwards, at the age of 43, Private 9447 James Unsworth, 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action on Monday 24 May 1915 in Belgium.

Private John Albert Hall was born in Rochdale in 1887. He enlisted in November 1914 and left England for service abroad in February 1915.

At the time, Private Hall’s enlistment was the cause of a lengthy public dispute as he left work to enlist without giving notice. Due to this, his employers refused to pass over his wages – this was eventually settled amicably.

Samuel Hall of Dearnley was officially informed that his 29-year-old Littleborough born son, Private Ply/588(S) John Albert Hall of the Plymouth Battalion Royal Navy Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry had been killed in action on Friday 28 May 1915, whilst taking part in the Gallipoli campaign.