Soldiers killed in the Battle of Loos remembered

Sgt John Gordon MacDonald Adj

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A major offensive in France took place around Loos in September 1915, taking place on ground not of their choosing (across a flat agricultural landscape, ideal for defenders with their machine guns) and before stocks of ammunition and heavy artillery were sufficient.

Despite heavy casualties, there was considerable success on the first day in breaking into the deep enemy positions near Loos and Hulluch, but the reserves had been held too far from the battle front to be able to exploit these successes and succeeding days bogged down into attractional warfare for minor gains.

The Battle of Loos added to the growing loss of Littleborough soldiers.

Sergeant John Gordon MacDonald was born in Middleton in 1885 and lived with his family at 62 Kenyon Lane, Tonge. By 1901 John and the family had moved to 3 Fletcher Square, Littleborough and he was employed as a Ring Piecer, Cotton Spinning. By 1911 Sergeant MacDonald had been a regular soldier for five years and continued to serve once war started. It was officially confirmed in the week ending Saturday 2 December 1915 that 30-year-old Sergeant 9627 John Gordon MacDonald, 1st Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) and formerly of Stubley Mill had been killed in action in France on Saturday 25th September 1915. He is buried in Grave Number D.18C Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. On Sunday 24 October 1915 a memorial service was conducted by the Rev Gaskell in his memory at Holy Trinity Church, Littleborough. He is remembered on St Andrew’s Memorial Card and War Memorial, Holy Trinity War Memorial and the Littleborough Cenotaph.

Private Charles Henry Andrew was born in Blackburn in 1894 and in 1901 lived with his parents Samuel and Jane Andrew at 54 Union Square. In 1911 the census records them as living at 6 Taylor Street, Littleborough. He was a Calico Printer and his parents worked as Cotton Weavers. In 1912 he married Ann Jane Barlow in Rochdale and they had a child. He enlisted in Rochdale in February 1915, aged 21. At a later date, not available, his parents lived at 3 West Street, Durn and his wife, Ann Jane Andrew lived at 31 Sand Street, Smallbridge. Private 15710 Charles Henry Andrew 8th Battalion Devonshire Regiment was killed in action on Saturday 25 September 1915. His name is remembered on Panel 35 to 37 Loos Memorial Pas de Calais, France and also on the Littleborough Cenotaph.

Private Clarence Gartside was born in Newhey on 17 August 1894 and in 1901 he lived with his family at 1 Howarth Cote, Milnrow. The 1911 census advises that Clarence Gartside lived at 76 Shaw Road, Newhey with his mother, three brothers and three sisters and worked as a Piecer, Mule. He married Hannah Sutcliffe Sunderland in 1914 in Todmorden. 23-year-old Private 15707 Clarence Gartside, 8th Battalion Devonshire Regiment died of wounds on Wednesday the 29 September 1915 and is buried in Grave Number ID 55 Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. There is a Clarence Gartside on the Ebenezer Chapel Summit War Memorial, as well as on the memorials in Todmorden Garden of Remembrance and on the Littleborough Cenotaph.

Private Thomas Cryer was born in 1890 and in 1891 he lived at 7 Calderbrook Bottom with his parents, but by 1901 they had moved to 5 Handle Hall, where he lived with his parents and grandmother. Thomas was employed as a clerk in a Velvet Finishing Works and prior to enlisting, Thomas lived with his aunt at 5 Handle Hall Cottages, Calderbrook Road, Calderbrook. He is recorded in the St Andrew's Magazine dated December 1914 as having joined up. It was officially confirmed in the week ending Saturday 4 December 1915 that Private 14325 Tom Cryer, 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment who had been posted missing since Thursday 30 September 1915 was now presumed killed on that date. His name is inscribed on Panel 35 to 37 Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, the Littleborough Cenotaph and St. James’s (Calderbrook) Roll of Honour and War Memorial.

Private Reuben Law was born in Littleborough in 1883 and the 1891 census shows that he lived with his brother James, his parents Abraham and Kate and his three brothers and two sisters at Forest Lodge, Calderbrook. According to the 1911 census, Reuben lived in the lodge with his brother James and his married sister and their family, which included two daughters. His employment was shown as gamekeeper working for Colonel Sir Clement Royds at Shore Moor. He enlisted in Bury in September 1914 and went to France in July 1915. Private Law was first reported as wounded and missing on 27 September 1915 and after enquiries were made by Sir Clement, the War Office could only confirm that he was still reported wounded and missing. Additionally, further concern was felt as letters had been returned unopened. It was later confirmed that on 27 September 1915 Private 19021 Reuben Law, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards was killed in action during the First Battle of Loos advancing towards Puit 14. His name is inscribed on Panel 5 to 7, Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, on the Littleborough Cenotaph and on the Roll of Honour and War Memorial of St. James’s (Calderbrook) Church.

Private Frederick Ughtered Howarth was born in Littleborough around 1894 and during 1901 he was living with his parents Henry and Margaret, his brother and boarder at 5 Fletcher Passage, Littleborough. They remained there in 1911 by which time there were two more sons but no lodger. Prior to enlisting in Rochdale on the 7 November 1914 he resided at 2 Wagg Fold, Shore and was employed at the Clough Print Works. It was officially announced by the Grenadier Guards Records Office that 31-year-old Private 20435 Frederick Ughtered Howarth, 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards, who had been wounded and had been posted missing after an engagement at Loos, France on 27 September 1915, confirmed that he had been killed in action on that date and was more than likely wounded and died of his wounds. Pte Howarth’s name is remembered as being inscribed on the Cenotaph in Littleborough, Littleborough Central School Memorial (now in the History Centre), on St Barnabas Memorial and on panel 5 to 7 Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais France. His name is also on the grave of his mother Ann Howarth who died on 31 March 1903 aged 46, and his father Thomas Henry Howarth who died 16 June 1919 aged 63. The grave in Littleborough (Dearnley) Cemetery inscribed in Private Howarth’s memory reads: “He Gave His Life For His Country.”

Private Richard Thomas Calvert was born in Todmorden in 1886 but by 1901 he was living at 177 Whitelees Road, Littleborough with his family. Both Richard and his brother John were employed as Cotton Machine Minders. By 1911 he had married and was living with his wife, Sarah Alice, son Bernard and daughter Catherine at 16 Durn Street. By 1914/1915 he was shown as living at 1 Featherstall Road, Littleborough and worked at William Tatham Ltd. Private Calvert enlisted firstly in the Hussars in September 1914 and transferred to the Dragoons before moving to the Leicestershire Regiment. He went to France in July 1915 but unfortunately, Private 19222 Richard Thomas Calvert, 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was killed in action on Sunday 2 September 1915. His name is inscribed on Panel 42 to 44, Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and is also inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph. He left a widow and four children under the age of eight.

Rifleman George Richard Hamlet was born in Littleborough in 1892 and in 1901 he lived with his family at 20 Turf House, Shore. The 1911 census records the family living at 10 Turf Terrace, Shore with George employed as a Weaver at Messrs E. Clegg & Sons Shore Mills. Rifleman Hamlet enlisted in Rochdale in January 1915 and was posted to France in July. By the week ending Saturday 9 October 1915 his parents had received information that 23-year-old Rifleman R/8902 George Richard Hamlet, 12th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps had been killed in action as a result of fatal wounds on 26th September 1915. He is buried in Grave No V.C.6, Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, Aubers, France. His name is inscribed on the Messrs E Clegg & Sons War Memorial, Littleborough, Central School Memorial (now in the History Centre), the family grave and also on the Cenotaph in Littleborough. On Sunday 15 October 1915 a memorial service in his honour was held in St Barnabas Church.