World War One: St Peters, Middleton Fallen Servicemen - part one

In remembrance of those who fell during World War One, Rochdale Online is sharing the stories of St Peter's Middleton Fallen Servicemen extracted from Middleton's Brave Sons published 1919.

Jim Hilton who complied the details said: “There are only 38 listed. The memorial window in St Peters Church says 110, but I have not found a roll of honour. Obviously, there are great holes in the records. There may be many more, but I have only the biographical mentions of St Peters in the entries to go on.”

Private W Beeston

Private William Beeston, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, who lived on Factory Street, Middleton.

He was connected with St Peter’s Church and was a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade.

He was only 23 years of age, and volunteered at the outbreak of the war, he went out to Egypt in September of 1914, and afterwards to France.

He received a bullet wound in the hand at the Dardanelles, and was also wounded in France during 1916.

Private William Beeston was killed in action on 3 April 1918.

Signaller A Cleland

Signaller Andrew Cleland, of the Royal Scots, lived at 56 Church Street, Middleton. Prior to enlistment Cleland worked at the C.W.S. Jam Works and belonged to St Peter’s Church and School.

Andrew Cleland was 34 years of age and joined the Army in October 1915.

He went to France in September 1916 and was three times invalided with trench fever.

Signaller Andrew Cleland was killed in action on 27 August 1918.

The late soldier’s captain wrote to the widow: “I feel I must write and express to you the heartfelt sympathy of the officers, N.C.O.’s, and men of my company in the sad death of your husband on the night of 27 August. The hut he was in was struck by a shell, and he was killed instantaneously. His death is mourned by all his comrades, with whom he was very popular.”

Lance-Corporal V Davies

Lance-Corporal V Davies, aged 24, lived at 38 Hilton Fold-lane, Middleton. He was formerly a spinner at the Don Mill, and was connected with St. Peter’s Church.

He enlisted on 15 November 1915 and served in the 15th Battalion Royal Scots. He went overseas 7 June 1916.

Lance-Corporal V Davies was killed in action on the Somme on 14 July 1916.

Private T Delaney

Private Tom Delaney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delaney, of Stocks-lane, Alkrington worked at the Lodge Mills and was connected with St Peter’s Church.

Private Tom Delaney was killed in action on 12 May 1918, whilst fighting with the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Private F Delaney

Private F Delaney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delaney, of Stocks-lane, Alkrington. He worked at the Lodge Mills and was connected with St Peter’s Church.

Private F Delaney was killed in action on 24 October 1918, he had been wounded twice previously.

Private J Fletcher

Private Joseph Fletcher, whose home address was 5 Sadler Street, Middleton, enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in October 1916, and went to the front early in 1917.

Private Joseph Fletcher died in France on 22 March 1917, from pneumonia, he was only 21 years of age.

Private D Gordon

Private D. Gordon, an ex-Lancashire Fusilier, lived on Sandy Lane, Middleton. He was an old Territorial and joined up immediately on the outbreak of war.

Prior to joining the Army, he worked for Mr S Matthews as a plumber, and was connected with St Peter’s Catholic Church.

He went to Egypt, and after seeing service was discharged with tuberculosis, from which he died at home.

Private H Holmes

Private Henry Holmes, aged 19, who lived at Pleasant Springs, Middleton. When he enlisted he was employed at Messrs. Booth’s Dyeworks, Middleton.

He was well known on the Middleton golf links as a caddie. Holmes attended St Peter’s Church and Sunday School, and was a member the St Peter’s Boys’ Brigade.

He had joined the Colours as long ago as August 1914 and had been on active service in France for about two months.

Private Henry Holmes died from gunshot wounds whilst fighting with the Lancashire Fusiliers on 9 September 1916.

Private W Hines

Private William Hines, aged 35, lived at 8 Robinson Street, Middleton, He was employed as a spinner at the Warwick Mill, and was connected with St Peter’s Church, Tonge.

