Littleborough soldiers who fell 100 years ago in April 1916

Private Herbert Cockcroft

Herbert was born in Littleborough in late 1876 and in 1881 he lived with his family at 180 Hare Hill Lane (Road?). He attended Littleborough Parish Church Sunday and day schools.

By 1891 they had moved to 112 Hare Hill Road with Herbert employed as a bookbinder and 1901 the family had moved again to 60 Victoria Street.

Come 1911 they had moved to 4 Greenwood Place Littleborough. Herbert was by then a partner in the firm of William Cockcroft, Candle Manufacturers, Smithy Bridge, which also employed his brothers

By the 6 May 1916, Mr Henry Cockcroft and Mrs Hannah 14 Smithy Bridge Road had been officially informed that their son Private 21277 Harold Cockcroft 6th Batt Loyal North Lancashire Regiment had been killed in the Persian Gulf (Mesopotamia) on Wednesday 5 April 1916.

Private Cockcroft enlisted in June 1915 and went to the front (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) in November 1915, his name on the Cenotaph in Littleborough, Littleborough Central School Memorial (now in the History Centre), Holy Trinity War Memorial and on Panel 27 Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Private William Henry Charmer

William was born in Ludlow in early 1899 (First Qtr) living there with his family in 1901.

By 1911 the family had moved to Galacre near Liverpool and he again lived in Shropshire before coming to live in Shore in 1914.

He attended St Barnabas Church and was a Scutcher in Wardle Mill.

Private Charmer enlisted in February 1915 and went to France in July of the same year.

Private 19198 William Henry Charmer, 1st Bn East Lancashire Regiment was wounded in the head by shrapnel on the 3 April 1916 and died in hospital on Friday 7th April 1916. From the 18  March 1916 until the 22 April 1916 his Regiment was in the front line and support trenches at Fonquevillers. Private Charmer was wounded during German routine of shelling British positions, it was during this period that steel helmets were issued to all ranks.

He is buried in Grave Number I E 9 Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1. Somme, France.

By weekending Saturday 29 April 1916 Mrs Charmer, Lake View, Shore had received news of death from wounds of her 17-year-old son.

In a letter to Mrs Charmer, his friend Private T Talbot of the same regiment said “I was just by the side of him at the time he got hit. We were all working in the front line trench and we were only about 200 yards from the Germans when a rifle grenade came over and burst just over him and two other lads. We picked them up right away and took them to the dressing station. Your son was unconscious all the time. He had two wounds in his head. All the boys here are very sorry indeed to have lost him, as he was a general favourite on account of being so young. He was a brave lad and always ready to do his duty.”

Sergeant Page of the same regiment also wrote a letter of sympathy to Mrs Charmer and in it he wrote “that her son was great favourite in the company”.

The St Barnabas Parish Magazine reported "Memorial and Funeral services were held in the Parish church on 30 April. The funeral service took place at 10:30 am for Pte W H Charmer of the East Lancashire’s. The large congregation was evidence of the sympathy felt for the surviving relatives. RIP”.

Private Charmer’s name is on the St Barnabas War Memorial and is also inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph.

Private Fred Howard

Born in Littleborough late summer/early autumn 1893 and in 1901 the family were living at 7 Newall Street.

Private Howard attended Littleborough Parish Church day and Sunday school.

In 1911 Fred (a cotton weaver) lived at 6 Ealees with Alice, his widowed mum, Elizabeth and sister Beatrice.

Private Howard later lived with his married sister Mrs J Woolfenden, 2 Spencer Street, Halifax Road.

Prior to enlisting in Manchester in November 1914 he was a weaver at Messrs Fothergill and Harvey, Rock Nook Mill. P

Private Howard went to the front on the 28 January 1916 but only three months later by weekending Saturday 29 April 1916 Mrs Howard of Southport (War Graves Commission gives he was brother to Elizabeth Howard, 67 Wennington Road, Southport) had been informed that her 23-year-old son Private 21599 Fred Howard, 23rd Bn Manchester Regiment had been killed in France. His death occurred in hospital in France on Tuesday 18 April 1916 two days after he was badly wounded when in a dug-out he was in was hit by a shell.

Mrs Howard received two letters, one from Lieutenant Royle of the Manchesters and another from Sergeant Wray also of the Manchesters.

In his letter Lieutenant Royle said: “Private Howard was a hard working lad, never once gave any trouble and was well liked by the men of his platoon.”

Sergeant Wray in his letter of sympathy wrote: “He was very brave throughout all, and the doctor said he didn’t think a man could keep up his spirit after being so badly wounded.

"I personally saw him buried in a cemetery close to the firing line.

"I may say he was well liked by his chums in number two platoon.

"I as his sergeant found him a very good soldier.”

His name is on the Littleborough Parish Church (Holy Trinity) War Memorial, the Oddfellows, Lodge 3397, Roll of Honour – Voluntary Section and also on the Cenotaph in Littleborough. He is buried in Grave Number VI Q 17 Merville Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. His name also commemorated on the family grave in St James’s Churchyard.

Private Frank Lee

Born in Littleborough during late spring/early summer 1893 and lived with his family at 6 Ealees Road, Littleborough when the 1901 census was taken.

As a boy he attended Littleborough Parish Church day and Sunday schools.

By 1911 the family had moved to 16 Ealees Road and Frank was shown as a fulling miller.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale on the 5 January 1916 he had for a short time been a carter at Sladen Mill and later a Flannel Finisher at Rakewood Mill.

Private Lee went to the front in April 1916 but just a month later on Thursday 4 May 1916 Mr and Mrs Lee, who still resided at 16 Ealees Road, received a letter informing them that their 23-year-old son, Private S/13855 Frank Lee, of the 8th Bn Gordon Highlanders, had been killed in action on Saturday 29 April 1916.

The writer of the letter, the Reverend O. B. Milligan, army chaplain said in the letter: "Your son was shot in the body when out with a working party and he died in the ambulance dressing station about two hours later.

"We buried him today in the military cemetery behind the position we now occupy and a cross will be erected on his grave as soon as practicable.

"Your son’s platoon was able to attend the funeral and the company piper played a lament after the burial.”

The chaplain expressed deep sympathy.

He is buried in Grave Number II. B. 21. London Rifle Brigade Cemetery Ploegsteert, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

On Wednesday (the day before his death) Mrs Lee had received a letter from her son in which he had told her he was all right.

A sentiment published in the Roll of Honour column of the Rochdale Observer was inserted by “His Sweetheart Elsie”.

On Sunday the 7 May 1916 the Reverend Gaskell conducted a service at the Littleborough Parish Church in memory of Pte Cockcroft, Pte Lee and Pte F. Howard members of the Littleborough Volunteer Force and the Church Lads Brigade attended the service.

Pte Lee's name is on the Holy Trinity War Memorial, the Oddfellows, Lodge 3397, Roll of Honour – Voluntary Section and also inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph.