Battles of the Somme - October 1916 Littleborough and Wardle soldiers who fell

Private Percival (Percy) Hutton

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Private Percival (Percy) Hutton

Percy was born in Rochdale in 1890 where he lived with his parents at 19 Whatmough Street with his father being a grocer.

By 1911 the family continued with their business in Whatmough Street but Percival was recorded as a solicitor’s clerk having been employed by Messrs Standring, Taylor solicitors since he was 14-years-old.

Percy became a voluntary 'Licensed Lay Preacher' at St Andrew’s Church and was later associated in various roles at St Clement’s Church, Castleton, Smithy Bridge Mission, St Peter’s Church, Newbold and their Sunday School and at St Edward’s Mission Church, Castleton.

He joined the forces on 2 March 1916 and went to the front in July 1916. Only three months later 26-year-old Private PS/10931 Percival Hutton, 9th Batt Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was killed in action on 7 October 1916 as his battalion attacked Bayonet Trench, Gueudecourt.

He has no known grave with his name inscribed on Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A of the Thiepval Memorial.

Private Hutton’s officer in a letter said: “That he had been with him since he had been on active service and had felt his death very keenly. He was killed by a German shell in a trench on the Somme front and his body was recovered and buried”. (As his body had been recovered and buried its location must have been lost).

His name is also recorded on the St Andrew’s Memorial Card and War Memorial.

The St Andrew’s Magazine for November 1916 noted his death recalling that “we hear that Percy Hutton who was for years ‘Licensed Lay Reader’ in this parish was killed in France. RIP”.

Private Thomas Shand

Thomas was born in Littleborough late 1878 living there with his family at 4 Handle Hall Calderbrook and later at 5 Hudson’s Passage and 1 Townsend Terrace.

By 1911 both parents had passed away and his brother John was head of the family. Thomas was in the wool trade and they had moved again to 175 Todmorden Road.

Private 38381 Thomas Shand, 8th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was killed in action as this battalion successfully took Flers Trench on 1 October 1916.

He has no known grave his name is inscribed on Pier and Face 11 C and 12 A Thiepval Memorials, Somme, France. He is also remembered on the Littleborough Cenotaph, the Victoria Street Congregational Chapel War Memorial and the Littleborough Central School Memorial (now in the History Centre).

Private Fred Roker

Fred was born in Littleborough late 1889 and in 1911 he lived with his family lived at 9 Middle Newgate with Fred employed as a Cotton Twister.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale in February 1916, Fred was employed at the Grove Dye Works.

Pte Roker went to France in July and in September 1916 the Rochdale Observer reported that Fred wrote to his sister at Middle Newgate advising of the death of Private Gartside adding “he was as true a brother to me”.

Barely three months later, 27-year-old Private 25191 Fred Roker, 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action on 12 October 1916 when his Bn left their trenches in Trones Wood to attack on le Transloy.

A letter received by his parents from Lieutenant Wells of the Lancashire Fusiliers included “Private Roker’s pals had informed him that “he was in the line waiting to attack when he was sniped through the chest just below the right shoulder. His officer Mr Fortescue, was also killed at the same time, and they were both buried by a party which went out that night”.

Pte Roker’s name is inscribed on Pier and Face 3C and 3D, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Littleborough Cenotaph and on the headstone of the family grave in St James’s (Calderbrook) Churchyard. (With his name inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial his grave must have got lost during subsequent fighting).

Fred had family at Hill Top Farm, Littleborough and his brothers were the licensees of the Rake Inn and the Queen Ann, Handle Hall.

Corporal Wilfred Stott

Wilfred was born in Rochdale in late spring and in 1911 he lived with the family at 2 Sutcliffe Street.

Wilfred was a Cotton Weaver working at Shore Mills.

He was a member of the St Barnabas Rugby Club.

Wilfred enlisted in Rochdale and he went to the front in 1915. He took part in the fighting in Gallipoli and becoming ill, he was sent to a hospital in England.

After a short furlough he returned to France in July 1916. 27 year old Corporal Wilfred Stott 9452, 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers was report as missing since an engagement on 12 October 1916 and was subsequently confirmed as having been killed in action on that date when his Bn left their trenches in Trones Wood to attack on le Transloy.

Corporal Stott is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 3C and 3D and on the Littleborough Cenotaph, Shore Mills and the Littleborough (Durn) Baptist Chapel War Memorials as well as on the Littleborough Central School War Memorial (now relocated in Littleborough’s History Centre).

Private Herbert Pilling

Herbert was born in Littleborough in early 1895 but later living at 5 Barley Holme, Rawtenstall and subsequently at 752 Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth in 1911.