He was a member of the National Reserve and was mobilised in September 1914 and joined the Lancashire Fusiliers.

He was wounded in the right hand during the Dardanelles campaign, but got over this and rejoined his battalion. The wounds from which he died were very serious.

One day in hospital he was well enough to write to his wife and family in the following terms: “You will very likely have got word that I am badly laid out. It was not such a wound at first, but when I was operated on it turned bad, and they had to operate again, and they took my leg off below the knee. So, I have finished with the Army now, and I shall get a fair pension and be able to work besides, so we shall not be badly off. I shall come to England as soon as it heals up a bit. Excuse me not writing before, for I have been in agony for a week.”

The poor fellow never recovered from his operation he died from wounds on 24 November 1917. He left behind him a widow and four daughters.

Private R A Hall

Private Robert Hall, who lived in Wood-street West, Middleton worked at Rhodes Works and was connected with St Peter’s Church and School, Middleton. He was a well-known local footballer and sprinter.

Private Robert Hall was 23 years of age and joined the Manchester Regiment ‘Pals’ in November 1914. He went to France in November 1915.

He was killed in action on 1 July 1916.

Private T Hall

Thomas Hall was the son of Mr and Mrs Hall, of Manchester Old Road, Middleton.

He was employed by the Maypole Dairy Co., at their Rochdale Road, Manchester, and Middleton branches. He was connected with St Peter’s Church, and was a popular member of their Boys’ Brigade.

Thomas Hall enlisted in November 1914 and was sent to the front in September 1915.

On 3 April 1916, Private Thomas Hall, 20 years of age, of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, was killed in action.

He had taken part in a successful charge, in which some trenches were captured, and was in the act of putting on his gas helmet when he was shot through the head by a sniper.

The chaplain wrote to say how highly this gallant soldier was respected by his comrades.

Private J Hadden

Private John Hadden lived with his parents at 5 Hornby Street, Middleton and was also closely associated with St Peter’s Church and School, having been a member of the Boys’ Brigade since its commencement. He was an esteemed and valuable member of St Peter’s Dramatic Society.

Prior to responding to his country’s call he had spent two years and-a-half at St Peter’s College, Freshfield, where he was studying with a view to afterwards becoming a priest of the Catholic Church. His entry into this college and his ambition to enter the ministry were chiefly due to the advice and influence of the late Canon Wigman, who took a great interest in this young man’s life and future.

Private John Hadden, of the Gloucester Regiment, 23 years of age, had been in the Army about two years and on active service eight months was killed on 21 August 1917.

A letter from his officer to the parents stated: “He was killed by an enemy sniper whilst engaged in repelling a counter attack. His death was instantaneous.

“His behaviour during the attack and on all occasions was worthy of the highest praise - it had always been that of a perfect gentleman and of a British soldier. He was undoubtedly the best liked and most respected fellow in my platoon, a man in whom we had the greatest confidence.

“We are all deeply affected by his death, and I beg to offer you my heartfelt sympathy, also that of all his comrades, in your sad bereavement. I am glad to say that we were able to carry him out of the line, and he was buried with due military ceremony by our chaplain in a village close behind.”

Private F Hussey

Private Fred Hussey, 20 years of age, enlisted in December 1915 and went to the front in August 1916. He was previously employed as a piecer at the Townley Mill and was connected with St Peter’s Church and Boys’ Brigade.

Private Fred Hussey, of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, died in France on 28 April 1917 having been reported wounded and missing the same month.

Private H Hosey

Harry Hosey was an orphan and lived at 6 Marsh Row, Middleton, he was employed on the croft at Schwabe’s Works. He attended St. Peter’s Church and School, Middleton, and was a drummer in the Boys’ Brigade.

He enlisted in May 1915 and went to France in January 1917.

Private Harry Hosey, aged 20, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in France on 29 May 1917.

His sister received a letter from Private P. Ashton, in which he said: “It may comfort you to know that he suffered no pain, as he was killed instantaneously by the explosion of a shell near his billet behind the lines.

“I am the only other Middleton lad in the same platoon, and we were great friends. He was greatly respected by all who knew him, being always cheerful in all kinds of difficulty, and he will be greatly missed.

“Please accept the sympathy of all the officers and men, and may God comfort you in your hours of sorrow.”

Private F. York wrote: “Your brother was killed about 6pm. We were not in the trenches at the time, but in reserve billets, which the Germans were shelling heavily, and he was killed with a piece of shrapnel. His death is a great loss to the company and to myself who had been a great chum of his for the last twelve months.”

The captain of the company wrote: “He was a most trustworthy soldier and did his duty in a way which many might copy to their advantage. The night before he was killed I took him as my personal bodyguard up to the trenches and had quite a long talk with him. He was an intelligent man and one to be trusted. I was very sorry when I was informed he had been killed by a shell. I went to see him at the spot where he fell and found that his death was instantaneous, and he had no suffering at all.

“You have the satisfaction of knowing he has made the greatest sacrifice a man can make for his King and country, and his name will be honoured by me and by all his fellow soldiers and by all men.”

Private E Hosey
Private Edward Hosey, aged 22 of 3 Foundry Street, Middleton, was employed at Rhodes Works and later still by Messrs. Mather, Ormesher and Co. He enlisted on 5 July 1915, going to the front on 22 October of the same year. He attended St Peter’s Church, Middleton, and was a member of the Boys’ Brigade.

Private Edward Hosey was killed in 1917 whilst fighting in France with the West Yorkshire Regiment.

Private G Jump

Private Gilbert Jump, aged 30, resided at Wade Street, Middleton Junction, worked in an insurance office in Manchester and was actively connected with St Peter’s Church and School, Middleton, where he was a member of the choir.

He was connected with the Middleton Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Private Gilbert Jump of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment died on 23 May 1918 as the result of wounds received in action the previous day. He left a widow and two children.

Private W Kay

Private Walter Kay, aged 22, of 52 Assheton Street, Middleton was employed at Howarth’s Paper Mill in Fielding Street and enlisted early in 1916. He attended St. Peter’s Church, Middleton.

Private Walter Kay was killed in action in the early part of 1917.

Private E Kenny

Private Ernest Kenny, aged 24, lived at 6 Whittaker Street, Middleton and was employed by R. K. Lee and Co. He was brought up in connection with St Peter’s Church, Middleton, and was formerly a member of the C.L.B.

He enlisted in September 1914. Early in 1915 he proceeded to Egypt, then to the Dardanelles, and afterwards to France. In March 1918, he received shrapnel wounds in the neck, and came to England for recuperation, returning to France on 5 July.

Private Ernest Kenny of the Lancashire Fusiliers was killed whilst fighting in France in 1918.

Private James Keary

Private James Keary, 28 years of age, lived at 17 John Street, Middleton he was a minder at the Rex Mill, and connected with St. Peter’s Church, Tonge.

He enlisted on 4 September 1914, and was in the Dardanelles fighting before coming home suffering from enteric. He then returned to Egypt and was afterwards drafted to France.

Private James Keary, of the Lancashire Fusiliers was reported missing on 6 September 1917 and was subsequently officially reported killed in France on that date.

Sergeant J Keefe

Sergeant James Keefe, resided at Old Hall Street, he worked in the colour shop at Rhodes Works and was connected with St Peter’s Church where he was captain of the Boys’ Brigade.

When a young man he was in the Royal Field Artillery and fought through the Boer War.

At the outbreak of war he was 50 years of age but enlisted right away and was posted to the Lancashire Fusiliers.

He was afterwards transferred to the Labour Battalion, and contracted a severe cold, which culminated in pneumonia during leave.

Sergeant James Keefe, of the Labour Battalion, died on 20 May 1918.

A very impressive funeral was conducted by the Rev. Father Hanrahan.