Private 18402, 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Born and resident Radcliffe, enlisted Manchester. Born on 14th January 1889 at 25 School Street, Radcliffe, Lancashire. He was the 3rd son of Charles Henry Bleakley & Alice Bradbury who married 31st December 1879 at St Thomas s Church, Radcliffe. He enlisted on 9th January 1915 and had been on active service in France since May 9th 1915. His mother Alice passed away 4 years before he enlisted. Prior to enlisting he was in the employ of Messrs J.B Lomax & Sons, Radcliffe. He was also a member of The Young Men's Class at The Congregational Sunday School and along with his brother was at one time associated with the football & cricket clubs. He had attended both the day school & the Sunday school. Mentioned on the Memorial plaque in St Thomas s church, Radcliffe and also in Bury and District soldiers' Memorial book section 1916 and The Times. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 6 C.

Photographs Copyright © Julie Gladwin 2012

Also commemorated on a family grave in Radcliffe Cemetery, Greater Manchester.

either Private 15032, 6th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). Killed in action in Mesopotamia 6 August 1915. Aged 25. Born Radcliffe, enlisted Manchester. Son of John and Sarah Brown, of Chapelfield, Radcliffe, Manchester. Buried in BEACH CEMETERY, ANZAC, Turkey (including Gallipoli). Plot II. Row G. Grave 14.

or Lance Corporal 20273, 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Killed in action 15 July 1916. Aged 35. Born Radcliffe, enlisted Manchester, resident Bury. Son of Henry and Catherine Brown, of Ivy Cottage, Baldingstone, Bury, Lancs; husband of Florence Floyd (formerly Brown), of "Home Acre", Windsor Avenue, Anchorsholme, Blackpool. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 13 A and 14 C.

Sergeant 294, 26th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Killed in action 9 February 1917. Aged 25. Born West Derby near Liverpool. Son of John and Mary Ellen Clarke, of 318, Ainsworth Rd., Black Lane, Radcliffe, Manchester. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). Farm Hand by trade. Educated at St. John's School, Knotty Ash, Lverpool. Emigrated aged 21 years. Unmarried. Religious denomination Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Australian Roll of Honour circular

DCM citation London Gazette 26 September 1916, page 9445 at position 6.

Unit	Regtl. No.	Rank and Name	Action for which recommended	Recommended by	Honour or Reward
28th.Battalion A. I. F.	294	Corporal Richard CLARKE.	On the morning of the 5th. August, 1916, during the attack on POZIERES RIDGE he took. out a party of 8 men to meet an enemy Bombing Party of 20 men. By his fearless and confident demeanour he secured the upper-hand immediately and succeded in kilIing all but 2 of the enemy, - these he took prisoners.	G.O.C. 7th Aust. Infantry Brigade.	D.C.M.

either James Clough, Private 11654, 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Died of wounds 11 October 1916. Aged 19. Born Radcliffe, enlisted and resident Bury. Son of John and Rachel Clough. Buried in STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE, Seine-Maritime, France. Division 3, Row L. Grave 3.

or James Leonard CLOUGH, Private 235097, 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 9 October 1917. Enlisted Radcliffe. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 54 to 60 and 163A.

or J CLough, Private 30287, 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Died 1 July 1916. Aged 35. Son of William and Sophia M. Clough, of 17, Radcliffe St., Springhead, Oldham. Buried in BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD, Somme, France. Special Memorial 1.

Private J Davidson (1) © David Long (WMR-107576)

J Davidson (2) © David Long (WMR-107605)

Private 24548, 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 3 May 1917. Aged 41. Born Bootle, Liverpool, enlisted Bury, Lancashire. Husband of Catherine Davidson, of 13, Russell St. Atherton, Manchester. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 5.

Also commemorated on two family graves in Radcliffe Cemetery, Greater Manchester. The first family grave of his father and the second the garve of his wife.

Private 6530, 13th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment). Killed in action 16 August 1916. Aged 25. Born and resident Radcliffe, Manchester, enlisted Bury, Lancashire. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth, of Radcliffe, Manchester. Buried in GUILLEMONT ROAD CEMETERY, GUILLEMONT, Somme, France. Plot IX. Row B. Grave 4.

Private 65921, 23rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Killed in action 5 August 1918. Aged 34. Born Hindley, lancashire, enlisted Radcliffe, Lancashire. Husband of Annie Gibson, of 48, Bury Street, Radcliffe, nr. Manchester. Buried in BORRE BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot II. Row F. Grave 27.

Extract from a local paper 17 August 1918:

PTE. WILLIAM GIBSON

Mrs. Gibson, 48, Bury-street, Radcliffe Hall, has been informed that her husband, Private William Gibson, Cheshire Regiment, has been killed by shrapnel while coming out of the trenches. An officer has written the following letter: "I regrest to inform you that your husband met his death yesterday from shrapnel wounds. He was a valued member of our company, being an excellent Lewis gunner. He was also very popular among his fellows, so we are sorry to have lost him." He adds that it may be some consolation to known that Private Gibson died a true patriot for his country, and that he had a church burial. A chaplain writes:- "I am writing to express to you the sincere sympathy that we all feel for you in your grear loss. It was late on Sunday as our men were getting back from the trenches that they were caugh by enemy shell fire, in which eight of our men, including your husband, Private W. Gibson, were killed. It may afford you some consolation to know that his sacrifice will not be forgotten by our Saviour, who laid down His life for us." He also states that Private Gibson's death was instantaneous. Private Gibson enlisted in May, 1917, in the Lancashire Fusiliers, being later transferred to the Chehsire Regiment. In civil life he was employed by Messrs. J. C. Hamer, at their Hope Mill. His name is on the rolls of honour at the Parish Church and at St. Paul's Wesleyan Methodist Church. Three brothers are serving in the army.