Herbert was a Mule Sprinner Assistant.

He enlisted in Rochdale but 20-year-old Private 26362 Herbert Pilling, 1st Bn, East Lancashire Regiment was killed in action on the 18 October 1916 when the 11thBrigade were to attack Lesboeufs. The 1st East Lancs were held up in front of Dewdrop Trench by machine-gun fire.

His body was never recovered and he is remembered on Pier and Face 6 C Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Private Arthur Ratcliffe

Arthur was born in Smithy Bridge in early 1897 and lived with his family at 65 Smithy Bridge Rd being an errand boy in 1911.

Prior to enlisting in Rochdale on 31 March 1916 he worked at the Paragon Chemical Works, Smithy Bridge and attended Smithy Bridge United Methodist Free Church and school.

Private Ratcliffe embarked for France in July 1916 and early 1917 his parents received a letter from an officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers regarding the death of their 19-year-old son, the officer writing "I have been unable to get more details. We won three miles of German trenches that day, and your son was one of those who nobly gave their lives for our success. God comfort you".

Private 32225 Arthur Ratcliffe 11th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action on 21 October 1916 when his Bn successfully attacked Regina Trench and reached the dugouts on Stump Road and is buried in Grave Number II. C. 46 in the Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France.

There is an inscription on the family grave in Littleborough (Dearnley) Cemetery and his name is entered on St Andrew's Memorial Card (though incorrectly spelt as Radcliffe on the Memorial Card) and War Memorial and also on the Cenotaph in Littleborough.

Private William Taylor

William was born in Littleborough around 1877 and having lived with his family in various houses, come 1911, they lived at 13 Sale Street.

William was now a colour mixer. He had worked at Messrs Charles Kershaw’s Wellfield Mill, Littleborough but later moved to 194 Rochdale Road, Firgrove where he lived with his sister, Mrs Edmund Farrow.

Prior to enlisting during 1915, William worked at Messrs J & J Makin, Wallhead Mills.

Private 33534 William Taylor, 11th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers went to the front in August 1916 but only some two months later he was killed in action on 21 October 1916 when his Bn successfully attacked Regina Trench and reached the dugouts on Stump Road and is interred in Grave Number II B 30 Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France.

His name is not listed on the Cenotaph in Littleborough.

Lance Corporal Henry Augustine Watts

Henry was born in Leeds early 1895 but by 1911 he was living with his mother at 12 New Building Place, Rochdale and his occupation is shown as a flannelette raiser.

He later lived at 18 Whitelees Road, worked at Sladen Mill and attended St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Littleborough.

He enlisted in February 1915 and went to France in that year. 21-year-old Lance Corporal Harry 17886 Henry Augustine Watts 2nd Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers was killed in action on 23 October 1916 during an attack on Lesboeufs.

Although killed on the Somme but his name is inscribed on panel 44 and 46 Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

The Rochdale Observer for 1 August 1917 reported that “Official Notification has now been received that Lance Corporal Harry A Watts, a brother of Mrs McGrady, Spencer Street, Littleborough, has been killed. He had previously been reported missing since October 23rd, 1916”.

His name is inscribed on the tablets adjoining the Littleborough Cenotaph.

Private William Roland Leach

William was born late in 1890 Qtr 2 and lived at Handle Hall cottages.

His father was clerk to the Guardians of Rochdale.

Educated at Manchester Grammar School, by 1911 he was Deputy Superintendant Registrar of Birch Hill Hospital.

He was a member of the Castleton Cricket Club and enjoyed football and fishing.

The family later moved to Greenbooth House, Norden and were living there when William Roland married Miss Annie Lloyd on Thursday 28 October 1915 at St Albans Church, Castleton.

Private W R Leach 5205 20th Royal Fusiliers enlisted in Rochdale and went to the front in November 1915 but less than a year later he was severely wounded (possibly in the trenches near Meaulte) and taken to a casualty clearing station where he died of his wounds on 30 October 1916.

The Rochdale Observer of 8 November 1916 noted that his wife received news of his death from a sister at the CCS who stated he was badly injured in the thigh noting “we did all we could but he passed away yesterday. He gave us your address and sent you his love. He is laid to rest in the Grove Town Military Cemetery (Grave II D 9) and there is a cross to mark his grave. He became unconscious before the end and just slept away. I am so sorry to send you this distressing letter and wish I could soften the blow for you”.

His two brothers served in the army and all three sisters were volunteer aid detachment nurses. His name is recorded on the Rochdale Union War Memorial at Birch Hill.