Providence Chapel and War Memorial

A Short History of Providence Chapel

Loveclough village lies on the A682 between Burnley and Rawtenstall, mainly a collection of Industrial dwellings from the 18th and 19th Century. It was here beneath the bleak moors that Providence’s Story begins In 1846 a small group of Christians connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Association in Bacup moved to live in Dunnockshaw near Loveclough.

One of their number was a Richard Bridge who set up a cotton manufacturers at Dunnockshaw Mill. The sparsely populated area had no non-conformist place of worship other than at Burnley or Goodshaw at Crawshawbooth a little further on the A682 toward Rawtenstall.

So this little band of newcomers only five or six in number sought worship here and there, not happy with this they created their own society connected with the Burnley Wesleyan Methodist Association Circuit and held their services every Sunday at the house of Henry Crawshaw, James Madden and others whose homes were also thrown open for use as Sunday school with about a dozen scholars.

Prosperity seems to have come quickly to Richard Bridge for within a few months he was able to offer £150 on behalf of himself and his wife towards the erection of a chapel. Superintendent of the Circuit, the Reverend D. Rutherford came to the fore with a supply of subscription books and soon they had collected two to three hundred pounds, and a plot of land was obtained from its owner Mr Themes Grimshaw of Peers Clough, and the Lord of the Manor being the Duke of Buccleuch.  The rent of the land was to be Four Pound Four Shilling per year with the option to purchase for Twenty One Pound.  Building commenced in 1846 and the original chapel opened later that year, a plain building that held about three hundred people with a school room below and the cost was a Grand total of £800.

The name Providence was given as a thank you to God for providing for them and by 1850 there were 33 members and over 100 scholars. A day school was started in 1846 and ran for several years with Andrew Brunskill and John Sedgwick as its heads, and reading writing and spelling being taught at Sunday school.

Naphtha lamps as used on Fairgrounds of the time lit the old Chapel, supplemented by candles, both stained the walls which resulted in obtaining the services of a William Clark to lime wash the Chapel, on provision he did it well for 10 shillings and finding his own tools and lime! Later the Naphtha lamps were replaced by paraffin then gas.

By 1868 it was realised that this original chapel was too small and so after another three years of canvassing, the funds were sufficient for the last Providence to be built.

On Good Friday 1871 the foundation stones of the new chapel were laid by Rev John Garside, Burnley Circuit.

Providence held its final services on Sunday the 27th of August 1961, and the building demolished seven years later.

The Memorial

The Memorial is in a Celtic cross style made of what appears to be Granite, the base that carries the names of the fallen is of the same stone type, with the names in black.  Halfway up the cross section is a 45 degree crack that has been repaired at some time, and more than likely caused when the Memorial was moved to its present position after the Chapel was demolished.

The exact year of the memorial being erected at Providence has yet to be ascertained but the Trustees minutes 29th of January 1921 reports. "The trustees grant with pleasure the request of the War Memorial Committee the privilege of erecting a memorial in memory of the fallen soldiers of the Sunday School," so I should imagine sometime in the 1920's this Memorial came to be.

Albert Lord

Albert Lord married Amy Gregson on the 29th of June 1911 at Providence Chapel. Albert was a native of Crawshawbooth and came from Loveclough. In Albert’s working civilian life he was a weaver at Messrs Landless Mill, Clowbridge and at that time their home address was 1001 Burnley Road, Rawtenstall. Later when Albert was on active service the address would change to 25 Scott Street, Burnley.

Born in October 1884 he attested aged 31 years and two months at Rawtenstall on the 10th of December 1915. On the 11th of December 1915 he moved to Army Reserve and was mobilised on the 16th of June 1916, transferring on the 26th June 1916 to the 4th East Lancashire Regiment.  On the 1st of January 1917 Albert now Pte Albert Lord number 265141 found himself being transferred to the 12th Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment with whom he would stay until the 17th of July 1917. On that date he would board a ship at Folkestone, destination Boulogne, where he would disembark on the 18th of July 1917.

On arrival he moved to the famous Bullring at Etaples then being finally posted to the 1/4th Kings own Royal Lancaster's and joined Battle on the 7th of August 1917. The last sighting of Albert was during the Diversionary attack on the 20th of November 1917, which was to aid the Battle of Cambrai, the latter being an initial success.

Albert’s wife Amy wrote to both the Burnley Express and the Rossendale Free Press during the period November/December of 1918 for any information relating to her husband but to no avail.  Albert was eventually declared dead by the War Council on the 13th of August 1919. Prior to this date on the 22nd of July 1918 his wife by Army Order received a weekly pension of 13 shillings and nine pence.

Albert Lord was No 265241 of the 1/4th Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and was in A. Coy. The Battalion landed at Boulogne in May 1915 to the 164th Brigade, 55th West Lancashire Division. They were a territorial division whose motto was “They win or die who wear the rose of Lancaster”.

The Small picture on the right  is  of  the 55th West Lancashire Division Memorial at  Givenchy La Bassee, the picture on the left is of the centre at the base of the cross same Memorial

Albert was reported as missing on the 20th of November 1917, which was the first day of the Cambrai offensive, begun in order to smash the then impregnable Hindenburg line that initially went well.  His wife when writing to the Burnley Express in late 1918 to see if anyone knew of his whereabouts gave her address as 25 Scott Street, Cheapside, Burnley.  In the Express article Albert is described as being 33 years old and a native of Crawshawbooth where he was well known and respected, previous to joining the army he was also connected with St Johns in that district and was also a weaver at Messrs Landless Mill, Clowbridge.  An appeal by Albert’s wife in the Rossendale Free Press on December 7th 1918 came to nothing and he was later concluded as being dead.  Albert’s wife wrote to the Mayor of Rawtenstall for the Mayors Card a personal commemoration of his life given as did many other wives in the district.

Brief account of the attack in which Albert Lord Fell in action.

The 55th West Lancs were in fact the southern most limit of the attack in the Battle of Cambrai. Tanks were used en-masse for the battle, lessons having been learned from their experience with them in September 1916 on the Somme around Fleurs.

On the 1st of November 1917 the 1/4th were at Lempire, East of Perrone under Lt. Colonel G.B. Balfour who had returned from sick leave and took Command of the Battalion. By the 3rd of November 1917 they were at a village called Longavesnes where the Battalion spent the day cleaning equipment, clothes, arms and billets as the C.O. had inspected the billets that morning.  During the following two weeks the days were spent training for the coming battle, which included practicing attacks on dummy trenches.

In the afternoons there was time for football competitions, which also had the effect of keeping the men in a very fit state for the battle to come.

The war diary extract 1/4th KORL for the 10th and 11th November 1917 reads…. 8.30 am, Battalion practice attack, 2.30 pm Football match, the Probables versus the Possibles the result being a win 1-0 for the Probables.

Presentations for earlier Football Competitions went on through November 1917 before the attack on the 20th, as did a match between 1/4th KORLR and the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers resulting in a 3-0 thrashing for the Fusiliers.

Football was played right up to the final on the 19th of November 1917 whilst still a part of their fitness regime offered light relief from the training and the Battle to come.

20/11/1917 Zero hour.

The Battalion Attacked on a frontage of three companies, A, B and C with a platoon from the remaining D company attached to the former companies.

Zero was set for 06.20 hrs, two minutes later the first line went over the top and advanced towards the German line, ten seconds later the second line followed them, these two lines (in which would have been Albert Lord's A Coy) dashed towards the enemy trenches and encountered heavy clumps of Cheveux de frise which was a very thick barbed wire.

In spite of everything they got across with few casualties and fifteen minutes later the commander of No 2 Platoon reported that he had mopped up his allocated section of enemy trench he then tried but failed to get in touch with B Company so, leaving a sentry group they proceeded in working successfully up one of the trenches known as Loot Lane. But by 7 am they were in difficulty, meeting with strong opposition had to send for reinforcements and supplies of bombs (Mills Grenades) that duly arrived ten minutes later, and putting these to use the enemy gave way.

At 7.45 they had reached the top of the trench known as Loot Lane and formed a kind of barricade known as a block to help consolidate the gained trench. They were under constant attack from the enemy and as many men as could be spared remained and held the block whilst the rest under Lieutenant Clark worked northwards up the trench bombing enemy dugouts and causing many casualties among them.

Meanwhile the Germans had intensified their efforts to against the men holding the block and got between them and Lieutenant Clark, information was dispatched to Lieutenant Clark but to no avail as he was killed at 10.30 am by machine gun fire between the trenches known as Bony Avenue and Claymore trench with others being wounded going to his aid.

By 12.40 it was all over, the Germans were too superior in numbers and ammunition, they chased the British out of their front line wounding and overpowering some in the process, but the majority excluding Albert Lord made it back to their start line.  Albert could have lost his life anywhere in this attack along with the other 80 reported as missing, 11 confirmed dead and 120 being wounded.

Albert has no known grave but is one of the thousands commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing his Reference being between Pier 5  face D and Pier 12 face B. The Thiepval Memorial (pictured below) is to the missing of the Somme and contains some 72,000 names of Officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector prior to the 20th of March 1918 and have no known grave of which 90% of the commemorated died between July and November 1916.

Unveiled on the 31st of July by the Prince of Wales and in the presence of the President of France, the memorial was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built between 1928 and 1932.

Albert Pickup

Private, No 201976 1/4th East Lancashire Regiment. Lived at 1063 Burnley Road Loveclough. Killed in Action, 25th April 1917. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Albert lived at the above address with his parents Alfred and Sarah Ann, his two brothers and four sisters. His father and  his older brother Fred worked at the Loveclough  Calico Printworks at the bottom of Commercial street,  his four sisters  Annie, Ethel, Lily, Sarah Alice, and younger brother Thomas Henry worked  in the Cotton Industry as winders weavers etc. Thomas Henry being a cut looker in a cotton mill.

Picture of the Family Grave in Providence Chapel Graveyard which also commemorates Albert as having been killed in action in the Great War aged 31 years.

EXERPT FORM HISTORY OF THE EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT

On the night of April 24th/25th an attack was made by the 1/4th East Lancashire's and the 1/9th Manchester on an enemy position North of Tombies Farm and East of Quarry Vendhuille and Little Priel Farm. This section which comprised of a knoll and quarry was occupied by about 250 Germans and the attack was immediately successful, the enemy being driven out and chased to the bank of the Canal by "D" Company of the 1/4th East Lancashire, who captured a machine gun, although no prisoners were taken.  Between the 24th and 26th of April 1917 1/4th casualties were 10, including Albert Pickup. (source Soldiers Died in the Great War).

Albert Pickup is also commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Opened on 31 July 1932 by the Prince of Wales the Thiepval memorial was and remains the largest British war memorial in the world.  The memorial contains the names of 73,357 British and South African men who have no known grave and who fell on the Somme between July 1916 and 20 March 1918.

Alexander Howarth

Popular Clowbridge Sergeant Reported Killed. The following letter has been received by Mrs. T. Howarth Burnley Road Clowbridge.

Sergeant Alexander Howarth was 31 years of age, and was a time expired man having served thirteen years in the army, seven of which he spent in India, and one in Egypt, previous to the outbreak of war. He was on Furlough for a month last Christmas, but had then offered his services to his country until he had a record of 21 years service. Though he had seen much fighting, he had been fortunate, sustaining no serious injury, but was badly gassed in April 1916.

Son of Thomas and Betsy, Alexander was killed in action on the 16th of August 1917, his service number being 12. He has no known grave but is commemorated at Tyne Cot Military Cemetery Belgium on the Lancashire Fusiliers panels 54 to 60.

On the 1911 Census he is listed as being in Multan, India, with the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, then aged 25years, and his rank being that of  Drummer

The item above is commonly known as the "Death Penny" or Memorial Plaque, bearing Alexanders name, and awarded with the deceased recipients medal allocation as was the case with most WW1 casualties who were killed in action or, died from their war service.

Above picture shows part of the panel sections in Tyne Cot Cemetery, where Alexander is commemorated.

Bert Taylor

The Family Headstone in Providence Graveyard

Bert or Bertie as he was also known at one time also lived at 2 Ivy Grove Rawtenstall, as did his brother Tom Harry. Bert enlisted at Preston into the 6th Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancashire’s serving at first in the Pay Office and then volunteering for India, (as did his brother the following year) where he contracted a fatal disease that would ultimately end his life on the 7th of April 1917.

The then notable J.P. Mr. Compston wrote to the Rossendale Free Press respecting the sad death of Private Bert Taylor of the Kings Royal Lancashire’s, saying… that at the weekend came the sad news to Mr and Mrs J.J. Taylor of Burnley Road Rawtenstall, that their son Bert at 22 years of age had died in Hospital at Colabo, Bombay India on April 7th of the very fatal spotted fever, and the anniversary sermons at Providence Chapel Loveclough were saddened thereby, the deceased having long been a scholar at the Sunday School. Of the half hundred young men from that small school who are in the King’s Services, Bert Taylor is the first to have fallen.

For some time he had been at Preston and was much liked by his Officers and was placed in the Pay Office, later, a contingent was wanted for India and Bert Volunteered to go. Somehow he there contracted the dreaded disease mentioned, and though everything was done for him that could be, he finally succumbed. Two of the Nursing Sisters wrote letters to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, saying how grieved they all were at the death of one who had become a great favourite on the ward, which was served by the Australian Army Nursing Service.

Manifestly Bert Taylor had profited by what he had learnt at Sunday School, and calmly met death in peaceful confidence, requesting that a curl of his hair should be sent to his mother. This request was complied with, the curl, after disinfection, and having been neatly tied up in a bit of blue ribbon, came duly to land. There are besides the Parents four sisters, and also one brother, Private Thomas Henry Taylor in the Army Motor Services in London, though now over here on a very short leave.

Wide circles of friends lament Bertie Taylor’s death and offer their sincere sympathy to the family…. Possibly Bert’s Body was cremated as he has no known grave but is commemorated on the 1914-1918 War Memorial at Khadki (Kirkee) which is situated on a Plateau between Bombay and Poona, access is by train to Poona from Bombay India.

George Miller

Private, 13509 3rd Coldstream Guards. Lived on Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth. Died of Wounds 16th September 1916, aged 19. Buried La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, France.

George was one of eight children, five brothers and two sisters, he came to Loveclough from Bolton around 1912, and was born in the Bradshaw area of Bolton to George senior and Mary Jane and they lived for a time at Bramhall Lancs.  George worked at Loveclough Print works prior to the war, a large mill (now a private housing estate) at the bottom of Commercial Street, which is in turn, opposite the old National School. He lived on Burnley Road in Loveclough and on enlisting in November 1914 at Rawtenstall he joined the Coldstream Guards 3rd Battalion, regimental number No 13509 disembarking overseas on the 11th June 1915. He had seen much fighting and was a participant in the Battle of Loos in the autumn of 1915.

George was wounded in a further attack a year later, in the Multidivisional attack that included the Guards Brigade on the 15th of September 1916 at a village called Ginchy in Northern France, the same day that Tanks were used for the first time. George was evacuated to No 21 Casualty Clearing Station at La Neuville, a suburb of Corbie where he subsequently died from his wounds the next day on the 16th September 1916.

He is buried in Plot 2 Row E Grave 52 in La Neuville British Cemetery, at the base of his headstone chosen by his family reads the words, He Laid His Richest and Best Gift, His Life, Upon the Altar of Duty. George was aged just 20 years.

La Neuville is a suburb of Corbie separated by the Railway Line from Amiens to Albert and was close to the broad gauge railway line so that ambulance trains could be brought up direct to 21 C.C.S and evacuate men without  using motor ambulances.

Brief history on 21 C.C.S. 21 Casualty Clearing station began with Lieutenant Colonel Clements reporting to Aldershot on July 25th 1915, and met his Officers detailed for personnel of the newly formed 21C.C.S. They sailed for Le Havre from Southampton at 5pm on the 27th of July 1915 aboard the British India S.S.Cheybassa.

Suffering a wet and stormy crossing they landed at Le Havre at 10.45 the next day and stayed at Le Havre until the 25th of August. After a day in Rouen, where they drew dental gear, they arrived at Corbie at 12.30 pm on the 27th of August 1915.

On the 29th of August 1915 21 C.C.S took over the Hubert Briere Factory at La Neuville under the instructions of the D.M.S third army, and spent the next two weeks repairing, cleaning, Whitewashing, and making it fit  for its purpose. The War Diary extract for No 21 C.C.S for September1916 reads. September 13/1916 Received Operation order No8 D.M.S Fourth Army This C.C.S will be held in reserve until required from midnight. 14/15th September (weather showery) No patients evacuated today. September 16th (date of George Millers Death) Number of patients evacuated today is. Officers 24 Other ranks 462 They pushed forward to the Brown Line from which the enemy had evacuated. Consolidation was begun about 6.pm. and the enemy made a counter attack, which was easily repulsed. After dark, rations of water and ammunition were brought up. Total Casualties, Officers 11 Germans 17 Total admissions for the whole of September are, Officers 447 Other ranks 6,481 Germans 176 September total being 7,104.

Also a point of note, is during the 3rd Battalion Coldstream’s attack, Lt Col John Vaughan Campbell won his Victoria Cross, his citation says.. “Seeing that the first two waves of his Battalion had been decimated by machine gun and rifle fire, he took personal command of the third line, rallied his men (this he did with the aid of a hunting horn!) and led them against the enemy machine guns, capturing the guns and killing the personnel” later in the day after consultation with other unit commanders, he again rallied the survivors. This action became known by some as the Tallyho V.C

War Diary Extract 1st Guards Brigade 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards September 15th 1916. At 6a.m. the K.O.Y.L.I and 1 Tank advanced on our left to clear our position on the left flank where the situation was somewhat obscure. At 6.20 the assault was launched and the Battalion went over in four half-company waves at 50 pace intervals.

The attack was met with great opposition from the sunken road about 300 yards from our trenches, after this, the Green Line (an objective that day) was taken without much opposition.  Here the Battalion re organised, and then pushed forward to the Brown Line, from which the enemy had evacuated.  Consolidation was begun about 6.p.m., and the enemy made a counter attack, which was easily repulsed.   After dark, rations of water and ammunition were brought up.                                          The Map below shows the area of the limit of the attack  made by the Guards on the 15th September and shows the respective Battalion positions that evening. A further attack was made on the 25th 0f September by the Guards again, capturing Lesbouefs.

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Total Casualties were, Officers 11, Other Ranks 414, one of which was George Miller. The Picture below is of Pte George Miller's Headstone in La Neuville British Cemetery France, with his family's chosen words at the foot of the stone.

Below is the 1901 Census for the Bradshaw area of Bolton( please click on image to enlarge) where George lived with his widowed father, and his brothers and sisters. His Father's occupation is given as a printer in a calico Printworks, given that Loveclough Printworks had a massive fire around 1905, it looks like on refurbishment of the mill there may have been a staff shortage and prompted the Millers to settle in Loveclough around George seniors workplace. Incidentally the 1911, Census reports the Millers living at 17 Rigby Lane Bromley Cross, his father had re married a lady called Esther, and had two sons with her, Georges occupation at 14 years old was a labourer in a Varnish Manufacturer

 The illustration is that of the Coldstream's famous charge on the 15th of September 1916 around the village of Ginchy towards Lesbouefs.

La Neuville British Cemetery , George Millers final resting place.

