Soldiers from Littleborough who fell in May 1916

Captain Leonard Renshaw

Leonard was born in Rochdale late 1887, the son of a Drake Street dentist.

By 1911 the family had moved to Brotherod Hall with his father now a dental surgeon.

Privately educated, Leonard matriculated at London University and after a term as a bank clerk with the Lancaster and Yorkshire Bank, he left to study for the dental profession.

He was a well-known and active member of the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club since joining in 1907.

Entering university just as war broke out, he was one of the earliest to join the University Training Corps later becoming a 2nd Lieutenant with 3rd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

He was married on 12 October 1915 to Miss Beatrice Clegg and after a few days’ honeymoon in the South of England, rejoined his regiment at Salisbury.

His regiment was soon ordered to the front where he was promoted to captain.

He left the trenches early April 1916 for special duty and only returned to the trenches in May 1916.

Leonard’s wife and parents were expecting him home on leave on 13 May 1916 but unfortunately 29-year-old Captain L Renshaw 3rd Bn Manchester Regiment was killed in action on 13 May 1916.

Leonard’s widow, Beatrice, received a letter from the officer commanding the Manchester Regiment, it said: “I am very, very sorry to have to write to you to say that Captain Renshaw was killed in action at 1.10 a.m. on the 13 inst. The Germans opened an intense bombardment of our trenches at 1 a.m. and it lasted for half an hour. Your husband was killed in his dug-out by a shell of large calibre which struck the roof and blew it in. Two other officers were in the dug-out at the time, both Manchester men. One received shell-shock the other was wounded in the arm”. He added: “I intended sending him on leave on the 20th inst. It is all very sad, and we are all very sorry for you."

A local sergeant on home leave who was in the vicinity of Captain Renshaw’s dug-out when the bombardment took place says the captain was “killed instantly”. His body was taken to the village church and there awaited internment, which took place on Sunday as stated.

Captain Renshaw is buried in grave G15 in the Suzanne Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. The Rochdale Observer for 27 May 1915 recorded that a fairly large congregation attended a Memorial Service held at Castlemere United Methodist Church, Rochdale, on Thursday evening 25 May 1916.

Captain Renshaw is remembered on the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club’s War Memorial plaque and is recorded within the club’s Minute Book. His wife Beatrice later lived at Heswell villa, Marine Drive, Rhos on Sea.

Private Rowland (Roland) Gaukroger

Roland was born in Littleborough in late spring 1883 to James and Louisa Gaukroger. By 1911, Roland a Woollen Warehouseman (one of 5 children) and his sister Edith were living with their widowed mother at 5 Halifax Road, Littleborough.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale in May 1915 Rowland was a flannelette worker at Sladen Mill.

On Sunday 21 May 1916 Ms Gaukroger of 10 Joseph Street received information that Private 27075 Rowland Gaukroger, 13th Bn, Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun Section) had been killed in action on Sunday 14 May 1916. The information of his death was contained in a letter to his mother by the commanding officer of Private Gaukroger’s Battalion which said: “I trust that you and your family will find consolation in the knowledge that your son died for his country, than which no end to any life is more noble”

Private Gaukroger had a brother Private John William Gaukroger also of the Cheshire Regiment who had been killed in action in November 1914, the death of another son a double blow to Mrs Gaukroger.

Private Rowland Gaukroger’s name inscribed on Littleborough Cenotaph and on the War Memorial of the Littleborough Parish Church (Holy Trinity) and on Bay 5 and 6 Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

The Rochdale Observer for 26 July 1916 reported that a service was held on Sunday Eve in the Holy Trinity church for Privates Roland Gaukroger, Frank Ridings, Tom May, and William Clement Marsh, conducted by Rev A F Gaskell. The ‘Dead March’ and the ‘Last Post’ was played by the Church Lads Brigade.

Lance Corporal James Robert Chadwick 

James was born around 1878, and lived in the Wuerdle (Wardle) area.

Military Attestation papers dated 22 June 1896 indicate that James Robert Chadwick was born in Littleborough, resided at 24 Peel Street, Littleborough, worked for C Cleggs and that he enlisted in Lancashire Fusiliers for 5 years.

On 2 September 1896 he signed a Short Service Attestation for seven years with the Lancashire Fusiliers. On this form he confirms that he was born in Littleborough, his trade as a weaver and his age as 18 years 8 months. The 1911 census shows James as a postman married to Hilda (23, nee Laycock of Leeds) together with their two sons, both born in Littleborough. The couple were married in 1908 and were living at 12 Duke Street, Littleborough.

The Rochdale Observer for 10 June 1916 notes: “A Rochdale postman missing – news has been received that a Rochdale postman, Lance-Corporal James Robert Chadwick (36) of the Post Office Rifles (a City of London Regiment) is missing."

On 18 May he wrote to his wife who was now residing with her sister-in-law, Mrs Kershaw at the Rochdale Union Offices, Townhead that “he was just going into the trenches”. The official communication stated that ”he was posted as missing after an engagement on 21 May. 37-year-old L/Cpl James Robert Chadwick, 371597, 1/8th London Regiment (PO Rifles) was killed on 21 May 1916 and his name is recorded on Bay 10 of the Arras Memorial in France.

The Rochdale Observer for 14 March 1917 noted “Lance-Corporal J R Chadwick – Official intimation has now been received by Mrs Chadwick that her husband, L/Cpl James Robert Chadwick of the City of London Regiment, who was reported missing on 21 May last, is now reported dead. He was 37 years of age, joined the forces on 20 May 1915 and went to the front in January 1916.”

This edition of the paper included under ‘Roll of Honour’ three entries which confirm his address as late of 28 Ernest Terrace and aged 37; one from his loving wife and two sons, from his loving mother, sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Jack of 45 Rock Nook, Summit and also from his loving sister and brother-in-law Mary Ellen and Sam (serving in HM Forces), Union Offices, Rochdale.

There is some confusion in records as to where he was born but from his army records it is clear that James was born in Littleborough or very close to the border in Wuerdle.