Soldiers from Littleborough who fell in July 1916

Corporal Harry Bailey - 2nd Bn East Lancashire Regiment

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Contalmaison 7 July 1916

Unsuccessful attack and although some reached the ruined village the Germans successfully counter attacked. One Littleborough solder fell in the attack and it is believed two further soldiers were injured. Corporal Harry Bailey later died of his wounds.

Corporal Harry Bailey - 2nd Bn East Lancashire Regiment

Harry was born in Littleborough in autumn/winter 1890 4th Qtr and in 1891 was living at 2 Maden Square, Todmorden Road, Littleborough with his parents William and Elizabeth Ann Bailey who came from Cheshire.

By 1901 the family had moved to 32a, Pott Street, Manchester with William employed as a market porter. By 1911 Harry had been married for 1 year to Ada and was living at 12 Vivian Street, Ancoats, Manchester, with their 10 month old daughter and was employed as a packer. Prior to enlisting in Manchester, Harry was employed by Messrs McConnell of Droylesden.

His wife was later living at 30 Broughton Street, Ancoats. 28 year old Corporal 19389 Harry Bailey died of wounds on Friday 4 August 1916 received “during a bombing raid during the attack on Contalmaison”, his body interred in Grave Number V H 2 Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Cpl Bailey was remembered within the Roll of Honour of the Manchester Evening News for 29 August 1916 by his parents William and Elizabeth

Heburturne 4 August 1916

The 10th Bn Rifle Brigade were on the Front line near Hubertine during which time one Littleborough Soldier was killed.

Rifleman Harold Walker - 10th Bn Rifle Brigade

Harold was born in Littleborough in late summer/early autumn 1892 in 1901 was living with his family at 93 Summit.

His father Thomas was a Coal Hewer (miner). By 1911 the family had moved to 104 Todmorden Rd, Summit and Harold was a Bobbin Carrier and his father was now a Velvet Dyer Labourer.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale on 2 November 1914 he attended St James (Calderbrook) day and Sunday schools and was employed by the Littleborough Dyeing Company, Calderbrook.

Rifleman Walker went to the front on the 6 June 1915.

On Sunday 13 August 1916 his parents at 96 Todmorden Road received a letter dated 7 August 1916 written by Rifleman Fred Whatmough of the Moorcock Inn, Blackstone Edge Road.

The letter contained unofficial information that their Littleborough born son, 22-year-old Rifleman S/5454 Harold Walker, “C” Coy. (The Prince Consort’s Own) had been killed adding “That their son was looked upon by the members of his platoon as one of the best lads. He and five more soldiers were killed together in the trenches".

The letter concluded with an expression of sympathy from all in the platoon. Private Harold Walker's name is on St James’s Calderbrook Church Roll of Honour and War Memorial and the Littleborough Cenotaph. Private Walker is buried in Grave Number I B 3 Hebuterne Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Rifleman Walker had four brothers in the army including Private Tom Walker who died in 1917.

Henencourt wood – 7 August 1916

Rifleman Stanley Lord Yates - 2nd Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Stanley was born in Littleborough late 1896 and by 1911 he was employed a shop assistant living with his family at 3 Queen's Street, Littleborough.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale on 20 March 1916, he was an assistant at the Caldermoor Branch of the Littleborough Co-operative Society and attended Littleborough Parish Church and school.

19 year old Rifleman R/20235 Stanley Lord Yates killed in action on the 7 August 1916 near Henencourt Wood and is buried in Grave Number B2, Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, France. The Rochdale Observer for 23 August 1916 reported that he went to the front six weeks ago.

It added that a Rifleman J Stott of Fitton St, Rochdale sent news that Rifleman Yates was killed on 6 August and was buried in a cemetery behind the firing line.

In a letter to his parents, John Edward and Alice Yates, then living at 6 Wellington Street, Rifleman Warner of the same battalion said, "That he had been buried in a cemetery behind the lines" Rifleman Yates is remembered on Littleborough Cenotaph, Holy Trinity War Memorial and on the Littleborough Central School Roll of Honour now located in the History Centre.

His parents lived next door to the parents of Rifleman F. P. Kay, killed in action on the 21 March 1918.