Soldiers who were members of The Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club who fell before May 1916

Rifleman Frank Vernon
Frank, born in Birkenhead around 1891, moved to the Rochdale area and was employed by London City and Midland Bank at Rochdale. Frank was a finely built young fellow with a strong leaning to athletics being a prominent member of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club.

Frank became a naval volunteer but having failed the eyesight colour test he enlisted into the 9th County of London Territorials (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) and went to the front in October 1914.

In his last letter home (dated 31 January 1915) he wrote: “Although being wet and cold in the trenches is not pleasant the risk and certain excitement have a charm which counteracts the evil effects. We shall be glad however of warmer weather because one cannot get frostbite in summer. It seems a fairly well-known fact that if the Bavarians are in the firing line very few shots are fired from the German Lines and rumour states that when the Prussians are relieving the Bavarians they put up a signal so that the Prussians can be shelled. Of course I give you this information for what it is worth but I do know that the Bavarians in front of us have been quiet for now.”

Rifleman Frank Vernon 2512, 9th County of London Territorials (Queen Victoria’s Riffles), died of wounds on 7 February 1915 and is buried in Grave H13 at Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

In an article the Rochdale Observer dated 17 February 1915 reported that “he was wounded in the Abdomen and died in hospital” adding “he had an iron nerve and went through all the rigours of the winter campaign at the front without complaint and in the regular work of fighting he knew no fear. His death is widely regretted in Rochdale where he was well known and greatly liked."

Three days later the paper reported that “Mr and Mrs Frank Vernon of Liverpool desire to thanks all who sent letters sympathising with them in their loss of their eldest son Frank. He did his duty."

In an entry in the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club minute book for February 1915 is the following entry “In Memoriam – PRIVATE F. VERNON - Mr Frank Vernon joined the club in 1912. A big fine fellow – he was a useful man in a crew. His best year was 1913, (details included). His removal to London enabled him to join a rowing club down there and he was successful in winning a prize there. His tragic end came as a big shock to his fellow members of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club.”

In a letter from his corporal to one of our members he said “Vernon and a Sergeant went out one night trying to shoot a German sniper who had already shot a few men it was thought he was in a farmhouse but on getting there no trace could be found, they went on and came to the German entanglements the Germans now opened fire the Sergeant was immediately killed. Vernon was shot the bullet striking the knife in his pocket. Unfortunately, the knife did not deflect the bullet, the bullet instead drove the knife into his body and inflicted a terrible wound. Death took place a few days later. He lies buried in a cemetery somewhere in Belgium. He did his duty.” Rifleman Frank Vernon is remembered on the Hollingworth Lake War Memorial.

2nd Corporal Philip James Adamson
Philip was born in Wuerdle, Rochdale late 1887. Philip trained for the profession of Electrical Engineer and worked in the electric lighting stations at Radcliffe and Middleton.

On returning to Rochdale, he joined his brother in the Ohm Electrical Works, Yorkshire Street. Philip was a member of the Milton Congregational Church and taught at their Sunday School whilst his father was a deacon at Smallbridge Congregational Church.

He was also a member of the Hollingworth Lake Rowing club.

When war broke out he enlisted in the Lancashire Section of the Royal Engineers and then went direct to Gallipoli and was one of the last to leave Cape Helles for Lemnos. He later transferred to Egypt where he was engaged in fixing telegraph apparatus on a Cairo railway line.

He was discharging this duty when 28-year-old 2nd Corporal Philip James Adamson 58544 Royal engineers 21st Airline Section was accidentally killed on 10 February 1916 whilst working on the railway at Cairo. He was buried in grave D306 in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.

The circumstances of his death were described in a letter from Lieutenant H Parker to his parents in which he advised that it was his painful duty to inform them of their son’s death “at a hospital in Cairo from injuries received whilst working. The work that he was doing was close to the railway line and by some unfortunate means your son was on the line and did not hear a train approaching. He sustained injuries to his head and never recovered consciousness. These are the only details I can give you, an enquiry will be held.” He offered his parents his sympathies adding that their son’s death had "cast a gloom over all his comrades amongst whom he was always popular.”