Corporal 39496, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) formerly 1646, Lancashire Fusiliers. Died on service in United Kingdom 9 July 1918. Born Radcliffe, Lancashire, resident Unsworth, enlisted Bury. Buried in RADCLIFFE (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Lancashire. Grave reference 29. 39.

either John JONES, Acting Corporal 316, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) attached to 2nd/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Killed in action 23 March 1917. Aged 27. Born Radcliffe, Lancashire, enlisted Manchester, Lancashire. Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Jones, of 42, Bury St., Radcliffe; husband of Edith Jones, of 2, Bright St., Radcliffe, Manchester. Buried in BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row C. Grave 25.

or James JONES, Private 20/1068, 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died 13 July 1916. Aged 22. Son of James and Margaret Jones, of Long Row, Radcliffe, Acklington, Northumberland. Buried in TOTTENHAM CEMETERY, Middlesex. Gen. 7331 (Screen Wall).

P McLanaghan © David Long (WMR-107615)

Private 16524, 8th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment formerly 14562, North Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 15 July 1916. Aged 24. Born and resident Manchester, enlisted Bolton, Lancashire. Son of Paul and Ellen McLanaghan; husband of Frances McLanaghan. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 6 C.

Also commemorated on a family grave in Radcliffe Cemetery, Greater Manchester.

Also Paul, their son
Who was Killed in Action in France
July 15th 1916, Aged 24 years.

either Gunner 51494, Y24th Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 21 December 1916. Aged 24. Son of Robert and Hannah Mills, of Pendlebury, Manchester; husband of Jessie Mills, of 52, King St., Radcliffe, Manchester. Buried in PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY, MAZINGARBE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row E. Grave 4.

or Private 19237, Depot, Cheshire Regiment. Died on service in United Kingdom 5 May 1918. Aged 21. Born Radcliffe, Lancashire. enlisted Bury, Lancashire. Son of the late George and Esther Mills. Alternative Commemoration - buried in Radcliffe (St. Thomas) Churchyard. Commemorated in RADCLIFFE CEMETERY, Lancashire. Special memorial.

Private 235106, 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 3 April 1918. Aged 26. Resident Radcliffe, Lancashire, enlisted Bury, Lancashire. Son of Ellis and Elizabeth Ann Mills. Buried in QUESNOY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Row A. Grave 15.

Private 200162, 2nd/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 31 July 1917. Born Radcliffe, Lancashire, enlisted Bury, Lancashire. Son of W. and Annie Shard, of 15, Morley Road, Radcliffe, Manchester. Enlisted 1 November 1912, at Bury, Lancashire, aged 19 years, for 4 years, Finisher by trade, at attestation resident 43 East Street, chest 33 inches religious denomination Church of England. Served in the Dardenelles, injured 11 September 1915 and transferred 12 September to Flett Sweeper A.F.A. from 11 Casualty Clearing Station, Mudros. Suffered from Pyrexia 12 September 1915 and invalided to England aboard "Aquatania" (suffering from Enteric Fever) from Mudros 18 September 1915. Embarked Folkestone 24 August 1916, disembarked Boulogne 24 August 1916, arrived Etaples 25 August 1916, joined unit 12 August 1916 and alloted regimental number 200162. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 33.

Extract from a Newscutting 1917.

Obituary of Private Harold Shard

Mr. and Mrs Shard of 15 Morley Road, off Countess Lane, Radcliffe have received official intimation of the death in action on July 31st, of their son, Private Harold Shard who was 22 years of age. He joined the Bury Territorials five years ago and went with them to Turton, Egypt and the Dardenelles. He returned to England owing to dysentry and 16 months ago went to France with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was employed in the bottling department of Seed's Brewery. The family are associated with the Radcliffe Parish Church, having formally lived in that parish. Mr. and Mrs. Shard have another son William in France_ His sister received a letter on Tuesday from Capt. Hamer of the same battalion from which we have taken the following:- Your brother was with Lieutenant Dickenson in a very advanced position on July 31st-August 1st when a sniper's bullet or a stray shot killed them both. This information was given to me by an officer of another battalion who knew Dickenson well. Several people saw your brother along with him a few moments before and should any further news come through you may be sure I will send it on to you at once. It is very hard for me to write any words of comfort, for I know how you will feel the loss of so cheerful, brave and splendid a brother. He was noticed with Lieutenant Dickenson the whole of the time and a braver officer and a braver man never lived. Your brother was always cheerful, willing and cool under fire and it is very hard to lose such men. He lived straight and died bravely, which is the finest thing any man can do. Will you please accept my very deepest sympathy in your sorrow.

Private 9299, 9th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 21 August 1915 at Gallipoli. Aged 33. Born 2 November 1882 in Breightmet, Radcliffe, Lancashire, enlisted Bury, Lancs, resident Bolton. Son of Adam and Betsy (nee Lord) Smith. In the 1891 census he was aged 8, son of Adam and Betsy Smith, born Breightmet, Lancashire, resident 649 Bury new Road, Bolton. No known grave. Commemorated on HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey (including Gallipoli). Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219.