BOURN

John

Lieutenant. 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. 24th Division. Killed in action 31 July 1917 - the opening day of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Age 25. Son of Margaret Bourn and the late John Bourn of Crow Trees, Bleasdale. Born 4th July 1892 in Bleasdale. Educated at Kebb College, Oxford and Manchester University. Joined Manchester University OTC and commissioned in early 1915. Gazetted Lieutenant 17th April 1916. Commemorated on the MENIN GATE MEMORIAL, Ypres. Panel 55.

BREWER

George Thomas

Driver 30470. 11th Battery, 3rd Brigade New Zealand Field Artillery. Killed in action 5th April 1918. Age 36. Eldest son of Richard and Alice Brewer of Lower Fairsnape, Bleasdale. Born 22nd August 1882 in Wyersdale. Emigrated to New Zealand sometime between 1901 and 1915. Enlisted at Featherston NZ on 21st August 1916. Employed as a farm worker at Manutahi NZ before the war. Buried in FORCE VILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot 3, Row E. Grave 11

CRAGG

John

Lance Corporal 19002. 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 1st Division. Killed in action 15th July 1916 during an attack on Bazentin le Petit Wood on the Somme. Age 23. Son of William and Mary Cragg, 14 Gregson Road, Moorlands, Lancaster. A younger brother — Private Harry Cragg (5th Kings Own Royal Lancasters) was killed in action 22.9.16. Born Caton, Lancs. Enlisted in 1914 at Bowgreave, Garstang with his friends JOHN SHAW and LUCIEN FARRAR (who also died and are commemorated on Bleasdale Memorial) and THOMAS GEORGE PARKER who survived. All have consecutive Regimental numbers. Employed by a Mr Mercer of Lower Gore, Bleasdale as a farm servant before the war. Buried in FLATIRON COPSE CEMETERY, Mametz, Somme. Plot X. Row K. Grave 8.

FARRAR

Lucien

Private 19005. 1st/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 55th Division. Died of Wounds 13th January 1918. Age 21. Son of William and Eleanor Farrar of Challan Hall Cottages, Silverdale, Carnforth, Lancs. Born Silverdale. Originally 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, Wounded at Loos on 25the September 1915 and again on the Somme on 14th July 1916, whilst with 1st Battalion. On recovery from his injury in July 1916 was transferred to 1st/4th Battalion Loyals. Captured at some point and sent to Germany as a POW, where he died in captivity of his wounds. Buried in COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY, Cologne, Germany. Plot XVI. row A. Grave 30

FLETCHER

Herman

Second Lieutenant. 7th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 19th Division. Killed in action 13th November 1916 in an attack near St Pierre Divion, during the Battle of the Ancre, on the Somme. Age 25. Son of Richard and Mary Fletcher of The Polygon, Eccles, Lancashire. Born Eccles. Educated at Manchester Grammar School. Originally enlisted into 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Public Schools Battalion) on 15th September 1914, as Private 4828, and served in France from 14th November 1915. Commissioned Pt October 1916 and posted to 7th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Before the war he was employed in the paper making business by Messrs Jacksons of Oakenclough. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 A.

HARRISON

John

No further information currently - too many possibilities.

LONGWORTH

Thomas Patrick

Sapper 66057. 106th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 9th April 1918. Age 35. Son of Robert Longworth, 172 Watsons Road, Blackpool. Husband of Mary Longworth, Spring Cottage, Bonds, Garstang. Born Blackpool. Enlisted Garstang. Resided Oakenclough. Commemorated on the TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, Belgium. Panel 8 and 162.

MALLEY

Henry

Corporal 12175. 50th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Formerly 21514 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 22nd March 1918. Age 24. Son of Jane Malley and the late William Malley of Sunny View, Oakenclough, Garstang. Born Bleasdale. Enlisted Garstang. Commemorated on the POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 90 to 93.

MASON

James

Private 34652. 3rd Battalion Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment. Died of illness during training at Plymouth on 24th October 1917. Age 22. Son of James and Isabella Mason of The Old Post Office, Caton. A brother - Private Richard Mason (13th Battalion York & Lancs Regiment) was killed in action 18.9.18. Born Caton. Enlisted Preston. Employed by his uncle - Mr Brewer, as a farm worker before the war. Buried in CATON (ST PAUL) CHURCHYARD, Caton, Lancs.

SHAW

John

Private 19003. Pt Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 1st Division. Missing presumed killed in action 18th August 1916 following an attack on High Wood during the Somme battles. Age 22. Son of Ann Shaw and the late Robert Shaw of Melling. Born Hornby. Enlisted at Garstang in 1914. Employed as a farm servant by Mr Brewer in Bleasdale. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 A.

SMITH

William

No further information currently — too many possibilities.

WILLS

William

Lance Corporal 443340. 3rd Battalion, Canadian Pioneers. 3rd Canadian Division. Died of Wounds 20th January 1917. Age 31. Son of the late James and Isabella Wills of Hazlehurst, Bleasdale. Born 10th October 1885 in Dalton in Furness. Emigrated to Canada following the death of his parents (probably after 1912), and enlisted in the Canadian forces in August 1915. Employed as a Bridgeman in Canada. Severely wounded by gun shot wounds to both legs in September 1916 and evacuated to England to a hospital in Leeds. His left leg had to be amputated and he eventually succumbed to his injuries in January 1917. Buried in BLEASDALE (ST EADMER) CHURCHYARD, Lancashire.

WINDER

Ernest Leo

Private 24716. 6th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died 20th November 1918. Age 22. Son of Ellen Winder, grandson of Mary Winder, Blindhurst, Bleasciale. Commemorated on the KIRKEE 1914-19 18 MEMORIAL, India. Face D

YATES

Roger

Private 15295. 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. Guards Division. Killed in action 9th March 1917. Age 24. Third son of John and Elizabeth Yates of Holme House, Bleasdale. Born Bleasdale. Enlisted Lancaster. Buried in SAILLYSAILLISEL BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot II. Row J. Grave 5