Lieutenant Parker advised that Cpl Adamson had come through the dangers of the Peninsular and on hearing of the accident had hastened to the hospital but was too late. He also added that “I have lost a splendid soldier whose position can never be filled by so fine a sample of a man who in this awful war came out to do his ‘bit’ and to the very last did it”. He finally advised his parents that the men under his command had expressed their sympathies. Lieutenant L K Hett in the course of a letter to Mr and Mrs Adamson advised that “their son was struck by part of an approaching train receiving a deep wound behind the right ear. This rendered him unconscious and he was removed to hospital at Cairo where he received every attention but died without regaining consciousness."

His funeral took place in the British Military Cemetery with full Military Honours”. Lt Hett added that that the deceased was “a perfect specimen of manhood and beloved by all his comrades”. The letter enclosed a sketch of the memorial which it is proposed for Corporal Adamson’s grave. A further letter of sympathy was sent by Rev Edwin B Rawcliffe, senior Presbyterian Minister who conducted the burial service. Expressions of sympathy were made at both congregational churches that Cpl Philip Adamson and his father attended.

The death of Philip Adamson came as a big shock to the members of the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club which he joined in 1911. The minute book notes that James was a fine built young man, quiet and unassuming in nature but a fine character who was popular with the members. There is a J Adamson on the Wardle War Memorial and 2nd Corporal Philip James Adamson is remembered on the Hollingworth Lake War Memorial.

Captain Frank Marshall
Frank was born in Todmorden in late spring 1884. He lost both parents by 1900 and some 11 years later Frank was a draughtsman lodging with Charles Henry Greenlees, a Master Farrier and his family, at 2 Der Street Todmorden. Frank served his time as an apprentice at Sandholme Ironworks and completed his education at the Todmorden Secondary School and was a draughtsman with Simons, Manchester, milling engineers. He was also engaged in science teaching two evenings a week at Sowerby Bridge.

He was a member of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club which he joined in 1908 and was a successful member. After July 1910 he often coached other crews while training. Before going to Manchester Frank had served about 4 ½ years with the Todmorden Volunteers, and on joining the Public Schools Battalion, soon after the outbreak of war, was put in charge of a section acting practically as a commissioned officer. Initially given the rank of Sergeant he was commissioned as First Lieutenant with the Oldham Pals.

After training at Chadderton and Llanfairfechan, the Battalion went to Grantham, where on 2 June last he was promoted to the rank of Junior Captain. At Grantham, after being made Captain, he was elected president of the Regimental Institute, a position which he occupied at the time of his death. His Battalion crossed to France on 5 November 1915 and whilst there he was promoted to the rank of Senior Captain.

He was in Todmorden earlier in 1916 whilst on leave.

Captain Frank Marshall, 24 Battalion Manchester Regiment (Oldham Pals) was killed in action on 17 March 1916 and his buried in Grave B19 Meaulte Military Cemetery. The sad news was received by Captain Marshall’s fiancée, Miss Langstreth, daughter of Mr J H Langstreth, of Byrom Street in Todmorden about 9.30 on Tuesday. The letter was from the late captain’s orderly, simply stating that Captain Marshall was killed on Friday last, and that his body had been taken to the village where he had been billeted for burial.

On the very day he died, he had written to Miss Langstreth and Mrs Frank Crabtree, of Byrom Street, the latter being in reference to a suggested gift of socks to some of his men from the Bridge Street Guild.

A brother officer wrote “At the time of his death he was directing a working party in the front line, encouraging them, as he always did, by doing some of the work himself”. The Todmorden Advertiser 31 March 1916 reported that last Sunday morning a very impressive Memorial service was held for the late Captain Frank Marshall, Todmorden, was held at Bridge Street U.M. Church. There was a large congregation.

The Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club minute book for 1916 recorded: “It is a painful duty to record the death of one of our members, but to record the death of Capt. F. Marshall so soon after that of Cpl. Adamson brings home to us as a club how very terrible is war. For we as a club of 60-70 members have now lost three.” Captain Frank Marshall is remembered on the Hollingworth Lake War Memorial.

Sous-Lieutenant Louis Lailavoix
Louis Lailavoix was born on 1 July 1882 and lived in the hamlet of St. Rambert-en-Bugey (Ain), (Southern France) later moving with the family to rue du Rome, Paris (17th arrondissement). Louis was educated at Lycée Condorcet and the Sorbonne and later underwent national service during 1902. Louis later continued his studies at the University of London and was awarded an MA degree.

24-year-old Louis got married in Hastings during September 1906 to Caroline Mary Dare (49) a daughter of missionaries who already had several children from her first marriage, two being older than Louis. The couple, ostensibly minus the children, (the youngest being about 10 years old at the time) emigrated to Canada arriving in Quebec aboard the SS Empress of Ireland. They travelled across the continent and bought a parcel of land in Okanagan in British Columbia on 19 December 1906. There was some local speculation about them at the time of their arrival as a contemporary account indicates. ‘An air of mystery surrounded this suave young Frenchman, with his imperial beard and moustache, as he had no knowledge of farming or fruit growing. It seemed that there was no apparent motive for settling in this somewhat remote area of Western Canada, unless he was seeking a hideout’.

During that same winter his wife died, the doctor certifying as alcohol poisoning although the local press noted a heart attack. Her will left a reputedly substantial estate entirely to her husband, although this was subsequently and successfully challenged by some of her children. It is believed that he returned to France in 1907 a year later.

During 1908 in Paddington he married Elizabeth Harnett, a 26-year-old Irishwoman from Glin, Limerick. By 1911 they lived in a residential hotel in Upper Bedford Place in Bloomsbury, London. Louis’ occupation was listed as author and in 1909 he had published La Farce de Paquin Fils. A Play for Children and Contes de ma jeunesse. Upsala les trois étapes. The Scotsman noted in February 1910 that it was furnished with notes and vocabularies. In July 1911 the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligence reported his appointment as ‘Junior Lecturer in French at the University of Manchester. He now holds the position of Lecturer at Queens College, London’.

Highly regarded by his employers, he enhanced his reputation by translating a key study, Geoffrey Chaucer by Émile Legouis, into English as reported by The Scotsman in 1912 and 1913. He was subsequently promoted to Lecturer under Prof Leon Kastner and pioneered a scheme for honours students in French at Manchester to spend a summer term in France, studying at the University of Caen.

Perhaps through knowing a member he was elected as a ‘country’ member in the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club in July 1913 with records showing him as residing in Oxford Road, Manchester. In 1914, he was recalled to the colours as a private in the 79th Infantry Regiment and promoted to Sous-Lieutenant in 1915.

On 10 April 1916 Sous-Lieutenant Louis Lailavoix 79th Infantry Regiment was killed in action at Malancourt (Meuse) during the battle for Verdun. He left behind a widow and two young children, Louis, born in December 1914 and Austin, born Spring 1916. While this suggests he was able to return to England on leave, it is highly unlikely that he ever saw his second son.

His death was reported in a number of newspapers including the Manchester Guardian, Manchester Evening News (MEN) and Yorkshire post and Leeds Intelligence on 27 April 1916 as well as in the Rochdale Observer. On the 28 April 1916, the MEN included Monsieur L Lailavoix in its Roll of Honour. His loss was keenly felt in the University, where he was one of four academic staff members who lost their lives in the Great War. The university gave practical expression in the form of a fund to help his widow and children, which raised several hundred pounds.

Though a soldier in the French Army, the name of Louis Lailavoix was nevertheless included on the memorials to the fallen at the University of Manchester and at Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club and thus claimed by both nations as one of their own in the Great War.