Gordon Whittaker

Gordon was born in 1886 to Thomas and Harriet Whittaker and was one of eight children including John, Thomas Stanley,  (who enlisted in the  4th Battalion Welsh Fusiliers at Rawtenstall Dec 1915  later discharged), William, George , Herbert, Leah and Sarah. Gordon was baptised at Providence Chapel aged 10 weeks, in 1886. Their home address was 23 Stoneholme Terrace Crawshawbooth.  A local lad he was described as an ardent supporter of Tariff Reform and as such lectured all over Rossendale Valley on the subject, he was highly respected in the district his early death being regretted by many. He served with D Company 8th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps with his mate from Crawshawbooth Joe White, their consecutive Numbers being R8408  and  R8407 respectively. They entered France on the 19th May 1915.

Gordon wrote home to his parents on the 25th of July 1915 telling them "We had just come out of a rough trench and had got wet through in the heavy rain they were experiencing" and goes on to describe a German attack, “ First came their Trench Mortars and then they began to shell with the result that I got wounded”. He states that some of the men were buried in the bombardment and Gordon had helped to dig them out, fortunately they were only shocked but their trench had been blown to level country, and also goes on to say he had to see a Doctor to dress his wounds. Later they were congratulated by the Commanding Officer for their work and he reflects on with the trenches being blown in, how he lost everything bar what he stood up in, and how, only 200 yards from him he saw his old mate Joe White who he was glad to say came through safely. A certain Pathos to the letter attached to the fact that he was looking forward to being home on furlough (leave) if the rumours were correct.

Gordon Whittaker was killed in action on the 30th of July 1915, during this action Flamethrowers were used reportedly for the first time. Shortly after, his Sergeant E. Hindle wrote home to his parents at their home in Crawshawbooth stating “that Gordon had been killed by his side when a German Shell struck him killing him instantly and every one was cut to the heart when they heard of his death”. The Sergeant goes on to say Gordon was a Britisher to the backbone and proved a hero after being wounded and returning to the trenches.

Hindle describes how he and Gordon were awakened from their sleep by a heavy bombardment and a big battle-taking place, the Huns having used burning acid (flamethrower) on the British troops. They took up their positions just in the rear of the firing line waiting to be sent as support to the men in front, Hundreds of shells were flying about and one of them struck Gordon burying both men, on getting free Hindle was horrified to see his friend dead. Sgt Hindle describes the fighting they had to do at tremendous odds and by the time they got to their trenches (German Trenches) they hadn’t enough men to hold them and had to retire.

The Sergeant assures Mr and Mrs Whittaker that their son was a splendid soldier and died doing his duty as only a British soldier could, and expressed sympathy from all who knew him in the regiment.
Joe White

The Rossendale Free press carried its own obituary to Gordon in their Crawshawbooth and Loveclough section shortly after his death and reads.

Lance Corporal Gordon Whittaker who was killed in action at Ypres
Another hero has been added to the already long list of victims from the Rossendale Valley.
I remember very vividly the deceased being home on furlough, and his bright and cheery conversation regarding life in the British army.
His natural ability and characteristic dash were sure to come to the front, and I have not the least doubt had he been spared, he would have gained further rapid promotion. Prior to the war he was best known in this district perhaps for his advocacy of Tariff Reform, and he belonged to that type who rather courted than shirked any public opposition. But all classes deplore the death of such a promising young fellow, and the deepest sympathy is felt with the bereaved parents and family.
The flag at the Conservative Club is flying half-mast as a token of the esteem felt by the members.

Gordon’s Parents
Harriet Whittaker, Gordons mother died on the 4th of May 1916, aged 64, a report from the Rossendale Free Press stated
Death of Mrs Whittaker
We deeply regret to record the death of Mrs Whittaker of Stoneholme Terrace Crawshawbooth. The deceased lady who had been in delicate health for a considerable period received a shock by the death of her son Gordon who was killed in France. Mrs Whittaker was a highly esteemed resident of this district, and was associated with Providence U.M.C.
Gordon’s Father, Thomas Whittaker now a widower wrote to the Town Hall on April 16th 1917 requesting, as many bereaved families did, a Mayors Card, which acknowledged the sacrifice and loss of the soldier named. Thomas died on the 3rd of June 1917 and both parents are buried within Providence Chapel Graveyard.

23 Stone Holme Terrace
April 16th 1917
Respected Sir
I see in the Free Press of Saturday last that it is your intention to present a memento of all the lads who have made the Great Sacrifice for King and Country, and I am sure it is very thoughtful and kind of you to do it.
My son is L’Cpl Gordon Whittaker 8408 of the Kings Royal Rifles killed in action July 30 1915 in France.
Gordon Whittaker 8th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps

The Letters.
On enlisting and dealing with day to day army life Gordon Whittaker 8th Battalion K.R.R.C. D Coy,
wrote to his local newspaper, the Rossendale Free Press to tell them about his exciting new life. In the period April to august 1913 his letters to the same paper were of a more political theme and he received quite a few conflicting reply's in return, however here are the Letters from his early life as a soldier, full of enthusiasm, and a true patriot, but sadly he was to lose his life just seven months later.

WITH THE KING'S ROYAL RIFLES.
LETTER FROM PRIVATE GORDON WHITTAKER
We have received the following interesting letter from Private Gordon Whittaker, formerly of Crawshawbooth, whose name will be familiar to many of our readers through the letters on political topics which he has contributed to our correspondence columns at various times: -
Kings Royal Rifle Depot,
Winchester
January 2nd, 1915.

Dear Sir, - It gives me great pleasure to write to you upon a different subject than usual. As you and your readers are perhaps aware, I have taken upon myself the duties of training to defend my King and Country. Having had nearly a week in Barracks, I can assure you and the young men of Rossendale that it is a most healthy and jovial life. You are put through your drill day after day by men fully qualified, who are very willing to teach you and who are patient. I may say that my comrade, Rifleman White, and I have had various trainers, and we find each of them good and patient. From the Sergeants down to the Lance Corporals you find every one willing to learn. Training may seem hard to some, but when you have good trainers it is excellent and easy. You may have heard that a soldier’s life is a hard one, We find it very easy. You hear the Bugle call at 6.30 a.m. when you rise and dress and clean up your room, at 7.30 a.m. you parade for breakfast, then you finish until 9.15 a.m. Then you have four drills of 45 minutes between 9.15 and 4p.m. parade at 4.30p.m. for tea and finish for the day. Of course you are not allowed to leave the Barracks before 5p.m. without leave, but you can leave at 5p.m. until 9.30p.m.without leave. At 10p.m. the bugle calls for lights out. That is the day's work of a recruit. You may get one or two days a week on what they call "fatigue" work; that is, assisting in various departments in the Barracks such as cookhouse, gymnasium, tea rooms, etc, which only lasts a few hours per day. When you are on fatigue work you don’t drill that day. There is one thing that handicaps recruits, and that is meals. We can honestly say that it is like going to a tea party every day. When there are something like thousands parading outside the tea rooms, a new recruit would necessarily think there would be a famine, but we have the first famine to see since we arrived. You get for breakfast bread and butter as much as you like, with bacon and ham and fried tomatoes, but when you come to Friday morning you find a nice frizzled kipper or two waiting for you to devour. As for dinner, we have potatoes, beef, roasted or stewed, peas, carrots, cabbages or beans and bread as much as you like. I may say that I omitted from breakfast menu pigs feet. At tea time we get bread and butter, cheese, marmalade, and jam, and sweet bread. If you want supper you buy it yourselves and it can be got for about 2d each in the temperance canteen in the Barracks. As regards recreation there is plenty provided,. There is a large billiard room, reading room, and recreation room at the disposal of the soldiers between drills, and after drill hours until 9.p.m. One thing which makes the soldiers life happy is the merry way old soldiers welcome you, and in bedrooms, which on an average contain about twenty beds, you hear soldiers relating to their experiences and bang off singing the latest parody "On the Blue Ridged Mountains of Germany". This makes things jolly and we have no need to be downhearted at all. In such a crisis a soldiers life is the best life for each young man to live. In conclusion I may say that we look out every day for recruits from Rawtenstall, but alas we see none. Yet there are hundreds coming in every day, men come from Rochdale, Bolton, Keighly but none from Rawtenstall. Men of Rossendale if you had heard and seen the men we have, men who have come from the firing line, you would not hesitate a minute, but join the Regiment with a fine record of Battle honours. Hoping to hear in the next news from Rossendale that there has been a big rush of recruits then Germany can pack up and retreat.-
We remain yours etc.
Rifleman GORDON WHITTAKER 8408
Rifleman J . WHITE, 8407
P.S. I shall esteem it a favour if you publish this in your next issue.- Gordon Whittaker, late of Stone Holme Terrace Crawshawbooth.
Gordon wrote to the Free Press again and this letter appeared in the Saturday 23rd of January edition.

LETTER FROM PRIVATE GORDON WHITTAKER
Private Gordon Whittaker, of the King's Royal Rifles, formerly of Crawshawbooth sends the following letter from camp at Surrey.
Sir it gives me great pleasure to write and let you know that I am A1 and in the pink. I am doing well down here. We have some good pals, and good instructors. We have been drilled rather hard since we came to Surrey. On Wednesday January 6th we had drills with rifles. We were examined by the adjutant and he passed our squad as fit for joining the Regular Forces. He said we did our drills well for the short time we had been here. We have to leave here some day next week for Aldershot to fire our course of musketry. Then we shall be full soldiers. We shall then come back to Surrey to go through what is called inoculation. Some like it , some don’t, and if you don’t have it, you don’t get leave, so I shall be inoculated, and then come home for a weeks furlough. The only fault we find here is that we have not very good accommodation. We are put up in schools and stables. All schools in the district are used for housing the soldiers. We happen to be in one. In the room where I and my pal are there are two bags of straw and three blankets and with our coats thrown on the bed at night we are kept quite warm. We have to go out to feed in big tents . The food is excellent. We keep in the best of health and though we have to rough it we feel much better when we think of the reason we are here. I think that the 8th King's Royal Rifles will have their revenge when they get out at the front. They are supposed to be the finest shooters in the British Army, and I feel honoured in being attached to such a fine regiment. We are all trained to make the Germans Fly with very little casualties on our side. Out of the whole 8th Battalion there are very few who do not want to go to the front and do their little share. Anyhow we shall soon have the chance. About six more weeks and we shall be drafted out as efficient men. I don’t know of anything else at present but remain, yours faithfully,
GORDON WHITTAKER.
P.S.- I was pleased to see my last letter in your issue. We receive your paper every week.
A week later Gordon kept Rossendale up to speed of his experiences, with this letter in Sat January 30th 1915.
ENGLAND'S HOPE IN YOUNG MEN.

HOW THE KAISERS BIRTHDAY PRESENT WAS LOST
Sir, it gives me great pleasure to take up my pen and write to you once more, when we know of the Germans' latest raid. We heard the German Navy were to make the Kaiser a beautiful birthday present of England but they had not asked permission of the " Rulers of the Sea" the British Navy. Sir Donald Beatty was waiting and presented the Kaiser with the sinking of the "Blucher" as a present from the British Navy with warmest congratulations. I may say that the Kaiser fully expected having England for his Birthday but his expectations were not realised. Anyone, it is the duty of our young men to realise the danger of allowing the "baby killers" to capture our shore, and the only safeguard is to be prepared to meet them and defeat them, when they make their raids. The young men should join some of the Regiments for they get some good training and nothing is lost by so doing. I may say I am delighted in being attached to one of the best shooting Regiments in the British Army, and when the 8th Battalion King's Royal Rifles gets out there will be some dirty work , for we shall be trained and fully competent men. Old men who have finished their time with the Colours have re joined and make it their duty to prepare us, and spare no energy in showing us how to use the rifle as far as shooting and bayonetting is concerned. We are leaving here this week to go to Aldershot to fire our course of musketry, then we join the Battalion for Battalion training after which we shall have Divisional training. Then we shall be sent to the base ready to reinforce troops in the firing line. I may say that we have been inoculated. We were told by some that it was a very painful operation, but I am convinced otherwise now that I have gone through it. I am now prepared for the second dose, which we get in about ten days time. When we have been inoculated we get two days rest to get over it, but one day is enough as we were all right the day following. As regards the place we are training in it is lovely, and on Friday it was snowing all day, and when we got up on Saturday we saw one of the loveliest winter scenes one could wish to see. All the fir trees were weighted with snow, and I may say that there are hundreds of such trees here. Up the drive from the school in which we are billeted there are fir trees as high as telegraph poles, and they were curved over with the weight of snow. On our way to the doctors on Saturday afternoon for inoculation we saw several telegraph poles brought to earth by the weight of snow on the wires. Snow fell to about one foot in depth, and we were employed clearing it away on Saturday morning.- Yours sincerely,
Rifleman GORDON WHITTAKER (8408),
8TH Battalion K.R.R. "D" Company
Remonham, Hind Head, Surrey.

Early February 1915 this report appeared in the Crawshawbooth/Loveclough section of the Free press.
Private Gordon Whittaker, who was well known to readers before war broke out as a strong advocate of Tariff Reform, has been home on furlough for a few days before returning to Aldershot on Thursday. He carries his breezy air along wherever he goes, saying, he's never felt better in his life. He would make an admirable recruiting Sergeant and whether one agrees Politically or not his enthusiasm for the Army is to be admired. Asked about how he progressed with Tariff Reform in these times he says a few discussions had taken place but a political truce was observed by the rank and file.

Not every one shared Gordon’s enthusiasm and love of his Regiment as this reply appeared on the 30th of January, same page as Gordons heading about the Kaisers lost present.

A NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS REPLY

TO THE EDITOR
Sir  When I arrived home at Rawtenstall on Saturday for 48 hours leave I received my "Free Press" as usual and by your kind permission I wish to reply to a letter I read from a member of the 8th Battalion King's Royal Rifles. It is only some few weeks ago I per chanced to see his name in your column of local recruits. After months of agitation for men by expert militarists he at length decided to join the K.R..R . Not five days after his enlistment he endeavoured to inspire your readers with a spirit of chivalry, and said he had taken upon himself the duties of training to defend King and country. Having had nearly a week in barracks he goes on to tell us of various trainers, jovial times, and that a soldiers life is the best life to live.
The latter I am not going to dispute- it may be, and it may not be. The life of a soldier may be a splendid one for a man of spirit. Neither is it my ambition to disparage anyone who has taken the oath, yet it is my duty (as Carlyle said) to feed you on facts. I myself am a member of the Northumberland Fusiliers, stationed at Wendover, who are being prepared by men with the fullest knowledge of military drill and the use of firearms, and whenever the N.F. have seen active service, they have done it nobly and well. The Officers are men of courtesy and competency. Your correspondent of the K.R.R. says in your last issue of the "Free Press": "When the 8th Battalion King's Royal Rifles get out there will be some dirty work, for we shall be fully trained by competent men". I do not know what the Officers have instilled in the mind of their docile pupil, but I feel sure they have not wasted their energy practising "dirty work". If your correspondent is seeking some world planet, distant from strife, or easy position, I advise him to wait until he has gained experience. There are scores of Rossendale lads , who have joined the colours months ago, some of them even winning battle honours, who do not boast about it in the Press.- I remain, yours,
Lance Corporal "A. W.," N.F.
Gordon must have read the reply for no further letters to the free press have been observed.
He was killed in action just off the Menin road, July 30th 1915. On August 14th 1915 this letter appeared in the Free Press from one of Gordons former rivals in the Tariff Reform debate that raged in the free press in the summer of 1913.

THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL GORDON WHITTAKER

TO THE EDITOR
Sir, It is with deepest sorrow I write to express my sympathy with the family of Lance Corporal Gordon Whittaker. Knowing him as I did, Gordon was a young man who struggled unceasingly with the ideas of progressive thought. Just after the outbreak of war he put the love of patriotism into action, and joined the King's Royal Rifles, and I have every reason to believe he made a cheerful and dutiful soldier. Politically our views were as wide apart as the Arctic Poles, and everyone who knew him could not help but admire him for his bold stand against austere criticism. During April to August, 1913, the readers of the "Rossendale Free Press" were confronted with many letters on the subject of Tariff Reform. Myself (under the nom de plume of Democrat) and others wrote in opposition to Tariff Reform and the party advocating it. In one of Gordon's letters he requested me to read Longfellow's poem-
"Be noble in every thought
And in every deed !
The last time I met our patriot it was on Easter week. He then looked in good health, and spoke in glowing terms of the Army life. Yet 'tis true, none can foretell the results of war, when all other problems and political issues shrink into insignificance. As the Lacdaemonians in ancient days sacrificed all they possessed:-
"Go tell the Spartans thou that passest by
That here obedient to their laws we die"
Gordon's end was a brave and courageous one, his death was the death of a martyr for freedom.
In the words of Tolstoy, "The advance of humanity towards righteousness is due not to tyrants but to martyrs" with these remarks-
The toll of war tells sadly
In the village home where he was held most dear,
Hearts are now stricken with sorrow grief and tear,
Hearts that are yearning for his kindly face,
His voice his touch to fill the silent place.
No passion flower which bloomed for you and me,
Will ever fill the vacant chair left by he,
No mother's last embrace and fondling kiss,
Would touch the cheek of him they miss.
No more to roam the sun kissed hills,
Of Rossendale, where those pleasant rills
Send out the joy of Nature's music sweet,
For now he lies in dreamless sleep.
No more, no more will he wield the pen
On topics important that interest men,
No more will the Press publish his letters,
For he has died to free us from fetters.
Brave deeds, thou wrought in ancient days,
Are mirrored in histories warring page.
They tell of men who nobly fought and died
Where duty placed them side by side.
Since last he bade farewell to fathers home
He's sacrificed his blood and bone
To fight for England while there was breath
A splendid soldier dies a hero's death.
Yes, for honours sake the ghastly deed was done
For honours sake his duty was not to shun
His days of active life through mart and street
Are gone forever yet leave a memory sweet.
R.H.HEYS.
New Mills Stockport.

Joe White No 8407 8thBattalion D Company Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
Gordon’s friend Joe White mentioned earlier survived the war and became the well-known Secretary of the then Discharged Soldiers and Sailors living at 14 Cooperation Street Crawshawbooth, but alas was to succumb to the terrible influenza epidemic of 1919, dying from the illness within a day of his own father who had the Robin Hood pub in Edgeside Holme.

Joe lies buried in Rawtenstall Cemetery under a Commonwealth War Graves headstone

The letters from Gordon's long running argument with the Democrat amongst others are reproduced here and can be found in the Rossendale Free Press of May 1913 and quite entertaining it must have been too, like a long running soap perhaps?.

