Littleborough History Centre searching for relatives of WW1 soldiers

Photo: Simon France

Littleborough Cenotaph

Littleborough Historical and Archaeological Society has been running a series of articles on LittleboroughLocal to mark 100th anniversary of the deaths of Littleborough soldiers in WW1.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Loos, they will be holding a special event and display at the History Centre on 2 September.

The Battle of Loos was the largest British battle that took place in 1915 on the Western Front during World War I.

They are trying to contact relatives of eight Littleborough soldiers who fought at Loos so that they can create the display to remember them.

• Reuben Law - 24-years-old from Shore, reported as missing but later declared killed in action on 27th September. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Littleborough Cenotaph and St James Calderbrook Memorial
• Clarence Gartside - 23-years-old from New Hey who died of wounds on 29th September and is buried in Lapugnoy Cemetery. He is remembered on the Ebenezer Chapel Memorial in Summit and on the memorial in Todmorden Park.
• Thomas Cryer - 25-years-old from Calderbrook who was reported as missing but later declared killed in action on 30th September. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Littleborough Cenotaph and St James Calderbrook Memorial
• Charles Henry Andrew - 21-years-old from Littleborough was killed in action on 25th September. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial and the Littleborough Cenotaph
• Richard Thomas Calvert - 29 years old from Stubley Mill, Dearnley (originally from Todmorden) was killed in action on 25th September, remembered on the Loos Memorial and the Littleborough Cenotaph
• John Gordon MacDonald - 30-years-old from Littleborough (originally from Middleton) was killed in action on 25th September and is buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery and remembered on the Littleborough Cenotaph, St Andrews Memorial and Holy Trinity Memorials.
• George Richard Hamlet - 23-years-old from Shore, died of wounds on 26th September and is buried in Aubers Ridge British Cemetery and is remembered on the Littleborough Cenotaph, St Barnabas Memorial and Central School Memorial which is now located within the History Centre.
• Frederick Ughtered Howarth - 31-years-old from Shore, reported as missing but later declared killed in action on 27th September, remembered on the Loos Memorial (pictured above), Littleborough Cenotaph, St Barnabas Memorial and Central School Memorial now located in the History Centre.

If you are related to any of these soldiers, or know someone who is, then please contact Littleborough History Centre by emailing lborohist@btconnect.com