THE TARIFF QUESTION
TO THE EDITOR
Sir , - Would you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper to criticise a very bold statement made by Councillor J. Taylor, J.P. at the Scoutbottom Liberal Club and reported in your issue of March 22nd . the statement I refer to is that "From a revenue stand point Tariff Reform would be a huge failure". On February 28th Mr. Ure made an appearance in Manchester and used a similar argument and explained it in the very same way that Councillor Taylor explains it, namely. "What taxes will you lay on? Is your Tariff for revenue or Protection? Mr Bonar Law (our leader) answered "We shall put on our Tariff for the sake of both, and we shall secure both". "The answer meant that goods would come in and at the same time stay out; that a thing is and a thing is not." The answer meant nothing of the sort. Practical experience shows that Tariff countries today employ their customs duties for protective and revenue purposes. The American Tariff gives protection and brings in revenue. The German Tariff gives protection and brings in revenue. And so will the reformed British Tariff. The explanation of the (Mr Taylor and Mr. Ure ) phenomenon is that some goods are kept out by protective duties while others are able to come in despite of the Tariff . it is worth while pointing out that the Exchequer gains in either case. For, when foreign goods are kept out and products of native manufacture take their place, the "internal" revenue benefits by reason of additional production and employment so afforded. Every £100 worth of increased production means increased revenue from rates and taxes, and every man on that additional production will necessarily contribute to the nations wealth in the process of spending his wages. Mr. Ures pet argument supported by Councillor Taylor is that Tariff Reform would fail to bring in anything like an adequate amount of revenue. In his latest speech he placed the sum it was likely to raise from manufactured imports at 2-1.7 million pounds. "That " he said, was "why Tariff Reform was the most colossal swindle ever attempted on the people of this country". The following facts largely discount his fatuous objurgation. Firstly, his estimate is not based on the avowed proposals of tariff Reformers. They propose an average duty of 10 percent on imported manufactures, the duty varying with the amount of labour represented in the commodities imported. Mr. Ure takes an average duty of 5 percent . Secondly, in making his estimate Mr. Ure excludes over 50 percent of our manufactured imports because they are not completely finished. Thirdly Mr. Chiozza Money M.P. a Gentleman whose statistical abilities are somewhat more conspicuous than the Lord Advocate's, admitted so long ago as 1907 that an average 10 percent duty on imports of manufactures would raise 13 million pounds a year. Manufactured imports have increased since then so the revenue therefrom would be proportionally greater, let Councillor J.Taylor J.P. know that his "pet argument" has been exploded many times and is only a very weak argument against Tariff Reform, so weak that it would be wise to send it back to his leaders and tell them that if there is no stronger argument "Free Trade" is doomed in the country . Thanking you in anticipation, I am yours etc,
GORDON WHITTAKER..

A swift reply came from the Democrat to Gordon's letter in the following issue of the Free Press!
TARIFF REFORM AND IT'S MOTLEY CREW
TO THE EDITOR
Sir - Your correspondent Gordon Whittaker seems to be suffering from grave disappointment. The word "Democrat" seems to stick in the forepart of his neck. Three times in his last letter he disgorges some ranting declaration as to who this "Democrat" might be , I have no desire to choke him, and I hope he will soon get over it; still I am quite content with my nom de plume. In my last letter to your valuable paper I gave some homely advice to those who were inimical. I was asked by Gordon Whittaker to know the meaning of Democrat and I have so far succeeded in making it's definition as clear as the noon day sun. It is perfectly obvious that Gordon Whittaker exhibits a very pronounced form of prevarication which is characteristic of the party to which he belongs and, from his letters he has developed a state of shallow flippancy. He is too, very unstable, first he takes up position of bold attack , and then when opposition appears he suddenly evacuates that position and takes up another of mild and feeble defence. Reverting back to our previous letters , in one of them I made remarks that the American worker is no better off than the British worker , This I maintain and I conscientiously believe that the American workers with their Tariff slavery have been robbed, and have allowed their country for many years (as we are now allowing ours) to be the happy hunting ground for the protectionist trust maker.

Nowhere have the crude fallacies of protectionist argument, the contention that the protectionist duties benefit working men, and that you make a nation richer by making goods dearer, been more vigorously preached by Trust fed Politicians and a Trust owned Press. In his letter for April 19 Gordon Whittaker refers with his usual and useless pernicious bigotry in regard to the Marconi scheme. It is idiotic for the Tariffists to make accusations against Ministers for investigating in an American Company which has no connection with British Government contracts, for they would do well to compare the high standard of morality recognised by Radical administrations with that of the Tory party. While no Liberal Minister since 1882 has been allowed to hold a single directorship while in office, the two Tory administrations held between them eighty nine directorships in companies which in many cases were interested in Government contracts. Gordon Whittaker says "Democrat" would do well to look at the figures for the Presidential election, and note the large majority of 1,500,000 for Protection. I have seen those figures and made remarks about them in my last letter. It is evident "you" are under the influence of moral strabismus, and subject to reading between the lines, or you would have noticed my remarks. On this point I have proved that in the House of Representatives there is a Democratic majority, and they are at the present time getting to the heart of the fiscal mystery. They now know, and have informed the world, that Protection or Tariff Reform, which is one and the same meaning, or atrocious crime, necessarily tends to destroy and ruin a nation. The Democratic party of America have made a bold start for the removal of the heavy load of Protection which has rested so long on American shoulders. President Wilson has himself dismissed as "audacious and impudent" the pretence that high Protection is a benefit to the worker. It is true the more Democratic the Government of any country becomes, the greater it's freedom from political corruption will grow. Surely, Mr Editor, our abstruse and zany crank is not enmeshed in the garbage of superfluity, or plainly speaking, using too many words. Gordon, did you say "scurrilous"? I am sorry; in fact I thought your hide was too thick for anything to penetrate , but after writing that sentence I imagine you would sit back in your chair and try and understand it. I hope you inwardly digest it. Doubtless you thought it sounded severe, though it only succeeded in being silly. I can almost catch a faint echo of the words you would say to yourself, "What a terrible plight the day of my birth was to me." It may probably give you inspiration in allowing me to tell you, there is more knowledge to-day than ever there was, an' there's more cranks. Could only the Tariff Reform League get rid of it's cranks in the same way as the factories get rid of their cinders, an' pay so much a load for carting them away, the unemployed would be busy shovelin' from now till the next Haley's Comet appears. Before I conclude, allow me, Mr Editor, to plead once more with our forlorn and shipwrecked brother, let me ask him once more to leave those motley crew of Bandits, come out of the quagmire and abyss into which "you" have allowed "yourself "to sink so low. Abdicate "yourself" from the party with the manners of a Yahoo, and who now in the House of Commons indulges in antics which are happily rare in the human species, which is only a mere description of the wandering tribe of Tariff Reformers.-
Thanking you Mr. Editor, once more I am etc,
-"DEMOCRAT."
May 12th, 1913.

After Democrat's letter, another plea from Gordon was published in the same issue.
TO THE EDITOR
Sir- In answer to your correspondent "Conservative Free Trader", of the 7th inst., let me point out that before I can make any arrangements for a debate I must know who "Democrat" is. The questions which C.F.T. says are the most important must be boldly and manfully faced, and the fallacies and mendacities of the Free Trade case must be ruthlessly exposed. There-fore if "Democrat" is willing to defend Free Trade and condemn Tariff Reform, and is a man with reasoning abilities, then I will consider meeting him in a debate. Hoping that he will now disclose his identity and be a man and show his cause is worthy of his name, I am yours etc,
GORDON WHITTAKER

Also in the same issue that our two opponents aired their views of each other, another observer entered the fray.
TO THE EDITOR..
Sir, I have followed during the last few weeks the controversy in your paper between "Democrat" and Gordon Whittaker, and I sincerely sympathise with "Democrat" in his effort to convert this advocate of "the motley crew." He is certainly beyond the reach of reason; no argument however plain and logical, appears to have had the least effect on his moribund mind. Scientists tell us that a certain stage of a man's life the molecules of his brain solidify, and render him incapable of comprehending fresh ideas, and I look upon Mr Whittaker as a living proof of this theory. For many years he has been a persistent pest in the columns of your paper, simply repeating in a "parrot-like" form, the old stale arguments of the "Protectionist Brotherhood". Times without number he has had his statements ridiculed and proved erroneous and absurd, still he continues to persist in the propagation of his insane doctrine. As he has not put any propositions yet that are worthy of replies, I will ask him (if he thinks he has a case) to give us in a lucid form, what he really proposes to do , stating clearly the relations of "Labour and Capital," defining the true meaning of the terms "wealth" and "capital", explicitly stating the ways and means by which he intends to carry on the production and distribution of wealth, so that we may for once clear the air of any uncertain matter and march on "each siding each, the higher truth to find,"  Yours etc.

ANTI-PROTECTIONIST.

Excerpt from War Diary 8th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps and the action in which Gordon Whittaker lost his life.
29/7/1915
Thursday
Sanctuary wood
Dugouts made, Communication Trenches cleared, parapets raised especially in F1. 7thK.R.R relieved 8th K.R.R about midnight. 8th Battalion returns to Ypres, A+D Coys to Ramparts near Lille Gate, B+C Coys to dug outs near White House west of Asylum.

30/7/1915
Friday
Enemy attack trenches occupied by 8th Rifle Brigade and 7th Kings Royal Rifles at 3.am using Liquid fire on G3+G4. Front Line Trenches opposite Zouave Wood lost. Bombardment by our guns and counter bombardment opens at 3.45.am. Platoons of 8th Kings Royal Rifles ordered to reinforce 8th Rifle Brigade in Zouave Wood.
D.Coy (Gordon Whittaker’s) leads off getting to Zouave Wood at 6.30 am. The 3 Platoons are under Major Green and Captain Barber, remainder of Battalion goes to Sanctuary Wood.
The three Platoons of D Company reinforce A Company of the 8th Rifle Brigade at the edge of Zouave Wood and are heavily shelled and are withdrawn to Sanctuary Wood at 12.noon.
Lt Hawkes R.A.M.C is killed just past Bridge 14 on the way up to Sanctuary Wood with the Battalion. Intensive Bombardment by our Artillery opens at 2.15pm, counter attack arranged for 2.45pm. 8th Battalion to support 7th Battalion and attack to be launched from Sanctuary Wood and the Rifle Brigades from Zouave Wood. Enemy machine gun fire makes it impossible to leave wood, edge of wood being heavily crumped, a few platoons succeed in getting some way out from wood, A and B Company’s in front line supported by C Company, D Company kept in reserve in trench near Headquarters in Sanctuary Wood.

About 3.15a.m. a message was received by Colonel Green from Major Seymour saying that the 7th Battalion and our own advance was stuck up, and asking whether he should again attempt to push on. Colonel Green seeing that the Rifle Brigade attack had also been held up decided to hold on and ask for orders. The order was shortly received from the Brigadier not to press the attack further. Colonel Green issued orders for a trench to be dug through Sanctuary Wood at the point held by our firing line; this was done by all available men, and helped by the 7th Notts and Derby’s and the D.C.L.I who had sent two Companies to reinforce.

The losses had been very and the Medical arrangements were entirely inadequate and with Dr Hawkes having been killed only one Doctor was available to deal with over 500 cases. Great difficulties were experienced in finding and collecting the wounded in the thick woods, and when found in bringing them in to the dressing station. With it being impossible to bring the ambulances within 900 yards of the first aid station, many men had to remain out exposed for over 24 hours.
This coupled with the fact the Battalion had no rations for 36 hours and suffered for the want of water, caused the loss of many riflemen who might have been saved.
At about 3.a.m. a terrific rifle and machine gun fire was opened by both sides and the Artillery, Flare lights, and rockets of both sides added to the confusion of what appeared to be a heavy night attack took place.
The 7th Battalion and A and D had been relieved, and only B and C Company’s and machine Guns were present and the two of them took up positions and awaited developments under Colonel Green.
One Machine Gun under rifleman Bentley particularly distinguished itself.
At daybreak the firing died down and the two Company’s having been relieved withdrew.
The Sketch below shows the area where Gordon Whittaker fought and died along with 10 Officers, and 190 men, killed wounded or missing of his Battalion, the 8th Kings Royal Rifle Corps.

Just along the Menin Road past Hooge Crater Museum, is a Memorial Cross to the various  Battalions of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps who fought in Flanders, the base of which is shown in the picture on the left, there is a similar one near Poziers, on the Somme.

Harold Spencer

Private, 142882 66th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Formerly 26689 East Lancs.) Lived 84 Burnley Road Dunockshaw, near Burnley. Killed in action 29th March 1918. Commemorated Pozieres Memorial, France.

Harold was born in 1892 to John and Agnes Spencer of 84 Burnley Road Dunnockshaw near to Loveclough. His Fathers occupation was a Cotton Weaver and he was also a former President of the Loveclough Co-operative Society. The Spencer’s had eight children in total, seven sons and one girl, two sons dying in infancy. Of the surviving five sons four were to serve King and Country, William the Eldest also a weaver, was with the Royal Artillery in France, Norris third eldest was with the Motor Transport section of the Royal Engineers whilst Frank who joined the Navy in February 1915 was posted on the North Sea.

It was with the East Lancashire regiment  that Harold enlisted at Rawtenstall in March 1916 and subsequently transferred to B Coy of the 66th Battalion Machine Gun Corps where he saw much fighting in the Somme district and Vimy Ridge. In June 1917 he was wounded in the thigh and was evacuated to the Military Hospital at Exeter returning to active service in October 1917. On the 20th of March 1918 (the day before the German spring offensive) Harold met his elder brother Michael near St Quentin and spent a couple of hours in his company, probably talking over old times, but this would be the last time they would meet.

Harold Spencer was killed in action on the 29th of March 1918 aged 25, just nine days after the chance meeting with Michael. Contact was made with the Red Cross to see if he was a prisoner of war but to no avail.

Harold has no known grave but is commemorated on the Poziers memorial to the missing in Poziers British Cemetery on the Somme which is located on the West side of the main Albert to Bapaume road the D929.

In 1916 it was known as Tramway Crossing or Red Cross Corner, a place for field ambulances to bring their dead from the battlefields around there. The Cemetery was designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, being dedicated in 1932 and including the memorial to the missing in the form of panels for each regiment, and relates to the crisis period of march and April 1918 when the Allied fifth Army was driven back over the Somme Battlefields so dearly won. Harold is commemorated on Panels 90 to 93.

Being part of the Fifth Army the 66th faced the onslaught of the German offensive of March 21st 1918, and held the line at Carpeza Copse near the village of Hesbecourt, east of Peronne, where they were at the forward edge of the Battle zone. The 66th Battalion held their front line but with very heavy losses, over 700 killed on the first day, and were pushed back beyond Peronne.

The picture below is of a section of the Machine Gun Corps Panel  at Poziers, containing Harold Spencer's name, and the name of Pte Percival Allen Storr, Percival was a Burnley lad, killed on the same day as Harold serving in the same Machine gun Battalion and probably knew each other well, if not part of the same gun team.

Herbert Law

Private, 32539 B Coy 8th King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Lived at 11 Taylor Street, Rawtenstall. Died of Wounds, 19th September 1918, aged 40. Commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece. 

Herbert was the son of Joseph Law of Loveclough, and lived at No 11 Taylor Street Rawtenstall, he married Emily Ann Ivett, and his in laws Elizabeth and James Ivett, also lived on the same street as them, their address being No 1 Taylor Street, which is just around the corner from the two Taylor brothers who are both on Providence Chapel War Memorial. In his Civilian Life, Herbert was a joiner by trade working for the then Crawshawbooth firm of Ormerod and Ashworth, and whose premises were 845 Burnley road Crawshawbooth. He enlisted in September 1916 at Rawtenstall and became No 32539 Pte H. Law B Company of the 8th Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry being stationed at first at South Wales.

Herbert was drafted to Salonica in 1917 and was to die there, one year later, in battle. On the 18th of September the Kings Own Shropshire Light Infantry were deployed and Herbert was wounded, the wounds must have been too severe as he died the next day.

Herbert is yet another with no known grave, his grave marker could have been destroyed by later action which was sometimes the case.  He is commemorated on the Colonial Hill War Memorial at Diorn Village in northern Greece, near the Macedonian border.  The Photograph of Herbert, was kindly supplied by Herbert's Grandson, Mr Neil Chadderton.

The Doiran Memorial 418 officers and 10282 other ranks of the British Salonika Force who died in Macedinia and Serbia.  To commemorate 1979 of all ranks who have no known grave but whos names are on the panels.

Herbert’s wife Emily also wrote to the Mayor of Rawtenstall for a Mayors card to commemorate Herbert’s life, and in September 1919 on the first anniversary of Herbert’s death, his mother in law Mrs Ivett, put an epitaph in the Roll of Honour, which was printed in the Rossendale Free Press and also included was the name of her nephew Private Wilf Popple killed in action with the 10th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in August 1918, also added were remembrances from Herbert’s brothers and sisters. Below is the official notice from the Record Office dated the 3rd of October 1918 to Herbert's wife Emily, informing her of him dying from wounds received, although now faint, the details can still be read.

The Letter below dated 20th of March 1919 from the British Red Cross must have added closure to any thoughts Emily may have had as to whether Herbert may still be alive. With kind thanks to Herbert's Grandson Mr Neil Chadderton for the copies of both letters.

Brief description of the action

In July 1918 General L.F.F Franchet d’Esperey became Commander in Chief and launched a major offensive with six Serbian and two French Divisions against a seventy-mile frontage held by just one Bulgarian Division. The attack began with a heavy nigh time bombardment in the early hours of September 1918, resulting in a five-mile penetration by nightfall on September the 16th. On the 17th of September the Serbs advanced 20miles, and with the French and Greeks on their flanks widened the breach to 25 miles. The British attack, launched on September the 18th 1918 was on the front between the Vardar and Lake Doiran, and stopped the Bulgars sending troops westwards against the right flank of the penetration.

By September the 19th the Serbian Cavalry had reached Kevardaci, and two days later the whole Bulgarian front had collapsed.

This offensive was no cakewalk for the British Salonica Army, they faced a formidable foe with the Bulgarian soldier, well disciplined but regarded as fair by some who faced them in battle.  There is a book by Alan Wakefield and Simon Moody entitled Under the Devil's Eye, Published by Pen and Sword, ISBN 184884461-1 which covers extensively the hardship both from disease as much as fighting, that the Salonika Expeditionary force had to endure and I recommend it to all.

Thom Harry Taylor

Bert Taylor and Thomas Harry Taylor were the two sons of John James Taylor and Alice Taylor, who all at one time lived at 2 Ivy Grove Burnley Road Rawtenstall, there were also four sisters May,  Gertrude, Winnie and Leslie?,  Thom Harry and his father both also lived for a time at Badger Cote Farm, which was situated along the main Burnley to Rawtenstall road approximately one mile from Providence Chapel towards Rawtenstall, and being on the left of the road. The boys Father John James, lived at Badger Cote Farm in 1891, and as the census shows, he is named as the adopted son of Mr Thomas Atkinson (Farmer) and his wife Sarah. Also at the Farm was a Domestic servant called Mary Burns. John James occupation is given as a joiner at a print works (either Loveclough or Sunnyside?). The Atkinson’s originated from Settle, Yorkshire, Mary from Liverpool, and John James from Crawshawbooth.

After Mr and Mrs Atkinson had passed away and John James had a family of his own, his son Thomas Harry Also continued at the Farm with the successive occupants Mr. and Mrs. Catlow, he stayed with them up to joining up but not before gaining a wife, her name being Mary Jane. Thom married Jane, on the 22nd of November 1916 at the Parish Church,  Gannow Lane Burnley, the family address then became No28 Gannow Lane Burnley, in 1918 their son Harry was born, albeit after Thom Harrys death.

Enlisting at Burnley,  Thom Harry joined B Company of  the 3rd Battalion East Lancashire Reserve Regiment, giving his civil occupation as Chauffeur, and so was transferred to the Army Service Corps (motor transport) his number being M2/202357.  He Embarked on the H.M.T Port Lincoln at Davenport on the 9th of October 1917 and disembarked at Dar am Salaam on the 19th of  November 1917.
He served in South Africa, where unfortunately he contracted the disease Enteric Fever, which sadly proved fatal and he died on the 24th of January 1918 aged just 24 years. He is buried in Cape Town Maitland Cemetery, section 4, grave ref 97453 C. Both Taylor boys were to die from disease, Thom Harry just seven months after Bertie.   Death given as Cholera, a board decided at City Hall Cape Town on the 16th of February 1918, that Thom had indeed died from his Military service and not previous employment or injury, no doubt enabling Jane to receive some form of pension.

Thom Harry was another of the Sunday School Scholars of Providence and a memorial service was held for him in the Chapel. The reverend William Carter, pastor, delivered the sermon from 1, Peter, iii..18… in which through the ages, and not least in these war times, Christ and his people suffered, the just for the unjust, the innocent with the guilty, yet on behalf of righteousness and the bringing of men to God and good. Hymns were sung, and Mr Willie Pollard the Goodshaw Band Master played Somewhere a voice is calling, and, the Last Post, with good effect.

World War Two

There are three men on the war memorial who were killed in the second world war 1939/45,  their names are Ivan Shingles, James Wright, and Kenneth Wyld.

Looking at The Commonwealth War Graves Commission register it  contains just one Ivan Shingles, and he was Sergeant (Flight Engineer) No 1683367,  of the 49 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, killed on the 19th July 1944.  He lies in a collective grave in St. Ouen en Domprot Churchyard, France, with five of his crew members.

Serial number  PB231, this aircraft  was a mark 111 type Lancaster Bomber, and was one of four lost to 49 squadron on an operation to bomb the Railway junction at Revigny France.  Intercepted by a nightfighter they were shot down crashing at St. Ouen en Domprot killing five crew and two being taken prisoner.  Their aircraft took off from Fiskerton U.K. and this was the crews 16th mission.

ST. Ouen en Domprot ChurchyardThe above Graves are of  Sergeant Ivan Shingles and his crew members who perished in the crash of 19/July 1944.

Kenneth Wyld
Also in the Commonwealth war graves register, there  is  just one Kenneth Wyld,  and he was a cook on H.M.S Mahratta  and he died on the 25th of february 1944, aged 20 and his service No was D/MX 110280. He was the son of George Augustus and Phyllis Mary Wyld, of Whaley Bridge Cheshire.

HMS Mahratta
Originally ordered as Job No J1114, this ship was intended to bear the name HMS Marksman. However, on the 26th April 1942 Flag Officer Commanding the Royal India Navy signalled the Admiralty that the Mahratta Brigade wished to sponsor a ship on the same basis as the Gurkhas had already done. The change of name was proposed by the ships’ Names Committee on the 4th May 1942 and the consent of the King was received on the 19th May 1942. Scott’s shipyard were notified of the change of name to HMS Mahratta by letter dated 23rd May 1942. It was perhaps unfortunate that the town of Walsall had already sponsored HMS MARKSMAN via their War Aid Fund, and it is understood that the renaming was not welcome in all quarters, and was not in accordance with the wishes of the ship’s company.

Having been damaged in an air raid on Scott’s in 1941 and subsequently re-erected, she was finally launched on the 28th July 1942, completed on 8th April 1943 and was assigned to the 3rd DF, Home Fleet. Her commanding officer was LT Cdr E A F Drought DSC RN, who was appointed to the ship on the 18th February 1943. HH the Maharaja of Dewas presented the ship with a silver plate and two Mahratta antique swords which were kept not on board but in a place  of safety during hostilities.

After her work up in April and May 1943 she took part in Operation FH, the relief of the Allied garrison at Spitzbergen, having proceeded there via Seidisfjord during the first week of June.
In July 1943, she participated in Operations Camera and Governor, the large scale simulated raids off Norway already described in the section on Milne.

On 30th July 1943 a cheque for Rs 25,190-4-8 was received from Col C A Strong of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in respect of the sponsorship agreed during the ship’s building, and on the same day she accompanied Milne and Musketeer on Operation SF, one of a series of anti U-boat patrols off Iceland.

The next month Mahratta was part escort to the 10th CS on Operation Lorry, when a fast squadron ferried stores to Kola, and again took part in Operation SF, on another anti-submarine sweep described in the section on Meteor.

In September 1943, Mahratta went south for the only time in her short career when she sailed to the Mediterranean to escort the battleship HMS Valiant back to Plymouth where they arrived on the 10th October.
On the 21st September 1943, Mahratta was in the company of Sardonyx, Obedient and Shihari on convoy duty when a report was received from a n aircraft stating that a U-Boat had been sighted in position 62*19’’N, 14*55’’W. The report which was timed at 0727hrs was relayed to the C-in-C at Rosyth, and the ships worked up to maximum speed to intercept the U-Boat. The next signal from the aircraft corrected the position of the U-Boat, but the ships could not make contact with the aircraft which then failed to carry out the correct homing procedure. The result was that a promising situation degenerated into near farce. With no interception made, and two destroyers had to abandon the hunt early next morning because of lack of fuel.

The first convoy of the 1943-1944 season was RA54A, which returned ships which had spent the summer in Kola. The escorts were sent north between 20th and 28th October (Operation FR), the convoy left on 1st November and arrived at Lock Ewe a fortnight later without having been attacked.

With her sisters Milne, Meteor and Musketeer, Mahratta was part escort to convoy JW56B to Russian the last week of January 1944, the destroyers joined the screen on the 26th and this proved to be a very eventful trip for the escorts.

At 0835hrs on the 29th January, PO F Taylor, who was sweeping through the director binoculars, sighted a U-Boat bearing 120 degrees from the ship, and Mahratta gave chase, accompanied by Whitehall who had sighted the U-Boat five minutes after Mahratta. The two ships proceeded at 24 knots, which was Whitehall’s maximum speed, and at 0856hrs the ships opened fire at 11,000 yards range. The U-Boat dived at 0902 hrs after several shots had fallen close, and Whitehall dropped one depth charge at 0912 hrs, but contact was lost, and no damage was believed caused to the U-Boat. Twelve minutes later Mahratta sighted another U-Boat at about 8,000 yards range. Two depth charges were fired as an anti GNAT measure, and both ships turned towards the U-Boat which dived at 0928 hrs .

Whitehall then closed Mahratta, and at 0932 hrs carried out a Hedgehog attack with no apparent result. And asdic contact was lost six minutes later. The search was abandoned at 0948 hrs, and both destroyers turned due north to rejoin the convoy, but a third U-Boat was sighted at 1055 hrs bearing 085 degrees at 7 miles range. Mahratta and Whitehall gave chase at 24 knots, and the U-Boat dived four minutes after being sighted. At 1109 hrs the range was down to 2,000 yards and Whitehall fired one depth charge, and both ships then carried out “Observant”, before Whitehall gained a doubtful asdic contact. Mahratta made no contact at all, and at 1200 hrs both ships broke off the hunt to rejoin the convoy. During the actions described above, Mahratta expanded 34 rounds of SAP ammunition, but the light was not good, making range finding difficult. Lt Cdr Drought stated in his letter of proceedings that he felt that the ranges had been underestimated.

Despite several other inconclusive hunts and many other HF/DF and Asdic contacts, the only loss to the convoy was the V class leader HARDY, torpedoed and wrecked by a U-Boat on 30th January and subsequently sunk by Venus. JW56B having arrived in the Kola Inlet on 1st February, Mahratta returned with convoy RA56 as described in previous chapter.

Mahratta’s final voyage commenced on 25th February 1944, when she departed from Lock Ewe as part escort to the cruiser Black Prince (Flag), Berwick and Jamaica which were covering convoy JW57, which consisted of 43 merchant ships.

On the night of 25th February 1944 Mahratta was screening the convoy at 12 knots in position 71*17’’N 13*30’’E about 280 miles off North Cape when she was torpedoed by U-990 in a heavy snowstorm. At 2100 hrs a slight shock was felt and the screws stopped. About five minutes later a much heavier explosion occurred as a result of a second torpedo hit. The ship flooded heavily abaft the engine room, and it is possible that her stern was blown off. She rolled over to port and sank by the stern at 2232 hrs, eleven officers and 210 ratings losing their lives, amongst them PO Taylor, who survived the sinking, but subsequently died of his wounds. The seventeen survivors were rescued by Impulsive and Active.

At the Board of Inquiry into the ships’s loss, held on 9th March 1944, LS T F Tomkins, D/SSX 27960, who was in the director when the ship was hit stated that all communications “were busted” after the first explosion, so he got out of the director and went to the after part of the bridge where he was drenched in oil fuel when the second explosion occurred.

Leading Stoker F A Gaines, D/KX 101319, was in the gearing room when the first explosion, which “wasn’t much of an explosion, more like a bump” took place, he thought at about 2055 hrs. The screws stopped immediately and lubricating oil began to leak from the system. The Chief left the gearing room to go to ascertain what had happened but before he got back there was a much more violent explosion, with a lot of blast and the gearing room filled with oil fuel. Leading Stoker Gaines thought that the 4” gun had come down into the ship, as there was a larger jagged hole where it should have been. He also stated that there was a lot of debris on top of the engine room hatch and on top of the pom-pom. He could not recall seeing any fire or flash, however. AB W G McDonald, D/FX 103544 stated that he say a flash when the second explosion occurred, and thought he heard the Captain say “Send a signal-Mahratta been hit”, as McDonald left the bridge after the first explosion. When asked if the after magazine had exploded he said that he thought that possible, but couldn’t be sure, although a lot of debris was thrown up. Mahratta was awarded the battle honour Arctic (1943-1944)

Her badge: In front of two swords in saltire white a shied also white on a blue ground.

Ongoing
The third name recorded on Providence War Memorial for the second world war, is that of James Wright, who I have yet to research.

Ivan Shingles

There are three men on the war memorial who were killed in the second world war 1939/45, their names are Ivan Shingles, James Wright, and Kenneth Wyld.

Looking at The Commonwealth War Graves Commission register it contains just one Ivan Shingles, and he was Sergeant (Flight Engineer) No 1683367 of the 49 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, killed on the 19th July 1944. He lies in a collective grave in St. Ouen en Domprot Churchyard, France, with five of his crew members.

Serial number PB231, this aircraft was a mark 111 type Lancaster Bomber, and was one of four lost to 49 squadron on an operation to bomb the Railway junction at Revigny France. Intercepted by a night fighter they were shot down crashing at St. Ouen en Domprot killing five crew and two being taken prisoner. Their aircraft took off from Fiskerton U.K. and this was the crews 16th mission.

ST. Ouen en Domprot Churchyard The above Graves are of Sergeant Ivan Shingles and his crew members who perished in the crash of 19th July 1944.

James Wright

Pte James Wright.

James was born on the 2nd of November 1919 to Walter Wright and Emily Wright (nee Ashworth). Walter and Emily were married at Providence Chapel on August 5th 1916. James also had an older sister Jeannie.

His father Walter hailed from Antrim Ireland and all the family worked in the Calico Printing and block printing business.

During the 2nd World War the family moved to Merton Morden in Surrey, Walter working as a Silk hand block printer and James as a Leather worker and sprayer.

Serving with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps as Number 7633610 Pte James Wright in WW2.

James died on January 26th 1945 and is buried in the Arezzo War Cemetery Italy.

Kenneth Wyld

Kenneth Wyld Also in the Commonwealth war graves register there is just one Kenneth Wyld and he was a cook on H.M.S Mahratta, he died on the 25th of february 1944 aged 20 and his service No was D/MX 110280. He was the son of George Augustus and Phyllis Mary Wyld of Whaley Bridge Cheshire.

HMS Mahratta Originally ordered as Job No J1114 this ship was intended to bear the name HMS Marksman.  However on the 26th April 1942 Flag Officer Commanding the Royal India Navy signalled the Admiralty that the Mahratta Brigade wished to sponsor a ship on the same basis as the Gurkhas had already done. The change of name was proposed by the ships’ Names Committee on the 4th May 1942 and the consent of the King was received on the 19th May 1942.  Scott’s shipyard were notified of the change of name to HMS Mahratta by letter dated 23rd May 1942. It was perhaps unfortunate that the town of Walsall had already sponsored HMS MARKSMAN via their War Aid Fund and it is understood that the renaming was not welcome in all quarters and was not in accordance with the wishes of the ship’s company.

Having been damaged in an air raid on Scott’s in 1941 and subsequently re-erected she was finally launched on the 28th July 1942, completed on 8th April 1943 and was assigned to the 3rd DF Home Fleet. Her commanding officer was LT Cdr E.A.F Drought DSC RN, who was appointed to the ship on the 18th February 1943.  HH the Maharaja of Dewas presented the ship with a silver plate and two Mahratta antique swords which were kept not on board but in a place of safety during hostilities.

After her work up in April and May 1943 she took part in Operation FH, the relief of the Allied garrison at Spitzbergen, having proceeded there via Seidisfjord during the first week of June.  In July 1943, she participated in Operations Camera and Governor, the large scale simulated raids off Norway already described in the section on Milne.

On 30th July 1943 a cheque for Rs 25,190 was received from Col C.A. Strong of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in respect of the sponsorship agreed during the ships building and on the same day she accompanied Milne and Musketeer on Operation SF, one of a series of anti U-boat patrols off Iceland.

The next month Mahratta was part escort to the 10th CS on Operation Lorry, when a fast squadron ferried stores to Kola and again took part in Operation SF on another anti-submarine sweep described in the section on Meteor.

In September 1943, Mahratta went south for the only time in her short career when she sailed to the Mediterranean to escort the battleship HMS Valiant back to Plymouth where they arrived on the 10th October.

On the 21st September 1943, Mahratta was in the company of Sardonyx, Obedient and Shihari on convoy duty when a report was received from an aircraft stating that a U-Boat had been sighted in position 62*19’’N, 14*55’’W. The report which was timed at 0727hrs was relayed to the C-in-C at Rosyth and the ships worked up to maximum speed to intercept the U-Boat. The next signal from the aircraft corrected the position of the U-Boat, but the ships could not make contact with the aircraft which then failed to carry out the correct homing procedure. The result was that a promising situation degenerated into near farce. With no interception made and two destroyers had to abandon the hunt early next morning because of lack of fuel.

The first convoy of the 1943-1944 season was RA54A, which returned ships which had spent the summer in Kola. The escorts were sent north between 20th and 28th October (Operation FR,) the convoy left on 1st November and arrived at Lock Ewe a fortnight later without having been attacked.

With her sisters Milne, Meteor and Musketeer, Mahratta was part escort to convoy JW56B to Russia the last week of January 1944, the destroyers joined the screen on the 26th and this proved to be a very eventful trip for the escorts.

At 0835hrs on the 29th January, PO F. Taylor, who was sweeping through the director binoculars, sighted a U-Boat bearing 120 degrees from the ship.  Mahratta gave chase accompanied by Whitehall who had sighted the U-Boat five minutes after Mahratta. The two ships proceeded at 24 knots which was Whitehall’s maximum speed and at 0856hrs the ships opened fire at 11,000 yards range. The U-Boat dived at 0902 hrs after several shots had fallen close, and Whitehall dropped one depth charge at 0912 hrs, but contact was lost, and no damage was believed caused to the U-Boat. Twelve minutes later Mahratta sighted another U-Boat at about 8,000 yards range. Two depth charges were fired as an anti GNAT measure, and both ships turned towards the U-Boat which dived at 0928 hrs .

Whitehall then closed Mahratta, and at 0932 hrs carried out a Hedgehog attack with no apparent result, Asdic contact was lost six minutes later. The search was abandoned at 0948 hrs and both destroyers turned due north to re-join the convoy but a third U-Boat was sighted at 1055 hrs bearing 085 degrees at 7 miles range. Mahratta and Whitehall gave chase at 24 knots, and the U-Boat dived four minutes after being sighted. At 1109 hrs the range was down to 2,000 yards and Whitehall fired one depth charge, and both ships then carried out “Observant” before Whitehall gained a doubtful Asdic contact.  Mahratta made no contact at all, and at 1200 hrs both ships broke off the hunt to re-join the convoy. During the actions described above, Mahratta expanded 34 rounds of SAP ammunition, but the light was not good, making range finding difficult. Lt Cdr. Drought stated in his letter of proceedings that he felt that the ranges had been underestimated.

Despite several other inconclusive hunts and many other HF/DF and Asdic contacts, the only loss to the convoy was the V class leader HARDY, torpedoed and wrecked by a U-Boat on 30th January and subsequently sunk by Venus. JW56B having arrived in the Kola Inlet on 1st February, Mahratta returned with convoy RA56 as described in previous chapter.

Mahratta’s final voyage commenced on 25th February 1944, when she departed from Lock Ewe as part escort to the cruiser Black Prince (Flag) Berwick and Jamaica which were covering convoy JW57, which consisted of 43 merchant ships.

On the night of 25th February 1944 Mahratta was screening the convoy at 12 knots in position 71'17’’N 13'30’’E about 280 miles off North Cape when she was torpedoed by U-990 in a heavy snowstorm. At 2100 hrs a slight shock was felt and the screws stopped.  About five minutes later a much heavier explosion occurred as a result of a second torpedo hit.  The ship flooded heavily abaft the engine room, and it is possible that her stern was blown off.  She rolled over to port and sank by the stern at 22.32 hrs. Eleven officers and 210 ratings lost their lives, amongst them PO Taylor, who survived the sinking, but subsequently died of his wounds. The seventeen survivors were rescued by Impulsive and Active.

At the Board of Inquiry into the ship's loss, held on 9th March 1944, LS T. F. Tomkins, D/SSX 27960, who was in the director when the ship was hit stated that all communications “were busted” after the first explosion so he got out of the director and went to the after part of the bridge where he was drenched in oil fuel when the second explosion occurred.

Leading Stoker F.A. Gaines, D/KX 101319 was in the gearing room when the first explosion happened which "wasn’t much of an explosion more like a bump” he thought at about 20.55 hrs. The screws stopped immediately and lubricating oil began to leak from the system.  The Chief left the gearing room to go to ascertain what had happened but before he got back there was a much more violent explosion, with a lot of blast and the gearing room filled with oil fuel. Leading Stoker Gaines thought that the 4” gun had come down into the ship, as there was a larger jagged hole where it should have been. He also stated that there was a lot of debris on top of the engine room hatch and on top of the pom-pom. He could not recall seeing any fire or flash, however. AB W.G. McDonald, D/FX 103544 stated that he saw a flash when the second explosion occurred, and thought he heard the Captain say “Send a signal-Mahratta been hit” as McDonald left the bridge after the first explosion. When asked if the after magazine had exploded he said that he thought that possible, but couldn’t be sure although a lot of debris was thrown up.

Mahratta was awarded the battle honour Arctic (1943-1944)

Commemorated Not on Memorial

In the Graveyard, behind where Providence Chapel once stood, are several other ex servicemen who are either buried, or simply commemorated on family Headstones. Incidentally, Gordon Whittaker who is on the Memorial is also commemorated on his family's Headstone, but showing the wrong date of his being killed in action. There is also a chap who worked on Munitions during the War years who lost his life in an explosion at his place of work.

There are two graves surmounted by Commonwealth War Graves Headstones which record the name, regiment, number and date of death of the two individuals.  They are 140179 Private Charles Bratt, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) who died on the 24th of November 1918.  Charles was born at Clowbridge, a village barely a mile towards Burnley from Loveclough. His mother Margaret was a widow and in 1911 both he, his mother, his two sisters and two brothers were living in Brief Street, Burnley.  He died at number 15 Milner Street, Burnley and his occupation in civilian life was a Cotton Warehouseman.  Charles died not quite two weeks after the signing of the Armistice, and was the result of contracting Lobar Pneumonia attributed to the Spanish Flu epidemic that was prevalent at that time and went on to kill more people globally than were lost in the First World War!  Charles also had two brothers who served, Alfred, and Moses, who both served with the East Lancashire Regiment and were both medically discharged.

The second War Graves Headstone is that of  Private Alfred Spencer.

Military Funeral Today Two Sons Sacrificed, one in April the other in May. There will be a military funeral in Burnley today.  Prior to internment the body will be carried into St Matthews Church.  The young man who has made the supreme sacrifice is Pte Alfred Spencer (22) 28566 East Lancashire Regiment. By his death the parents who live at 15, Reynolds Street, have sustained a double bereavement in a very short period. An older son Corporal Thomas Emanuel Spencer, also of the East Lancashire’s, died from wounds in a French hospital on April 4th. Pte Alfred Spencer sustained a very severe and dangerous bullet injury in the head on April 13th and suffered much from loss of blood. He was removed to Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, where he died on Tuesday of this week. At one time it was thought that the young man might recover. The bullet was successfully removed, but haemorrhage supervened, and another operation had to be performed; and, in spite of all that could be done for him, death occurred as stated. Pte Spencer joined upon August 17th 1916, after being rejected on three previous occasions.  Following a few months training he was sent on active service.  In civil life he had latterly been a cloth looker at Proctors Stoneyholme, but previously he worked for years at Fould’s Trafalgar. He was connected with Back Lane Mission of St Matthews Church, and had been a St Matthews Scout. The Reverend S.E. Clark (Vicar) speaks very highly of him as a good worker.  He was the youngest of three sons; the eldest is serving with the East Lancashire Field Ambulance. Alfred Spencer enjoyed the intimate friendship of his platoon sergeant, who has been most assiduous in his enquiries. He was in my platoon when wounded, wrote the NCO “In fact we were close against each other, I think it was a toss up whether it was meant for him or myself.”  The sergeant writes of his friend as a very good lad and very obliging. The Old Veterans Band will play today from the house to the Church. The 11th Battalion Lancashire Volunteer Regiment is to be represented. Below is the Burnley Newspaper article of the first loss for the Spencers, that of Thomas Emmanuel, Alfred's Brother.

PATIENT AND BRAVE In a chaplain’s letter to Mr and Mrs Spencer, 15 Reynolds Street, Burnley, telling of the death of their son Corporal Thomas Emmanuel Spencer (25) 240836, East Lancashire’s, it was stated that after being injured the young man was very patient and made a brave fight for his life.  His wounds however were too severe for his strength, and he passed away on April 4th. He sustained gunshot inflictions in the neck, chest, and spine. Corporal Spencer enlisted in October 1914.  Before then he was a weaver at Thornber’s Healey Wood Mill. His name figures on the St Matthew’s Roll of Honour.  His two brothers are in France.  Thomas lies in St Sever Military Cemetery, Rouen, France.

THE WHITE LUND MUNITIONS FACTORY DISASTER The Family Headstone in Providence Graveyard bearing the name of John Crowther Killed in the Explosion at the White Lund Munitions Factory near Morecambe Lancashire on the first day of October 1917.

In August 1915 the firm of Vickers went into negotiations to build and administrate a filling factory.  A site was found at White Lund, which was halfway between Lancaster and Morecambe, and was therefore conveniently placed for receiving empty shells from the projectile factory at Lancaster and other centres on the North West coast, and for dealing with heavy shells from the Mersey Region. Construction started on the 23rd of November 1915, but due to delays in construction and the delayed confirmation of filling methods of the munitions was finally sorted out in January 1916, output didn't begin until July 1916.  The buildings, of which by far the larger proportions were of wood roofed with felt, consisted of six danger units, 16 bonded stores (the property of the Army Ordinance Department,) a paint shop, an empty shell store, stores and magazines, general offices and canteen, power station and workshop. This lay-out gave the capacity for filling 500 tons pressed or 200 tons melted amatol weekly into shells between 60 pdr to 12in calibre.  Total number of shells filled up to Disaster date of October 1917 was 2,893,100. On October 1st a disastrous fire broke out at about 10.30 pm on the upper floor of one of the melt plants.  Fortunately, the workers had not returned from supper so the number of casualties that were killed amounted to 10 with a few seriously injured the number of casualties being  small  when compared to the material destruction caused.  Numerous explosions took place some of which were heard as faraway as Rossendale and Burnley, the last of which was at 4 am on the 3rd of October 1917.  By 8 am on the 4th of October 1917 the factory was almost entirely destroyed.  By that time almost nothing was left but the filled shell stores, paint shed, explosive magazine and part of the power house, all saved by the heroic efforts of the fire brigades attending.  The cause of the fire was never established and the inquest on the deaths caused reached a verdict "That the men died from injuries accidentally received whilst carrying out their duty's in a factory during a fire, there being no evidence to show how the fire originated."

Of the ten deaths four were Firemen, with two seriously injured, between Morecambe and Lancaster Firebrigades no less than nine OBEs were awarded, a BEM was awarded to the female telephonist who remained on duty for 24 hours. Other Heroes of that day were Abraham Clarke Graham and Thomas Kew, both off duty railway men (Kew being an engine driver and Graham a shunter) when they heard the alarm and seeing a fully loaded train close to the fire zone, was well aware of the risk of further explosions. He and Kew worked together and removed 54 wagons from the danger zone.  No simple task as some wagons were ablaze and exploding and also needed uncoupling before moving.  The two men worked tirelessly for about three hours and no doubt averted an even greater disaster. Thomas Kew even patched up a large water tank that had been damaged by exploding shells, this tank fed the sprinkler system and hosepipe fire points, all this done whilst shells were exploding around him. For their selfless bravery they received the Edward Medal from King George V on the 7th of May 1918.

EXERPT FROM THE ROSSENDALE FREE  PRESS OCTOBER 6TH 1917 Article by Free press journalist who went under the name of Jax, his columns being named Jottings by Jax.  Monday night’s explosions at the North of England Munitions works were plainly heard in the Rossendale district. At midnight and even later there were many people outdoors, exchanging experiences with neighbours and making conjectures as to what was happening. The sounds came in varying intensity; some faint and others comparatively loud like the deep booming of heavy artillery.  In many houses the window frames rattled uncannily and at others the sound was of someone having bumped against the door.  The police authorities had many enquiries as to the cause and early on they were able (having got the information by telephone) to assure interrogators that the reports were not due to hostile nocturnal visitors.  Two men who were on a local hilltop tell me that they distinctly saw the glare of the explosions or of the fire in the sky.

Also reported in Rossendale Free Press Crawshawbooth section. Death of Mr John Crowther. We deeply regret to record the death of Mr John Crowther a former well-known butcher of this district. He went to work on Munitions some time ago, and his death is the result of the sad catastrophe reported as occurring in the North of England.  Much Sympathy is expressed with the bereaved relatives in their sorrow.

In the deaths Column of the same issue was this below.

From Howarth Nuttall, formerly of Crawshawbooth.

The article below appeared in the Morecambe Visitor Newspaper, 2011

Also in Providence Graveyard is the family grave of the Warners. On it is commemorated their young son who already held the rank of a Second Lieutenant. The date of his being killed in action recorded on the family headstone coincides with that of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is the 27th of June 1918 whilst serving with the 218th Squadron Royal Airforce and his age is given as a mere 18 years.  The Commission also states that he was the son of Aaron and Mary Jane Warner (his mother Mary Jane died in 1906) and the family address was 43 Winter Street, Blackburn and William Henry being born in Accrington. He is buried in grave E.lll.16 in Hamburg Cemetery, Germany.

218 Squadron was formed as a daylight bomber squadron on April 24th 1918 under the command of Canadian Major Burt Wemp DFC. It was equipped with the hopelessly underpowered "Puma" engined DH.9 Aircraft which inevitably led to high casualties among the Front Line Squadrons.  Lt. William Warner's aircraft N0 D5687 was delivered to the Aircraft Acceptance Park Hendon, in May 1918, then on to Dover and finally to 218 Squadron, Dunkirk on the 20th May 1918.  On the 10th of June 1918 this aircraft crashed on landing with Lt E.H. Dixon and Sgt R.J. Williams onboard but both were unhurt in the accident and the aircraft was repaired and returned to Squadron.  On June 26th Lt. William Warner acting as observer to his pilot Lieutenant C. Briggs were part of Captain M.G. Baskerville's formation of four DH9s, operating over Zeebrugge, opposing them were four German Fokker DV2s from Marine Feldjasta ll defending the coast, this German force also boasted the air ace Vizeflugmeister Alexandre Zenses.

During the ensuing "Dog Fight" Captain Baskerville shot one of the Fokker Scouts down claiming the first aerial victory for 218 Squadron.  Unfortunately Lieutenants Briggs and Warner were killed when another Fokker DV2 dived on them and opened fire, the planes wings reported to have folded during the combat, the R.A.F report also states that Warner was avenged by the Sopwith Camel C65 which shot down their attacker.

On the 24th May 1919 a Royal Airforce Casualty Card reporting on the death of 2nd Lieutenant William H. Warner carries a report by his Captain, M.G. Baskervill, who reports "That the machine in which this Officer was flying, was shot by the Germans, and smashed to pieces in the air, the action taking place 4 miles out to sea" he also states "there is no chance at all that they are alive." William Warner's Pilot, Lt C. Briggs, is buried in grave B.1 in Blankenburghe Town Cemetery.

Briggs Grave at Blankenberg.

Warner Family Headstone

William was originally buried in Plot 18, grave 6 in Lehe Military Cemetery, Province of Hanover, Germany.  I can only assume that his body was carried by the current, and being washed up off the coast of Bremmerhaven Germany and buried in the then nearest Military Cemetery.  At some time he was removed and reinterred in Hamburg Military Cemetery as a lot of the smaller Cemetery's were concentrated into Hamburg military Cemetery.

Close up of Second Lt Warner's Commemoration.

District Roll

Lest We Forget

ROLL OF HONOUR FOR LOVECLOUGH, DUNNOCKSHAW AND CLOWBRIDGE.

 1914-1918

Having now passed the Centenary of the Great War that began in August 1914, and all hostilities ceasing with the signing of the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918. I find it fitting on this site to include men who were either born in Loveclough, Dunnockshaw and Clowbridge, or just lived there at the time of the Great War and served  their Country.  Being barely a mile from each other some of the people of each village will have attended Providence, either the Chapel, Sunday School, Weddings, Christenings, Funerals, or all of these. I have started to compile a list via different sources and will add to it as I progress.

Some worked in the Printworks at Loveclough, and others at local Mills, and will include this in their listing, most were near neighbours and some were now living in Burnley. The names given are taken from ancestry website and the Rossendale List from the Library at Rawtenstall, Soldiers died in the Great War Database, and of course the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.  In the case of soldiers killed in action I will include the relevant date of entry in the Rossendale Free Press issue of the time, these can be read on microfilm in Rawtenstall Library.  Also if a picture is obtainable I will include that also.

 The Roll

1st John Ashworth.  John was in the Royal Army Medical Corps No29724. Born in Loveclough he enlisted at Rawtenstall and served in what is now Iraq. John was  with the River Sick Convoy Unit and died whilst out there on the 6th of February 1918, he is commemorated at the Amara War Cemetery Iraq.

2nd John Ashworth.  Enlisted at Rawtenstall and Mobilised at Stockport, on the 8th of November 1916 into the 2nd/ 6th Battalion the Cheshire Regiment.  He lived at 1151 Broading Loveclough. John's occupation was a weaver, and he was 22 years of age on enlistment. In 1917, he was with the 15th Essex regiment, then on the 1st of Feb 1918 john is  back to the Cheshire's  with the 4th Reserve battalion. 7th of May  he is over to France to join in the Field the 2/8th Worcester's with whom he was Demobbed 1918.

Thomas Henry Bird. Lived 995 Burnley Road served with the South Lancashire Regiment

W O Bird.  Enlisted at Accrington  into the East Lancashire Regiment, a married man living at 7 Commercial Buildings Loveclough. Initially stationed at Salisbury Wiltshire.

John William Dowsing. Lived 1370 Providence Terrace, served in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Anti Aircraft Gunner, Occupation  Printworks Labourer, married Rachel Nuttall at Providence Chapel in 1912.

John Osborne Green. Lived at 1200 Burnley Road Loveclough, also Printworks Labourer, served with the Army Service Corps as a Motor Transport Driver.

Robert Henry Howarth. Lived at 1296 Burnley Road Loveclough served in Mesoptamia (Iraq) with the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Occupation Weaver.

James Hall. 997 Burnley Road Loveclough, served with 48thTraining Reserve.

Thomas Higham. Lived 1033 Burnley Road Loveclough, served with Army Service Corps, Occupation Colourist, probably at Printworks, enlisted at Rawtenstall.

Walter Medlock. Born in Loveclough, one of ten children  pre war he worked at Loveclough Printworks, Joined the East Lancashire A S C No T4/244872 in 1912 , Saddler Sergeant, later saddler Sergeant Major with the Army Service Corps, lived in Crawshawbooth. Walter went overseas first to Egypt (Sept 1914, then to France where he was wounded in 1917.He was on his way home on leave when the ship he was on the troopship Minnewaska was torpedoed 29/11/1916, he survived arriving at Marseilles on the 12th of Dec 1916. Walter was demobilised 1st Aug 1919.

Tomlinson Sutcliffe.  Born Loveclough. Joined Accrington Pals 11th East Lancashire Regiment but finished up in the Labour Corps Occupation was a Weaver, he died in 1924 and lived in Godiva Street Burnley.

Joseph Albert Metcalfe.  Served with East Lancashire Regiment Supply Column.

Davies Newby. Lived at Heightside Farm Loveclough, served with the Royal Engineers, enlisted Rawtenstall on the 2nd of November 1916.

James Oddie. Lived 1374 Burnley Road Loveclough, son of Joseph and Anne Oddie , and husband of Elizabeth Oddie. James served with the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, No 202826. He enlisted 9th of December 1915, and was sadly killed in action on the 9th of April 1918,aged 23 years, James lies in Vielle Chapelle New Military Cemetery Lacouture, France. Incidentally both James and William Heaney, (see further down this page), were killed on the same day serving with the same Battalion and lie in the same Cemetery.

Richard Henry Trickett. Lived 1310 Burnley Road loveclough, Husband of Mary Alice Trickett, he was a Cotton weaver/overlooker at Landless Mill Clowbridge, served with the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

Felix Payne. Born Loveclough, lived at Rings row At the edge of Loveclough, a weaver in civilian life he was the second of of Edward and Sarah Payne to lose his life in the war. Served with 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment no 26561, died of wounds received 1st of September 1916. Enlisted Rawtenstall. Felix was 24 years of age and was one of five children and is Buried in Duisans British cemetery Etrun. France

Milton Trippier. Husband of Annie Trippier, lived at 1164 Burnley Road Loveclough, born Crawshawbooth, served with the 290th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery killed in action 12th of June 1917 when he was struck by a shell fragment from a German Shell, he had only been at the front four or five weeks. Milton worked at Sunnyside Print Works Crawshawbooth as a wooden box maker, and was also connected with Goodshaw Parish Church, he left a wife and two children. He now rests in Vlamertinge Military Cemetery Belgium.

Frederick George Young.  Born Chatteris Cambridgeshire, lived Loveclough, died of wounds received whilst serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery, attached to th 17th Trench Mortar Battery, Frederick died on the second day of the Battle of the Somme, from  wounds received, probably wounded on the 1st. He enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery at Rawtenstall in November 1914, and had been at the front since July 1915.  He was 28 years of age and now lies in Ovillers Military Cemetery near the town of Albert on the Somme. A Lieut Griffiths wrote to his sister Jane Bird of Commercial Street Loveclough saying that "He died very peacefully of wounds received in action on July 2nd" and that "He was a good soldier-quiet and conscientious-and he will be missed by every one of them.  His sergeant also wrote a letter of condolence remarking that "Pte Young was a good comrade, cheery and cool in the most trying circumstances. The deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs Bird and Family.

David Young. Was the younger brother of Frederick George (see above) he enlisted at Accrington into the famous 11th East Lancashire Regiment(the Accrington Pals) David was killed in action on the 21st of June 1916, a week before the attack on Serre by the pals battalions, which took place on the 1st of July 1916.Lived with his married sister Jane, Commercial Street Loveclough. He is buried at Bertrancourt Military Cemetery along with other "Pals" who died in the week before the Big Offensive on the 1st of July.

William Heaney. Or Heeney as the Family name is on the 1911 Census, was born in Lawrence Massachusetts U.S.A. and lived at 8 cotton row Clowbridge. He served with both the South Lancashire Regiment and then the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, it was whilst serving  with  the latter, that he was killed  in action on the 9th of April 1918 at Givenchy Northern France, he was only 19 years of age and had served just seven months in France. Prior to enlisting he was employed at Clowbridge Mills. William is buried in Vielle Chappelle New Military Cemetery France.

Thomas Heeney.  Thomas was brother to both Edward and William, originally all three brothers who were all born in the U S A lived at 8 Cotton row Clowbridge but later Thomas and Edward gave their address on enlistment as  No 3 the Fold Loveclough. Thomas enlisted into the Royal field Artillery at Rawtenstall . In civilian life he was a cotton cloth Looker, probably at Landless Clowbridge.

Edward Heeney.  Was one of three soldier sons to Edward Senior and Mary and was the eldest of the three brothers living at 3 the Fold Loveclough. He enlisted at Rawtenstall aged 24 years, into the Petrol Section, Army Service Corps Motor Transport, he Attested into the 52nd Coy  NoM2 1327, on the 9th of October 1915 at Grove Park London, the big Army training depot for Army transport drivers. Already being a driver in Civilian life Edward would have been ahead of most at the depot. Edward went abroad  to France on the 24th of November 1915, he served there until moving to Ireland Randallstown on the 22nd July 1918,he had been hospitalised with influenza in the summer of 1918, and was discharged on the 12th of December 1918.

John Spencer. Lance Corporal with the 1st 7th Duke of Wellington West Riding Regiment, killed in action 21st July 1917.  Only son of Councillor and Mrs. T.R. Spencer of Windsor Villas Loveclough. Worked as a colour mixer for Messrs Astbury and Pickford, Delph village near Oldham. John rests in Rue David Military Cemetery Fleurbaix France.

 James Pickup.  James was born at Clowbridge, one of six children,parents being John and Margaret, he enlisted at Preston, and  he served with the 2nd Battalion Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Rifles, and died of wounds in Egypt on the 7th of November 1917 .His occupation 1911 Census is Cotton Weaver. Later lived Valley Street Burnley. James is buried in Gaza War Cemetery.

Charles E Whittaker.  Son of Mr an Mrs W.T. Whittaker of Rough Lee Dunnockshaw, served with Coldstream Guards and was slightly wounded at Ginchy Northern France in a famous attack by the Coldstreams in September 1916. Before the war he was employed at Clowbridge Mill, and was a student at Burnley Technical School in the textile department.

Arthur Albert Omerod. Born Clowbridge, enlisted into 2nd East Lancashire Regiment and Killed in action 18th of January 1915. 1911 Census has him living in Church near Accrington, his Occupation Fire Beater (Stoker on Boiler.) Later lived Henry Street Burnley. Buried Cabaret Rouge Cemetery Souchez France.

Dennis Riley. Lived at No 13 Rough Lee Terrace Dunnockshaw, later moving to  No 24 Clowbridge , son of Benjamin and Alice Riley, killed in action 8th of August 1917 serving with the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, also a weaver he was 29 years of age. He is remembered on Panel 23 on the Menin Gate Memorial Belgium.

Robert Henry Fenn.  Robert served with the 11th Battalion Essex Regiment, and was killed in action aged 34 on the21st of March 1918 (German Spring Offensive). On enlistment he lived with his parents Robert and Mary Ann Fenn on Waterloo Road Burnley, later moving to Dunnockshaw Farm Clowbridge, with his wife was Nellie Fenn, nee Riley. Roberts Occupation  was a Cotton Weaver, his brother Alfred died a prisoner of war, Alfred served with the Grenadier Guards. Robert Henry is remembered on Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial France.

Allen Rigg.  Allen was born in Rawtenstall, and served firstly with the 14th Hussars, killed in action with the 6th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment aged 29 years.  He was the husband of Grace Alice Rigg, 33 Springfield View Clowbridge, and his Occupation was Felt Warehouseman. Remembered on the "Addenda" Panel 57 to 60 on the Menin Gate Memorial Belgium.

James (John) Henry Kelly.  Was the Husband of Jane Kelly of the Bridge Inn Clowbridge, he served with the 6th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, died of wounds received on the 13th of April 1916, in Iraq. Buried Amara War Cemetery Iraq.

 James Gray.  James enlisted into the R.A.M.C. at Manchester and went to the Dardanelles ( Gallipoli) he lived at 1304 Burnley Road Loveclough.

John Robert Nuttall.  John was married to Betsy Nuttall and they lived at 12 Prospect Terrace Loveclough. He enlisted into the Army Service Corps Number T/425017, in civilian life he was a cotton weaver. Originally served as 351313 16th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.  He was aged 34 years .

Burton Riley.  Burton Riley lived on Dunnockshaw Farm Clowbridge, his parents were James Henry, and  Dinah Riley. He was one of eight children and in 1911, at the age of 13 years, he was already working on the farm. He enlisted  on the 2nd of March 1916 aged 19 years as  Number 165134  of the 375 Siege Battery Royal Artillery as a Gunner.   He was wounded in action being admitted to the 2nd General Hospital Wimereux, France on the 7th November 1917 with an Arial  bomb wound to his right thigh.  He received a pension on discharge from the Army. He served in France from the 26th of October 1917 to the 15th of November 1917 when he was injured and sent home to England. He was finally discharged on the 19th of October 1918.

George Greaves.  George was the son of Marshall and Betsy Ann Greaves. He was employed prior to enlisting at Loveclough Printworks, his parents living at Swinshaw Cottages before moving to St. Annes. George became Pte 41045 George Greaves, 2nd/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, joining up on the 9th of December 1916 and going out to the front in June 1917.  He was killed in action in the attack on the 9th of October 1917 towards Passchendaele in Belgium, having been listed as missing presumed dead his name is recorded on the panels at Tyne Cot Military Cemetery Belgium. George also worked prior to enlisting at Longholme Felt works and was connected with Rehoboth Baptist Chapel.

Thomas Haley. Thomas was Pte T. Haley No 6815 of the 7th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, he had only been out 2months when he was killed in action on the 17th of September 1915, having no known grave, he is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, Northern France. Born in Stacksteads near Bacup, Thomas settled at 1151 Broad Ing and his children were born in Loveclough and Clowbridge, married to Annie, Thomas had five children and was employed as an outdoor labourer.

John Cockshutt.  Pte 29046 John Cockshutt was born in Great Harwood but lived  at Providence Terrace Loveclough in civilian life he was a quarryman at Ramsbottom.  He enlisted at Rawtenstall into the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment and was killed in action on the 23rd of April 1917 and is remembered on the Arras Memorial northern France, John has no known grave.

Thomas Dean. Thomas Dean was born in 1877 at Dunnockshaw to parents David and Elizabeth Dean (nee Chadwick). His Brother was Charles Edward Dean who ran in later years Loveclough Co-Op. His father and brother David were both Butchers but Thomas opted for a career in weaving. His service in the First World War saw him in the Army Vetinary Corps serving at the 5th Vetinary Hospital as Pte S E 29133 Thomas Dean, incidentally the SE prefix, (Special Enlistment) to his number indicates he was mainly looking after Horses. He Married Margaret and moved to Burnley living on Anthony Street, later and on his death he was at 17 Renshaw Street. Thomas died in 1946 aged 69 years and is buried in Providence Chapel Graveyard.

John Knowles. John was another Loveclough Printworks Employee, and died from his wounds in a Military Hospital. John  lived with his parents Mr and Mrs Stephen Knowles at Rings Row, just on the edge of Loveclough toward Crawshawbooth and was connected with Rehoboth Chapel. He served with the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, wounded in action he died in the Military Hospital at Etaples, near Boulogne and is buried in the Military Cemetery there, he was aged 30 years and unmarried. Incidentally Pte Alfred Ashworth was wounded at the same time as John.

Richard Hargreaves.  Lived at Swinshaw Gardens Loveclough, his father was a farmer. He was serving with a Labour Battalion attached to the Cheshire Regiment when a long range shell struck his party of workers on the  19th of June 1917. His Captain reports in a letter home, "He was working on a Railway a few miles behind the Front when a long distance shell fell amongst a group of my men. I can truly say he will be greatly missed. The Officers, NCO's and men join with me in expressing my deepest sympathy in your great loss" R.L. Roberts, Captain Labour Corps.  Richard, No 38541,  joined the 22nd Cheshire Labour Battalion in July 1916 and went to France in December the same year.  Prior to joining he was employed as a weaver at Reedsholme Mill, Rawtenstall and connected with Sunnyside Baptists Sunday School. He is Buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery  8 miles west of Ypres,  he was 25 years of age.

Ernest Jackson. Joined  East Lancashire Regiment at Rawtenstall, lived at 1220 Burnley Road Loveclough, stationed at Plymouth.

Walter Jackson. Also 1220 Burnley Road Loveclough, was single at enlistment, enlisted Rawtenstall into the East Lancashire Regiment, served Dardanelles (Gallipoli).

Ernest Blackburn. Lived at 1031 Burnley Road Loveclough, single, enlisted at Manchester into the Royal Army Medical Corps, served in France.

James Halsall. A Married Man, lived 17 Back Union Row, Loveclough, enlisted Rawtenstall into East Lancashire Regiment, wounded Dardanelles (Gallipoli).

Frank Green.  Of 1969  Underwood Terrace Loveclough, single at time of enlistment at Rawtenstall into the Royal Army Medical Corps, in  1915 he was stationed in Egypt.

Joseph Knott. Of 21 Back Union Row, enlisted Rawtenstall into the East Lancashire Machine Gun Section, he was a married man and served in the Dardanelles, (Gallipoli).

Edward Carr. Lived at 8 Loveclough Fold, he was married and enlisted at Rawtenstall into the East Lancashire Regiment and served in France.

P R Birtwistle. Lived on Commercial Street Loveclough, was married and enlisted into the East Lancashire Regiment at Rawtenstall, also served in France.

Fred Nuttall.  Fred Son of Sarah Nuttall lived at 3 Springfield View Clowbridge a weaver in civilian life he  enlisted aged 21 years and 5 months at Rawtenstall, on the 28th of February 1916. On the 3rd of March he was appointed to the Gordon Highlanders.   He went overseas on the 5th of July 1916 and was wounded, gun shot wound to hand, on the 22nd August 1917. Fred was medically discharged 5th of April 1918.

Fred Proctor.  Son of Sarah Hannah Proctor of 18 Clowbridge, enlisted at Rawtenstall on the 11th of December 1915 and  by June 1916 he was No 34561  17th "Bantam" Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers.  (Bantam Regiments were formed using under regulation height men,  Fred being 5 foot and 1/4 inches tall.

John Willie Taylor. Also enlisted on the 11th of December 1915  and joined the Border Regiment No 25459, at Preston on the 18th of June 1916 aged 28 years 8 months. John had married Sarah Ellen Taylor (Nee Maden), at the Baptist Church Clowbridge, on the 21st of June 1913, and they lived at No 78 Clowbridge later 10 Cotton Row Clowbridge. Transferred to the 2nd Garrison Battalion John was discharged on the 15th of September 1916. Johns occupation was also that of a weaver.

Henry Dowsing. Was aged 38 years and nine months when he enlisted into the Royal Engineers 426th West Lancs Field Company as Sapper 242967. His Occupation was Foreman on a Stone Crushing Machine. He married Florence Dowsing (Nee Hargreaves on the 13th of August 1904 at Loveclough I presume Providence Chapel.) They had four children, Annie Harry Cecilia and Joseph. Later their address on Henry's discharge would be 1364 Providence Terrace, Henry was discharged on the 8th of Feb 1918.

Frank Farnworth.  Son of local grocer George, and his wife  Betsy Farnworth,  Frank was an assistant Grocer in 1911, but  gave his profession as an  accountant, aged 26 years old, when he joined the 3rd reserve Battalion East Lancashire Regiment No23344  at Burnley on  the 22nd of February 1916. Frank lived at 30 Clowbridge, and his sister Annie lived at the Post Office Clowbridge.  He was home on the 22nd of September to the 29th of September 1916 whence he left for Salonika, now serving with the 9th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. Frank contracted Malaria and was shipped home, first to St Mary's Hospital (Later Calderstones) Whalley, then to Belmont Road Auxiliary Hospital  Liverpool to convalesce, being finally discharged after the Armistice on the 6th of April 1919.

Edwin Fort. Lived at Higher Nutshaw Farm Clowbridge when he enlisted at Rawtenstall  into the Royal Artillery No 115911, on the 21st of December 1915 aged 20, single, and his occupation was Greengrocer. He passed as a Gunner with No3 Battery firing 13 pounder guns in Anti Aircraft roll. Stationed on Home service from enlistment to the 22nd of June 17, he leaves for France with the Anti Aircraft Battery landing at Le Havre on the 23rd June 1917. Edwin Survived the War and was discharged to reserve on the 21st of Feb 1919.

Rapha Hart.  Rapha was aged 39 years and 10 months when he enlisted into the 66th Field Coy, Army Service Corps, he lived at No 7 Burnley Road Clowbridge and his Occupation given was Cotton Weaver. He Married Maria Liversey on the 23rd of August  1902, at Clowbridge Baptist Chapel, and they later had four children. Signing on for the duration of the war on the 11th of December 1915 he became a driver (Motor Transport) No T4/234066. Being Mobilised at Woolwich on the 7th of Sept 1916, a spell at Blackpool then Hospital at Wesham to be treated for Lumbago in 1917.  The 8th of March 1918 finds Rapha at Southampton then travelling on the SS Kaiser I Hind, (a troop ship with a charmed life, being fired at with torpedoes 5 times managed to evade them all), he went via Cherbourg Taranto (Greek port) and disembarked at Alexandria on the 3rd of April 1918. Two spells in Hospital at Gaza and Alexandria, was finally discharged 21st May 1919.

Thomas Haworth. Son of John and Agnes and one of six children, enlisted into the Royal Artillery as No 160187, in September 1916 aged 18 years, joining at Preston.  He lived at 92 Burnley Road Clowbridge and was also a weaver.  Passed as a Signaller 1st Class later to become a Gunner with the Artillery, he saw action in both France and Italy 24 of October 1918 until 29th April 1919 Thomas was also in Alexandria in 1920. He was  wounded and admitted Rouen Hospital 16/4/18 with shell wound to his  thigh, in June 1917 and had  also earlier suffered leg contusion (strain) when getting the guns into action.  After a Busy War Service he was Discharged in May 1920.

Joseph Heap. Lived at 3 Bank view Clowbridge, a carter by Profession had a colourful career with the British Army including being  sentenced to 5 years penal servitude for falling asleep as sentry guarding the trenches in 1917, this was later commuted to 2 years imprisonment. He enlisted on December 29th 1914 and went out to Egypt with the 1st 5th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment No 241173, after his spell in prison he re-joined in October 1918 and suffered a gunshot wound to his left forearm, a wound that would discharge him from the army, but not before he had run up a string of Offences around Christmas time when he was at the Military Hospital of St Marys, Whalley Discharged 9th of May 1919, he enlisted again in 1920 but didn't stay in more than a year. Quite a Character!!

Riley Nuttall. Lived At 22 Cotton Row Clowbridge, he was also a weaver aged 36 years on enlistment in 1916. He married Martha Jane Maden in February 1907,by 1910 they had one child, a boy Maurice born in 1914 . He enlisted No34287 first 3rd reserve East Lancashire Regiment, then 6th Battalion East Lancashire regiment serving in Basra (Iraq) on the 26th of December 1916. He went out with the Indian expeditionary force 26th Dec 1916 to the 20th August 1917, then with the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force 21st Aug 1917 until  8th of March 1919. He was home on the 9th of March to 17 of May1919 when he was Demobilised and left the Army.

Eli Oldfield. An 18 year old Cotton weaver he was another Clowbridge resident enlisting on the 11th of December 1915. He lived at 52 Burnley Road Clowbridge with his aunt and uncle, he must have been orphaned because earlier in his life he lived at Tor top farm with another aunt and uncle. He served with the 4th Battalion east Lancashire Regiment No 202143 and during the German Spring Offensive on the 21st of march 1918 Eli was reported as "Missing".   He later was reported as a Prisoner of War. He received a gunshot wound to the left leg and probably resulted in his capture. In civilian life Eli was employed at Landless  Mill at Clowbridge and this company offered him his old job back on his return from the war.

Norris Spencer.  A devotee and one of the most popular singers, albeit baritone, at Providence Chapel Loveclough. he served his country as all the Spencer brothers did.   Norris was 26 years old when he enlisted on the 16th of September 1916  into the Mechanical Transport Depot of the Army Service Corps, as a Motor Driver No 223727, and living at the time, at 84 Burnley Road Clowbridge. Norris passed his Learners test to drive on the 16th of December 1916 and served in England until the 10th of Feb. 1918 when he was sent to France aboard the King Edward disembarking at Le Havre on the 11th Feb 1918. After serving in France Norris was finally Demobilised on the 17th of Feb, 1919.

 Herbert James s Webster.  Herbert  was an Engineers Labourer in civilian life, and lived at 1212 Burnley Road Loveclough upon enlisting as lots of others did on the 11th of December 1915. Herbert Had served 7 years previously with the Coulours, in the Royal West Kent Regiment, aged 35 years he was no youngster off to war. He served in India, and at the Famous Kut El Amara with the 6th East Lancashire Regiment No 37220 at Mesopotamia, shipped home sick and discharged due to sickness 25th of May 1918.

Henry Hollin.  Enlisted at Rawtenstall, on the 1st of march 1916, aged 36 years and 10 months into the South Lancashire Regiment No 3725. His address given was 12 92 Ivy Cottage Loveclough and he was a weaver in civilian life. Henry's next of kin was given as his Mother Mary Jane. Initially in the 10th Battalion South Lancs he was posted to 2/2nd Monmouths on the 1st May 1916 only to be discharged  14th of August 1916.

Hartley Shingles. Son of Charles and Sara, lived at No 1169 Albion Terrace Loveclough with his wife Sarah Alice (nee Hoyle) who he Married at Providence Chapel, on 5th of November 1907, and one child born July 1916. his occupation was a cotton weaver. He enlisted into the Royal Artillery No 164929,  in that great rush of enlistment at Rawtenstall  of 11/12th December 1915, and  mobilised at Bulford Camp on the 13th December 1915. He Joined as a Gunner on the 18th of August 1916, only to be discharged on the 22nd of September1916 as being Medically unfit, and transferred to a reserve unit. Hartley also was employed at Landless Mill Clowbridge. Deaf in one ear in need of spectacles for vision and slight varicose veins must have been enough for the Medical Board to discharge him.

Edward Fleming Wells.  Originally born at New Mills Derbyshire, Edward lived with his mother at 1041 View Fair Loveclough. He enlisted aged 18 into the 2/4th East Lancashire Regiment No 5000, on the 8th of Feb 1916 at Rawtenstall.  Mobilised on the 12th of May 1916, he appeared before a medical board and it was discovered he had a Heart condition problematic enough for him to be medically discharged under Kings Regulations  on the 6th of September 1916.

Robert P Green.  Robert lived at 1312 Ivy Terrace Loveclough when he enlisted into the South Wales Borderers at Rawtenstall, initially stationed at Liverpool.

George Cookson.  George lived at Providence Terrace Loveclough, a single man he enlisted into the East Lancashire Regiment at Burnley and was stationed for a while at Salisbury Wiltshire.

Providence People

In 1913 shortly before the outbreak of the First World War a group of "workers" (local people who worshipped at Providence) assembled in the garden of a property in Loveclough for group photographs, in age order, i.e. older Gentlemen and Ladies and the younger Gentlemen and Ladies. The pictures are from the centenary book of 1946, and include the Parents of some who served and fell in the Great War, and the actual individuals themselves such as Harold Spencer and his brothers.

The Photograph below is of a Wedding at Providence of Miss Gertrude Holt and Milton Heap, it is taken in the Chapel grounds, with the side view of the chapel looking toward Burnley. The War Memorial now stands just behind the two ladies extreme right with the dark hats. Front row extreme left is the Reverend E F Lord and his wife, Rev Lord left Providence in 1914.

I am indebted to Carolyn Law for supplying this image, along with the photograph and side profile of Providence on the home page.

Mrs Morgan

In 1999, when I first started to look at Providence as a project, I put a notice in the Rossendale  Free Press for anyone who could give me any information about the Chapel, with very little success. The biggest help coming from Trish at Rawtenstall Library, who was and still is, most helpful and informative on local studies.

One person who did reply was Mrs A Morgan of Townsendfold, she was ninety years old then, and had recently lost her husband Cyril, and, as they both played a big part in the History of Providence Chapel,  I find it only right to include Mrs Morgan’s letter to me, all those years ago, copied in type.

5th of July 1999

Dear Mr. Drury I am afraid my memories don’t go back as far as the 1914-18 war, but my late husband was very active during the 1939-45 war at Providence until it closed.  Even after (it closed) he bought a circular saw and each Monday evening he would go up and saw all the wood from the school and Chapel and people queued for it at 1shilling per bag.  He had his regular customers and as he came down the road he dropped off his bags at 1 shilling each. He had not much wood left and had arranged to sell the  saw when someone broke in and stole it.

I remember going to help at a potato pie tea before we were married, Cyril had Quinsey’s (an abscess near the tonsils) , and he said, “You will be alright, you know Ida Heap”, she was the only one I did know.

We were married at Newchurch in 1939 and lived there 12 months, then we came to 3 Oak Street Dunnockshaw and he resumed his duties as Providence Superintendent, Sunday School Trustees Secretary, and local Preacher.

He was taking the morning service at Providence when War was announced, 11 am September the 3rd 1939.  We were visiting the Hospital a few months ago when one of the sisters came up to us and said, “Do you know as a little girl what I called this man” we said “no” She said “ I called him Mr Providence, I thought it belonged to him, he was always there. "Our children were both christened there Ian and Sheila.  Ian and his wife are both active at Rakefoot, he is treasurer and she in charge of the children.  Sheila is active in her Church in Chorley so we have a lot to be thankful for.

I have been in touch with a man who was Church treasurer when it closed to ask if he had anything of interest to you but he said nothing.  I don’t know anyone who can tell you much; it was an ageing congregation when it closed.

My husband could have perhaps have told you more but he died suddenly Jan 17 1999, we were married nearly 62 years, he would have been 88 in may. I must apologise for my writing I fell down 10 days after my husband died and injured my hand rather badly, hence the writing. Sorry I can’t help you more.

A. Morgan.

As the old Cliché goes, they certainly don’t make em like that anymore. I obtained a copy of the 1846-1946 Centenary Souvenir booklet, and both Mr and Mrs Morgan are pictured in it and I will include these below.

Mrs C. Morgan, taken from the 1946  Centenary booklet she kindly sent to me.

Mr Cyril Morgan from the same booklet.

Mayor Cards

Commemoration cards such as the one above were supplied to the families who lost family members during the Great War.  Both Burnley and Rawtenstall, and probably many other towns did the same. Shown here are copies of some of the actual letters sent in to Rawtenstall Town Hall by family members of some who are  listed on the Providence Chapel Memorial.

Alderman Thomas Cryer J.P.

Just to the right of the War Memorial lies another famous son of Providence and another Mayor of the Borough. Thomas Cryer was born in Loveclough in 1847 to Betty Nuttall who hailed from Clitheroe and James Cryer his father who was born in Littleborough.

Thomas attended the National School on Burnley Road where he
excelled, especially in mathematics. On leaving School he worked in a
Cotton Mill until he was 29 years old but not satisfied with this joined the Crawshawbooth Mechanics Institute, there he became a very apt pupil carrying off many a prize, eventually becoming a master of Finance.

He then worked at Loveclough Print works and worked his
way up to Cashier at that place; Thomas was a Nonconformist and as such was connected with Providence United Methodist Church worshipping there from childhood. He was a trustee there and a teacher of a Young Ladies Class for many years, and also the treasurer of the Sunday school.

He began taking an active role in Politics in 1868, and being a Liberal was a member of the Rossendale Liberal Executive. Whilst Mayor he also was a Justice of the Peace, presiding in the Rawtenstall Police Court, and another string to his bow was that he was an Oddfellow and was a member of the Charity Lodge Crawshawbooth for about 45 years.

Thomas married Eliza Dawson in 1868 and they had 5 children, 4 surviving into adulthood and one, James, dying in Infancy. The 4 were Clara, later Mrs Farnsworth, Louisa later Mrs Charles Edward Nuttall of Clowbridge. Nancy who became Mrs Allen Heath, Nancy died 30th Dec 1910, and is interred in Cheshire, also Edwin, their son who married Barbara Pauline Barrett of Levenshulme in 1912. Pauline’s father John was assistant manager and cashier at a Print works so no doubt met through work association. Edwin was a Chemist at Loveclough Print works before becoming Chemist and Assistant Manager at Broad Oak Print works Accrington.

They had two children, Nancy Auriel Cryer, and Keith Dawson Cryer,(Dawson was his Grandmothers maiden name). Keith went on to become a Solicitor.

Thomas took an active interest in politics in 1868 and he represented
North Ward on Rawtenstall Town Council for a period of 15 years.as
well as Justice of the peace Alderman Cryer was Mayor three times they being 1907-1908,1911-1912, and 1912 to 1913.

Whilst on the Tramways and Electricity Committee it was largely due to his persistence that the Tramways were extended to the Loveclough Boundary, Other strings to his bow were being a member of the Hospital Charities and the Joint Sewerage Board, and obtaining the first Motor Ambulances for the Borough.

No3 Tram parked just up the road from Providence on Loveclough Border, Mayor Thomas Cryer was responsible for getting the service extended to Loveclough Border giving better access for local folk.

Due to meet the King and Queen on their Royal Visit to Lancashire,
including Rawtenstall July 9th 1913, Alderman Cryer died at home on the 24th of June 1913, he was looking forward to the opportunity but alas no, he had suffered a paralytic seizure some months before confining him to bed at the instructions from his Doctor.

It was at the weekly meeting of Rawtenstall Town Council that Councillor Samuel Compton rose, and speaking with some emotion explained that the Mayor wasn’t well enough to attend the meeting, later he seemed to have recovered well, but then his condition worsened and resulted in
his passing. Immediately on the News of Thomas’s death the flags
were flown at half mast on the Town Hall, Free Library, Whittaker
Park, the Fire Station, Loveclough Print Works and many private
residences.

Thomas Cryer was the only Mayor to have died in Office at that time
and his Funeral and internment took place at Providence Chapel.
Thomas Cryer took a great interest in the welfare of the Rossendale
Borough Fire Brigade and as such was involved in the creation of the
Recreation room for the Firemen, so it was fitting for that eight
members of the Brigade became Pall Bearers at his funeral under the charge of Superintendent Burrows.

The internment took place at 1pm at Providence Chapel on Friday
the 4th July 1913 leaving Thomas’s house at 12.40, members of the
Corporation left from Rawtenstall on the 12.05 Tram from that place.

Thomas’s wife Eliza died 12 months later.

Samuel Compston J.P.

Another notable buried in Providence grave yard is Samuel Compston Justice of the Peace. Alderman, Mayor and Freeman of the Borough.

In 1870 the couple moved back to Radcliffe Samuels birthplace. Here Samuel had a Practice which extended as far as Rawtenstall and indeed Loveclough and he looked after the sale of homeopathic books, medicines, health foods and cocoa, etc. Travellers would try to persuade Samuel to add to his stock such things as cigars tobacco and medicated wines with which to make a fast buck but Samuel would not stock things he could not honestly recommend people to buy, even though he was not Technically qualified well heeled people asked for Samuels guidance about their own health. By August 14th 1926 Samuel and Mary Ann celebrated 60 years of Married life.

Samuel and Mary had four children but lost their first Mary to Scarlet Fever. Edmund Leach Compston became the eldest, then Emily, known as Cissie and Lizzie the youngest. Edmund followed his fathers interest in becoming a Doctor and practised in the Crawshawbooth area. Edmund was a trustee at the Rakefoot Methodist Church in Crawshawbooth where he also played the organ for the Church living close by at Lilac House, Later of Springhill Cloughfold with his wife Elizabeth and 2 girls. He had 44 years service with the St Johns Ambulance as Divisional Surgeon and during the Great War Edmund was at New Hall Hey Military Hospital Rawtenstall, he died at Bare Morecambe in 1945. Emily or Cissie married William Edward Walker in 1902 and went on to have two daughters, William was an Electrician at the loveclough print works and Cissie also nursed at New Hall Hey Military Hospital caring for wounded soldiers. Sadly she passed away aged 46 on the 5th of September 1918 buried Rawtenstall. Lizzie married John Charles Smith a Mechanical Engineer also at the Printworks He was born in Birch vale Derbyshire, Lizzie died 13th may 1912 and is interred at Providence Chapel graveyard with her parents

Samuel held quite a few titles and rolls during his long lifetime, for instance he was chairman of the Health Committee for 15 years and even longer as chair to the Education Committee and Library, Parks and Museums Committees only giving these up in his latter years. Alderman 3 times 1896, 1913 and 1924. His third term ended in 1930 and having fought an election that he won with a majority of 319 votes Samuel returned to the Council as a councillor once more lasting until November 1st 1932 and on his death bed he found he had been elected to the Council for the thirteenth time. 1906 finds him elected as Mayor of Rawtenstall, Mary being Mayoress and they served for one term. Also for 26 years he had been a member of the Bury and District Joint Water Board and then in 1913 he was to become a Justice of the Peace.

The one accolade that Crowned all previous activities was when in 1919 he was made Freeman of the Borough and had been awarded only five times since the town had received its charter.

As well as playing the Bass fiddle and teaching the Harmonium he published 14 musical articles in the Freepress (see West gallery music association.) Samuel was responsible in 1902/03 for the refurbishment and relocation of an ancient cross known now as Compton's Cross thought to be a Memorial Cross rather than a wayside marker for the route to Whalley Abbey for pilgrims, it lies close to the old Wool route on the moors above Clowbridge Reservoir.

Compston's Cross

Memorabilia

The images  below are the two sides of the 1919 “Peace Medal” that was usually given to School Children to mark the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, thus officially ending the First World War. Signed on the 28th of June 1919 exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. One side of the Medal carries the Rawtenstall Town Crest and is dated 1919.

Postcards and Pictures

The first picture is a postcard general view of the Loveclough area, all of which would have been all too familiar to the lads named on the War Memorial at Providence.  Top left of this  postcard, is entitled Ivy Mount, the view is along the main road from Rawtenstall towards Burnley, and on the left behind the first row of terraced houses, can be seen the side profile of Providence Chapel. The image on the right in the postcard is that of Commercial Street, looking up towards the main Burnley Rawtenstall road, and the building in the top centre of the Commercial Street picture, is that of the old National School, now a private dwelling, but will most certainly have been attended by some of Providences children. George Miller, the Coldstream Guardsman on the Memorial lived on Burnley Road, and worked at the Print Works at the bottom of Commercial Street.   The central and bottom left buildings, still exist, but the Print Works itself was recently demolished, and is now occupied by a new housing development. The location of Whinn Hill House has yet to be ascertained.

Below is the  second postcard of the Loveclough area, and in the central oval picture, shows the front elevation of the now demolished Providence Chapel, the date stone can be seen above the four upper windows and still exists in the Chapel grounds.  Top left is a shot of the print works bowling green, whilst top right is a picture of  Hope Cottage at Goodshaw Fold.  Bottom left is a picture of Badger Cote Farm, where Thom Harry Spencer (named on the memorial) lived for a while, as did his father, see Thom Harry's mention in the named fallen. Finally, the bottom right picture is of  a small path, leading up to presumably the Cornfield, at Broading, and shows three young lads from the period posing for the photographer, no doubt in their sunday best. Broading is still in existence today, and can be found on the right of the road to Burnley, not far from the old National Shool.

The above picture is another view of Commercial Street, this time down hill, as opposed to postcard 1, where the view is uphill, at the bottom in this view we see Loveclough Print Works, where some of those on the War Memorial worked.

Loveclough Print Works

Loveclough Printworks at the bottom of Commercial  Street was a place of work for many from Loveclough, some of whom fought and died during the Great War including worshippers of Providence Chapel.  The factory had a chequered History and I highlight its existence from 1832 to the 1980"s including the devastating Fire there in 1906 after which many workers lost their livelihoods, those with the facility to enlarge the above photograph will make out Providence Chapel at the bottom of the slope between the two chimneys.

1832 the Mill was owned by Richard Holt and occupied by Unsworth and Cooke and by 1846 the Mill had eight machines with two Steam engines by Graham.

1866 there was a strike at the works by the printers for an advance in wages, the masters promised them to pay as much as any other printing establishment, and after three days consented to go back to work under that promise.

1868 was the year an extensive robbery took place at the then Rossendale printing Company Loveclough, where an iron safe was broken into and £550 was stolen, a considerable sum for the time, six men were caught for the offence.

1870 the Mill came into the Lee family and it was Lennox B. Lee who became Chairman of C.P.A. in 1908.

1876 and also in 1877 In the days before Health and Safety was prevalent several accidents occurred at Rossendale Print Works Loveclough injuring workers.

William Bentley employed as a winder was engaged in putting a strap on a drum (probably a long rotating leather strap run from a shaft above) when he was taken up by the strap and had his left arm broken in two places and nearly torn from his shoulder.

William Trippier a lad of only 14 years lost his life after being badly scalded after falling into a tub of condensed Steam from one of the Engines.

Two young men were injured at the Works on the same day in two separate incidents when one had his arm pulled between two rollers as he was cleaning them resulting in his arm being flattened to the elbow!, the other poor lad working in the Finishing Room had his hand entangled in a Finishing Machine.

1883 it was reported that under the guidance of Sir Joseph C Lee the Principle and then Manager Mr John Bailey that electric lights were being used at the works at Loveclough. The lights being installed by the Manchester and District Edison Light Company with a Hopkinson improved Dynamo driven by a 30 HP engine running at the rate of 1,100 rpm and capable of producing light equivalent to 5,200 candles, much to the pleasure of the then 460 employees.  The new lighting was installed in the Colour Shop Offices, Engraving, Roller, Winding and Machine Rooms. The 260 incandescent lamps replaced the old 400 Gas Jets and each machine had its own lights.

More improvements arrive in 1897 with the addition of a bowling green and a Reading Room for workers to use

1906 The Great Fire (see below) destroyed most of the mill and put lots of people out of work resulting in many emigrating.

1914 to 1918, The Great War years, when many employees went to serve King and Country, not all returned.

1915 finds the beginnings of the Move to becoming C.P.A Calico Printers Association

1933 Plans approved for an extension of the Boiler House approved for the C.P.A Loveclough Works

1936 Loveclough Printing Company Ltd now part of C.P.A

1968 Yet another name change after a merger with English sewing Cotton, now no longer Calico Printers Association but a new name, English Calico.

1973 The name changes to Tootal!

1979 A bad year, as it is announced that 240 workers will be laid off in may of that year, the reason given is that from June last year (1978) the run of bad weather had resulted in a fall in demand for summer dresses that the Company prints cloth for. By September of 1979 200 workers at the troubled works were put on a one day week, with the Managers in October of the same year assuring workers and the area in General that there was no truth in the rumours that the Printworks was about to close.

1980 Tootal announce the closure of Loveclough Printworks with the loss of 240 jobs. They blame increasing Imports and reduced consumer spending for the closure, with no reprieve in sight the mill closed in July 1980.

The Lodge behind the mill was called Padiham Lodge

THE GREAT FIRE OF 1906

January 21st 1906

The morning of Sunday January 21st, 1906, was as peaceful as any other, but it was all destined to change, it was destined to be the day of one of the biggest fires in Rossendale.

An account of what happened by Mr A.W. Savage ( Arthur Savage served in WW1 with the Durham Light Infantry) a Crawshawbooth lad.

At about !0 in the morning I heard my neighbours shouting "Loveclough is on fire, and the Barleyholme sections gone."  Without hesitation I ran into my house and grabbed my cap and was off as fast as my legs would carry me.

The big burly P.C Sefton stood in the middle of the village looking flustered, point duty, the traffic controlling method was not used then and unknown,

As I ran up Bull Brow the big Rawtenstall Fire Brigade passed me, and the steep incline was passed with sparks flying from the horses shoes as they thundered along, the powerful animals had already galloped a mile and a half and steam rose in clouds from their bodies.

The Fire engine was a mass of polished and shining Brass and Copper and the name of the maker stood out boldly (Shand and Mason,) it was a scene of both life, animation and emergency, in fact it was a pageant and so they were gone as a cloud of sand rips over a desert.

I never slackened my run until I reached the "Coal Shuttle" (overhead bucket system) at Rings Nook, when some intuition made me turn left and straight through the yard and onto the Viaduct that carried the small 2 cwt waggons of coal from Goodshaw Hill mine.  There I was, 60 feet above the valley with just a few more adventurers as company and with a grandstand view, even as a lad I could see all was chaos!

The fire was travelling along the front of the mill as fast as you could walk and steam drying cylinders were exploding like bombs.  The steel framework of machines made fantastic contortions before collapsing and some appeared to raise themselves up before dropping with a mighty bang and ninety pound copper cylinders melted like candles and through the glare of the fire they shone like burnished gold, as I did not know the layout of the Mill I did not know what part of it I was watching.

My eyes moved from one department to another and as the flames spread they exposed another part of the interior of the works until as the day wore on it began to look like a great hollow shell, like looking down into the crater of a Volcano.

Then the Commander of Rawtenstall fire Brigade, a Superintendent Wood said that at the height of the fire hundreds of gallons of water per minute were poured into the blaze from 16 jets, and it is only through the efforts of the Brigade that any portion of the Mill was saved.  An estimate of £100,000 damage was attributed to the fire, a very considerable amount for the time.

The Machine room

General view of the fire with water being sprayed on an upper storey room, quite a crowd gathered close to the site of the fire, I am quite sure that would not be the case today!

Interior after the fire had done it's worst on the 22nd January 1906, some of the workers surveying their destroyed place of work.

New Hall Hey Military Hospital

During the course of the war the flow of casualties from the various theatres of war overwhelmed the existing Medical facilities in the United Kingdom just as it did in the established bases in France and Flanders, many buildings were turned over to Military use. Large numbers of  public and private houses, some larger houses were used as small Hospitals and operated as annexes to nearby Hospitals.  These Auxiliary Hospitals attached to the larger Hospitals looked after patients who still remained under military control, in all there were over 3000 Auxiliary Hospitals and were  administered by Red Cross County Directors.  They were usually staffed by a Commandant who was in charge of the Hospital (excepting medical and nursing services,) a Quartermaster, responsible for receipt and issue of articles from the stores, a Matron who directed the nursing staff and members of the local voluntary aid detachments who were trained in first aid and home nursing.

In many cases women in the neighbourhood volunteered on a part-time basis, although they often needed to supplement voluntary work with paid labour such as in the case of cooks.  Medical attendance was provided locally and voluntarily despite the extra strain that the medical profession was already under at that time.

The patients at these hospitals were generally less seriously wounded than at other hospitals and needed convalescence. The servicemen preferred the Auxiliary Hospitals to Military Hospitals because they were not so strict. Also, Auxiliary Hospitals were less crowded and the surroundings more homely.

Rossendale had two such Hospitals New Hall Hey and Pike Law both running at the same time.  The buildings that formed New Hall Hey Auxiliary Hospital are long gone and were situated approximately where the large roundabout and Fire Station are in Rawtenstall centre.  As we shall see subscriptions to help with the cost and running of the Hospital came from all walks of life and indeed the many businesses in the town at that time.  Rossendale Free Press always on hand with a story kept readers apace with developments and indeed the wounded patients of the Hospital as time went by with functions etc. to help the wounded also included in their editions.

Below is an article that appeared in the Free Press on the 27th of March 1915.

THE MILITARY HOSPITAL AT RAWTENSTALL OPENED TO THE PUBLIC THIS AFTERNOON

The above picture is a view of the Military Hospital Newhall Hey House, Rawtenstall, which will be open for inspection by the public from 2 to 5 o-clock this Saturday afternoon.  The Committee and officials who have charge of the same have been working quietly but most energetically for some time past, and their labours have been met with much success.

The premises have been beautifully decorated and admirably arranged and twelve beds, along with other necessary equipment have been installed.  The Hospital will be under the supervision of a fully qualified and trained Hospital nurse supplied by the St Johns Ambulance Brigade from the Headquarters in London, and she is expected to arrive at any time.  Through the generosity of Miss Carrie Whitehead of Holly Mount, a resident cook  has been appointed namely, Mrs Cartwright whose excellent services will be remembered in connection with the Central Canteen at the old Technical School.  Information has been sent to the Army Authorities that the premises will be ready for the official inspection on Tuesday next, after which they will be ready for the reception of the Soldiers.

Donations in the shape of money or goods will be thankfully received at the Hospital this afternoon or at any time, and we feel certain there will be a most generous response for such a patriotic and deserving object.

Further to the above article came this breakdown of contributions and donations from individuals and groups of workers, all rallying to the cause as it were and read.....

After the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of 1915 and the Battle of the Somme that raged from July to November 1916 which incidentally on the 1st of July 1916, the British Army encountered its worst day in battle with some 50,000 casualties, approximately 20,000 dead in a single day, the existing facilities would indeed be overwhelmed.

One of the first local lads to use the services of New Hall Hey was Driver William Meeks of Crawshawbooth (excerpt Free Press Autumn 1915) who was wounded by shellfire on Gallipoli and spoke for the other soldiers in the Hospital who were all well pleased with their care.

Driver William Meeks recovered only to lose his life in a fire in Palestine 1918. William is buried at Kantara war Cemetery Egypt and commemorated locally on the Crawshawbooth War Memorial.

Due to the swelling numbers of casualties a new wing was opened in October 1916 and was duly named Kitchener Ward after the famous then Secretary of State for War who's famous recruitment poster we see on the left.  Kitchener was killed in 1916 when the warship taking him to negotiations in Russia was sunk by a German mine.  After his death he was criticised and often dismissed as a great poster but not a great administrator.  Nonetheless his name adorned the new wing which cost in the region of £400 adding much needed services to a burgeoning casualty list.

 The Opening of the Kitchener Ward October 14th 1916Summary of the events at the opening of the Kitchener Ward

New Hall Hey Military Hospital served the needs of the wounded and sick from July 1915 past the wars end in November 1918 and into early 1919, when in March of that year, came the announcement of its closure.

NEW HALL HEY HOSPITAL CLOSING

700 Soldier Patients Have Passed Through

The New Hall Hey Auxiliary Military Hospital will definitely be closed in the course of the next week or fortnight.   Since the institution was opened in July 1915, close upon 700 wounded soldiers have been dealt with therein, while the number of beds have been increased periodically from 18 at the opening to 66.  The first increase comprised of four beds, and in April 1916 a similar number was added, bringing the total to 26.   In October of the same year the bed accommodation was further augmented to 43, when Col. Coates opened the" Kitchener" Ward.  A good number of beds have been provided by different firms in the district, the last instalment was made in April 1917 when the War Office loaned a further 18. Miss Richardson it may be remembered was the first Matron Sister at the Hospital and in January 1916 Miss Newsome succeeded her as Matron. A trained sister was appointed in August of the same year and a second sister for night duty in the following October.

All the Medical men in Rawtenstall, Crawshawbooth and Waterfoot have given their services to the Hospital; Dr E.L. Compston as senior Medical Officer, and Dr J. Paton Stuart as deputy senior. The resident staff have been augmented by members of the V.A.D, the Rawtenstall and Crawshawbooth St. Johns Ambulance Brigade, and the Waterfoot St John Ambulance Brigade (V.A.D.) The latter section which came into being in January 1917 were trained by Miss Newsome.  The different sections have done duty for a week at a time and when circumstances necessitated it often for a month.

Apart from the splendid voluntary efforts from outside, some excellent concerts have been given by the patients who organised themselves into concert parties with the result that a good round sum has been obtained for the Hospital Comforts fund.  Perhaps the best known of the parties were the "Ding Dongs" the majority of who were professional artistes and concerts were given in the New Palace Theatre and the King's Hall Waterfoot.  This party which included two local artistes Driver Pepper and Mr Longland were instrumental in raising about £80. Another party who styled themselves "The Mascots" gave an entertainment in the Kitchener Ward when about £20 was raised. Other concerts of an impromptu nature have been frequently given all going to show that the social life of the institution has been what one may term "Merry and Bright."

It may be added that the nurses have given their services and several of them wear service bars which denote one, two or three years service.

All the mending has been done by the nurses on Saturday afternoons and evenings.  "Really the work that has been accomplished in the institution has been marvellous" said a member of the staff to our representative, "and I cannot speak too highly of those who have in any way been associated with it."  Such good results are no doubt in a large measure due to the consummate skill of the Matron Miss Newsome. On the 29th of March 1919 Rossendale Free Press stated.

                                                   NEW HALL HEY FAREWELL

NURSES GATHERING IN THE HOSPITAL

PRESENTATION TO DR.COMPSTON AND THE MATRON

The Kitchener Ward at the New Hall Hey Hospital, Rawtenstall, in which during the progress of the war many maimed and battered soldiers have been nursed back to health and strength provided the setting for a very enjoyable re-union on Wednesday evening. As has already been stated in these columns the work of the Hospital has now been accomplished. The last of the convalescent soldiers has taken his departure and the wards are silent and empty.

It was to commemorate the closing of the Hospital that Wednesday evening's little affair was held, when on the invitation of Dr Compston the Senior Medical Officer and Miss Newsome, the Nurse Orderlies and others met for a farewell gathering. There were present apparently 80 to 100 Nurses and Orderlies and in addition the Mayor and Mayoress Colonel Craven Hoyle, Dr. Helm, Mrs. Cunliffe (Chair) and a number of other members of the Hospital committee.

Dr. Compston presided and in an introductory address referred to the work the Hospital had been able to accomplish during the past four years and how starting with 16 beds the place grew until they had a compliment of 66 beds. Dr. Compston took the opportunity of returning thanks to all who by service and help in so many different ways had made the good work possible.

He referred to the extreme kindness of Col. and Mrs Hoyle who placed that building at the disposal of the committee and who also at their own expense built that new ward in which they were assembled that night; he thanked the Matron for her efficient service, the nurses, the public, the subscribers, the ministers, the medical men, and all who had contributed in various ways towards keeping the Hospital going so successfully.  Now the time had come to close the Hospital.  Many had come to look on the place with affection and they would also look back on the work they had done there with satisfaction.

The boys who had passed through the Hospital had been warm in their praise of New Hall Hey.  All who had helped in the work there had the satisfaction of knowing they had served their country when their country badly needed their service. Col. Hoyle said everybody connected with the Hospital could congratulate themselves on the work the Hospital had done.  There had not been a single wounded soldier who had given up his life in that Hospital and there had not been a patient who had not gone away either absolutely cured or very much better for the treatment they received there.

The Mayor paid a high tribute to the skill and services of Dr. Compston and the other Medical men who had been associated with the Hospital.  He had felt proud to be Mayor of Rawtenstall whilst that Hospital had been in being and likewise he had felt proud of the way in which the Public had helped the Hospital both in service and monetary sense.

Presentations

During the evening Col. Hoyle on behalf of the Rawtenstall, Waterfoot and Crawshawbooth Nursing Divisions presented Miss Newsome a gold signet ring in appreciation of the instruction the Matron had given to those concerned.

On the 19th of April 1919, in the appointments page of The British Nursing Journal was this, under "Appointments of Matrons."

York Tuberculosis Hospital, Fairfield House, Miss Edith Newsome has been appointed Matron.  She received her training in general nursing at the Portsmouth Infirmary and in midwifery at University College Hospital, London. She has held  the positions of pupil Matron at Lord Kinnaird‘s Hostel, Westbourne Park: Holiday Sister at Dudley. Union Infirmary: Charge Nurse L.C.C. Special Schools, East Dulwich, S.E. Health Visitor and Inspector of Midwives for the County of Warwick; Lecturer on Nursing, Hygiene, and Infant Care, Gloucestershire School of Domestic Science: Superintendent Nurse, Worcester Union Infirmary: and Matron of the New Hall Hey Auxiliary military Hospital, Rawtenstall. She is a certified midwife, and holds certificates in hygiene.

Quite a woman and what a CV, probably as the old Matrons were not a force to be reckoned with!!

The Photograph below shows the location of the Hospital in greater detail with the instantly recognisable St Mary's chambers in the background.  It is hard to imagine this serene scene replaced by a huge roundabout and Fire Station. A poem accompanies this picture from the time of the closure of New hall Hey and the initials E.L.C. are at the bottom of the verses. Written by a war weary individual no doubt. May I thank Rawtenstall Library once again for their assistance with this image.

Mr. Stan Winter kindly replied at the foot of this page with information on his Grandfather and Grandmother, as a result of that terrible war and his convalescence at New Hall Hey, it resulted in marriage after the war, Stan's Grandparents story is below.

                                                               The Poem

'Tis now a memory of the past:-

The Mansion House with a fountain pond,

And ruin like ancient Greek Fane,

Placed in it's grounds  with walls beyond,

Near Olden Hall with latticed panes.

Some Generous hearts the house had lent,

And others made it's every space

Ready that heroes battle rent

Might find a home and healing place.

'Tis now a memory of the past:-

The added wards the dressing room,

Where many busy hours were spent,

And all made bright and free of gloom

With atmosphere of sweet content,

By Matron with her kindly heart,

And Nurses with their cheerful mien,

Who loyally fulfilled their part,

The whole, I throw, a helpful scene.

At a time when The Nations were in a life and death conflict you did your best to help to heal and comfort those who were wounded and maimed for you.  That has made your life worth living.

And now the War which has caused the death of some Nations has left them all bruised and exhausted, and like the heroes you have helped, needing the best you can give.

Let us complete the good work by ourselves living noble lives, by helping to heal the wounds of the Nations, by being kind to those about us, by making it easy for all to do right, and by meriting the divine character of "Peacemaker." E.L.C.

The present day image of the site of New Hall Hey Military Hospital with the extreme left of the Fire Station in the foreground.

Section of ordinance survey map showing New Hall Hey and its proximity to Bury Road, Parmater Street and Queens Road, note U.M.Church, which is St Mary's Chambers.

I remain indebted to Ms Suzanne Katz for the following fine photographs of her Grandfather Alfred and others of New Hall Hey despite his wounds his convalescence there had a happy ending from that terrible war.

Sergeant Alfred Whitehouse of the Grenadier Guards wounded on the Somme and discharged in 1917, he married Muriel Willis Fairbourne who was a a nurse at New Hall Hey  in 1918

Alfred  pictured first on the right standing.

Nursing staff New  Hall Hey

Alfred Back row left identified by being the only smoker!

New Hall Hey Badge

Football

Zeppelin Raids

Above is the article that appeared in the Rossendale Free Press in September 1966, the 50th anniversary of the raid. The map below shows the area of the Zeppelin raid over Rossendale on the 25th of September 1916, with kind permission from Mr Peter J.C. Smith from his book entitled Zeppelins over Lancashire. (click on image to enlarge)

Zeppelin L21

LZ 61 was a German Navy airship and was allocated the tactical numbering of L21. Two months after the raids by Zeppelin L21 over Rossendale and other parts of Lancashire. The fate of this troublesome airship was sealed. L21 had covered 17 reconnaissance missions and 10 attacks on England which resulted in the dropping of 14,442kg of bombs, leaving death and destruction in both in the Midlands and in Lancashire. On the night of the 27/28th November 1916 the 29-year-old Commander of L21 Kurt Frankenberg who also commanded L21 in the September raid over Lancashire was returning from an extended raid involving  nine other Zeppelins.

They had been active over Yorkshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire and Commander Frankenberg whilst steering by way of Peterborough was brought down eight miles east of Lowestoft by three defending aircraft, with the result she crashed into the sea with the loss of all 17 crew.  The pilots involved in the attack were Flight Lieutenant Egbert Cadbury, Flight Sub Lieutenant Gerard William Reginald Fane and Flight Sub Lieutenant Edward Laston Pulling. The machine gunners aboard L21 were firing at Pulling during his attack and as he passed underneath Pulling began firing into the airship as he did so his Phosphorous rounds resulted in the stern of the Zeppelin being ignited. Fane noticed that she Fell into the sea stern first like a spent rocket.  It was Pulling who was credited with the L21s destruction and he was awarded the DSO whilst Fane and Cadbury were given DSCs.

Three manufacturers produced incendiary bullets but the ones made by Brock the fireworks manufacturer were the most successful, the bullet core held the incendiary material which was sealed with a base plug, 3 holes in the jacket of the bullet were sealed by a low melting point metal covered by the neck of the cartridge, when fired the heat of the passage of the bullet up the bore of the gun melted the plugs and the incendiary ignited on contact with air, only effective out to 200 yards.

In March 1917 disaster was to strike for Flight Sub Lieutenant Pulling whilst flying the same BE2c aircraft that he attacked L21 with, whilst performing a loop the aircraft broke up in the air, killing himself and his passenger Flight sub Lieutenant J.C. Northrop, both are buried at Great Yarmouth Caister Cemetery.  Below is a photograph of a BE2c of the type flown by Pulling.

The book entitled Zeppelins over Lancashire by Peter J.C. Smith gives a full and detailed account of the events that took place in Rossendale and other parts of the country during 1916 and 1918, and I would recommend to anyone interested in these events.

Continued on page two HERE

Zepplins Continued..

Please click on image to enlarge!

Here are some memories and experiences of local people who witnessed the Zeppelin raid of 1916 in the Rossendale area. I have reproduced them here, as they appeared in the Rossendale Free Press during the 1960s and 1970s.  With thanks again to Rawtenstall Library and staff.

Dated 1/10/1966 R.F.P

Valley had its first air raid 50 years ago

Just fifty years ago this week Rossendale experienced its first air raid when German Zeppelins droned over the Valley and dropped a number of bombs. The writer was four at the time and has vivid memories of being wakened at what seemed the middle of the night, and taken out into the street to watch groups of people watching a silvery cigar shaped object sail awesomely but majestically over Cribden hill.  A day or two later he recalls being taken for a walk to Ewood Bridge and seeing craters in the fields, as well as a distant view of the damage to Holcombe Church.  There will be many more local people with memories of what was a frightening experience that was to be repeated on a far more devastating scale in the Second World War, though here again the Valley came off lightly.  If readers have any stories or re-collections of the raid half a century ago we would be glad to hear of them.

8/10/1966 R.F.P

MEMORIES OF THE ZEPPELIN RAID

Sir, I was interested to read about the Zeppelin raid and I  have many recollections of that day, 25th September 1916 I was 28 at the time.

It always ran in mind that it was 26 of September when it happened anyway it is near enough for me.  It is quite right the course of the Zeppelin came in over Lumb as described by M.J. Jones and crossed over Seat Naze, Boltons Woods and Lea Bank, the home of Colonel Craven Hoyle, and then over Cloughfold Station and round Whinberry Hill to Bolton.

Now I can give you some more facts of its course. In the first place the Zeppelin was following a train on its way to Manchester, but when the train had got to Todmorden it stopped instead of veering left for Manchester. The Zeppelin kept straight on following the course described beforehand.

When it got to Seat Naze, the fire beater (stoker) at the "Rag Shop" that is what we called the Cotton Cellulose Works was just firing up the Boiler and the Zeppelin crew thought they would drop one (bomb) there.  It fell just behind Colonel Craven Hoyle's home. It was an aerial torpedo and was later blown up by soldiers from Bury Barracks.

They piled about ten tons of soil on the spot where it went into the ground, and when it went off,  the soil was hurled about ten or fifteen feet in the air.  Where Mr Lesley Talbot now lives in Newchurch Road, there was a gateway leading into a meadow.  On the other side of the gate was a haystack and they laid the fuse from where the house now stands.

The next bomb fell at a point going up Hall Carr Road, about 30 yards from a farm on the Hillside.  It is quite right to say you could put a horse and cart in the hole that it made.  For a long time I had a piece of shrapnel that I found there.

The next bomb fell at Irwell Vale that resulted in another large hole as described by M.J. Jones. I might say that my brother Noel and I had both been discharged from the Army earlier in the year, Noel in May and myself early in June.  Between then and September my Parents had bought a spinal carriage at Manchester.  I remember quite well taking him over Newhall Hey Bridge and on to Edenfield and then down the footpath by the Church to where one of the bombs had been dropped.

One amusing memory of the raid comes to mind.  A woman heard a lot of talking going on outside her house at the time and went to find out what was happening.  She went back into the house where the others were in bed to tell them that the Zeppelins were over.  Her uncle told her: "Ne'er heed up. we might as weel die in bed as ony wheer."

Yours, etc William T Capell Dam Top Cottage, Cloughfold.

Nb Both Noel and William enlisted into the East Lancashire Regiment during WW1 but were discharged with sickness within a month of each other, (D. Drury)

17/8/1974

Zeppelin Raid

The reference in Jottings last week to the visit of a German Zeppelin to Rossendale during the First World War and the dropping of bombs has led a reader to ask if we can pinpoint the dates of this occurrence.  Our files reveal that it happened during the night of Monday 25 September 1916 and that week's issue carried a long account of the raid without disclosing where it had happened, for security reasons. The raid was merely described as having taken place in the North and the North Midlands.  The newspaper story stated that the beats of the airship engines were first heard about ten minutes to midnight and within a few minutes it was clearly seen passing over the Valley.

A patrolling police constable saw it become almost stationary and within a few seconds the first bomb was dropped. Within a space of five to eight minutes the airship unloaded another 12 or 15 missiles before disappearing.

Also 17/8/1974

Explosions

Those Rossendale folk who had been wakened by the sound of the Zeppelins engines were quickly roused by the tremendous explosions that followed the dropping of its bombs.  The concussion shook houses, rattling windows violently causing the structure to vibrate in some cases.  As a result within a very short time the darkened streets were filled with hundreds of people but it was stated "there were no signs of panic or fear." About 2.45 am it was reported officially that conditions were normal again and the electricity supply which had been cut off was restored. The next morning a tour of the district showed that within a radius of some three miles several bombs and some incendiaries had been dropped, in every case they had fallen onto soft earth.  Three at least had failed to explode, those that did had left deep craters five or six yards across. One had fallen near to the end of a row of cottages in which every window had been shattered and doorways affected but there were no personal injuries of any kind.  And so ended Rossendale's experience of aerial attacks until over a quarter of a century later when there were some comparatively minor incidents during the Second World War though that time from aeroplanes.

The two Photographs reproduced here are from a publication circulated just after the Great War showing just what the destructive power of the Zeppelins bombs could do to residential properties.

About this Site

This site has been created by myself David Drury, and my good friend Paul McDevitt, who continues to help me with some of the technicalities and general running of the site, and to whom I am most grateful. I would also to like to thank the staff at Rawtenstall Central Library especially Trish for all their help and efforts in making this site possible.

Providence Chapel War Memorial started a number of years ago for me as an introduction into the Great War of 1914-1918 and the people who fought it, including my own family, who also lost a son in 1918. The people who initially took me under their wing when starting in the subject, also had similar but much larger projects ongoing covering most memorials in Burnley (see link Burnley in the Great War, by Andrew Gill and Allen and Andrew Mackay.)

The site of the former Providence Chapel was a place I had passed regularly on my way to and from work in the Manchester and Liverpool area, and often wondered what was beyond the then overgrown privet hedges at the front  entrance the chapel grounds. The Chapel itself was demolished in the 1960's.  Being  just on the Burnley with Rossendale boundary I decided to start here as there are only nine commemorated names from the First World War period and three from the Second World War that are named on the memorial.

After gathering information from various sources the project was put on the "back burner" due to work commitments and my researching of other areas of the Great War. I have stood before the graves and memorials of some of the men named on Providence Chapel Memorial both in France and Belgium.

Whilst studying the battlefields of the former Western Front and Ypres Salient I have seen the very ground where they fought and fell. This will always be an ongoing and updated site as new information and photos are added. I hope that in some way this site is a worthy memory to those who gave their lives in all conflicts and were indeed sons of Providence.

Contact: if you have information, photographs or corrections to share, please send a message or email dav.drew@sky.com.