Mrs Morgan

In 1999, when I first started to look at Providence as a project, I put a notice in the Rossendale  Free Press for anyone who could give me any information about the Chapel, with very little success. The biggest help coming from Trish, at Rawtenstall Library who was, and still is, most helpful and informative on local studies.  One person who did reply was Mrs A Morgan of Townsenfold, she was ninety years old then, and had recently lost her husband Cyril, and, as they both played a big part in the History of Providence Chapel,  I find it only right to include Mrs Morgan’s letter to me, all those years ago, copied in type below.

5th of July 1999

Dear Mr Drury

I am afraid my memories don’t go back as far as the 1914-18 war, but my late husband was very active during the 1939-45 war at Providence until it closed.  Even after (it closed) he bought a circular saw and each Monday evening he would go up and saw all the wood from the school and Chapel and people queued for it at 1shilling per bag.  He had his regular customers and as he came down the road he dropped off his bags at 1 shilling each. He had not much wood left and had arranged to sell the (circular) saw when someone broke in and stole it.

I remember going to help at a potato pie tea before we were married, Cyril had Quinsey’s (an abscess near the tonsils) , and he said, “You will be alright, you know Ida Heap”, she was the only one I did know.

We were married at Newchurch in 1939 and lived there 12 months, then we came to 3 Oak Street Dunnockshaw and he resumed his duties as Providence Superintendent, Sunday School Trustees Secretary, and local Preacher.

He was taking the morning service at Providence when War was announced, 11 am September the 3rd 1939.     

We were visiting the Hospital a few months ago when one of the sisters came up to us and said, “Do you know as a little girl what I called this man” we said “no” She said “ I called him Mr Providence, I thought it belonged to him, he was always there”.

Our children were both christened there Ian and Sheila.  Ian and his wife are both active at Rakefoot, he is treasurer and she in charge of the children.  Sheila is active in her Church in Chorley so we have a lot to be thankful for.  I have been in touch with a man who was Church treasurer when it closed to ask if he had anything of interest to you but he said nothing.  I don’t know anyone who can tell you much; it was an ageing congregation when it closed.   My husband could have perhaps have told you more but he died suddenly Jan 17 1999, we were married nearly 62 years, he would have been 88 in may. I must apologise for my writing I fell down 10 days after my husband died and injured my hand rather badly, hence the writing. Sorry I can’t help you more. 

 A.   Morgan.

As the old Cliché goes, they certainly don’t make em like that anymore. I obtained a copy of the 1846-1946 Centenary Souvenir booklet, and both Mr and Mrs Morgan are pictured in it and I will include these below.

Above is the article that appeared in the Rossendale Free Press in September 1966, the 50th anniversary of the raid.  The map below shows the area of the Zeppelin raid over Rossendale on the 25th of September 1916, with kind permission from Mr Peter J.C. Smith, from his book entitled Zeppelins over Lancashire. (click on image to enlarge)

 Zeppelin L21

 Two months after the raids by Zeppelin L21 over Rossendale and other parts of Lancashire, the fate of this troublesome airship was sealed. L21 had covered 17 reconnaissance missions, and 10 attacks on England, which resulted in the dropping of 14,442kg of bombs, leaving death and destruction in both in the Midlands,and in Lancashire. On the night of the 27 / 28^th November 1916 the 29-year-old Commander of L21, Kurt Frankenberg, who also commanded L21 in the September raid over Lancashire, was returning from an extended raid involving  nine other Zeppelins. They had been active over Yorkshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire and Commander Frankenberg, whilst steering by way of Peterborough, was brought down eight miles east of Lowestoft, by three defending aircraft with the result she crashed into the sea with the loss of all 17 crew.  The pilots involved in the attack were Flight Lieutenant Egbert Cadbury, Flight Sub Lieutenant Gerard William Reginald Fane, and Flight Sub Lieutenant Edward Laston Pulling. The machine gunners aboard L21 were firing at Pulling during his attack, and as he passed underneath, Pulling began firing into the airship as he did so, his Phosphorous rounds, resulted in the stern of the Zeppelin being ignited. Fane noticed that she “Fell into the sea stern first, like a spent rocket.  It was Pulling who was credited with the L21’s destruction, and he was awarded the DSO, whilst Fane and Cadbury were given DSC’s. 

Incendary Bullets

Three manufacturers produced incendary bullets, but the ones made by Brock the fireworks manufacturer were the most succesful, the bullet core held the incendiary material which was sealed with a base plug, 3 holes in the jacket of the bullet, were sealed by a low melting point metal, coverered by the neck of the cartridge, when fired the heat of the passage up the bore of the gun, melted the plugs and the incendiary ignited on contact with air, only effective out to 200 yards.

 In March 1917 disaster was to strike for Flight Sub Lieutenant Pulling whilst flying the same BE2c aircraft that he attacked L21 with,  whilst perfoming a loop the aircraft broke up in the air, killing himself and his passenger Flight sub Lieutenant J.C. Northrop, both are buried at Great Yarmouth Caister Cemetery.  Below is a photograph of a BE2c of the type flown by Pulling.

The book entitled Zeppelins over Lancashire by Peter J.C.Smith, gives a full and detailed account of the events that took place in Rossendale and other parts of the country during 1916 and 1918, and I would recommend to anyone interested in these events.

Commemoration cards such as the one above were supplied to the families who lost family members during the Great War. Both Burnley,and Rawtenstall, and probably many other towns did the same. Shown here are copies of some of the actual letters sent in to Rawtenstall Town Hall, by family members of some who are  listed on  Providence Chapel Memorial.  

 That concludes the letters that i have for cards for the fallen of Providence Chapel, below are the Memorial Cardsfor the two Spencer Brothers Alfred and Thomas

There are three men on the war memorial who were killed in the second world war 1939/45, their names are Ivan Shingles, James Wright,and Kenneth Wyld.    Looking at The Commonwealth War Graves Commission register, it  contains just one Ivan Shingles, and he was Sergeant (Flight Engineer) No 1683367,  of the 49 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, killed on the 19th July 1944. He lies in a collective grave in St.-Ouen-Domprot Churchyard, France, with five of his crew members.          Serial number  PB231, this aircraft  was a mark 111 type Lancaster Bomber, and was one of four lost to 49 squadron on an operation to bomb the Railway junction at Revigny France.  Intercepted by a nightfighter they were shot down crashing at St-Ouen-Domprot killing five crew and two being taken prisoner.   Their aircraft took off from Fiskerton U.K. and this was the crews 16th mission.

ST. OUEN-EN-DOMPROT CHURCHYARD

The above Graves are of  Sergeant Ivan Shingles and his crew members who perished in the crash of 19/July 1944.

KENNETH WYLD

 Also in the Commonwealth war graves register, there  is  just one Kenneth Wyld,  and he was a cook on H.M.S Mahratta,and he died on the 25th of february 1944, aged 20 and his service No was  D/MX 110280. He was the son of George Augustus and Phyllis Mary Wyld, of Whaley Bridge Cheshire.

HMS MAHRATTA (G23)

Originally ordered as Job No J1114, this ship was intended to bear the name HMS Marksman. However, on the 26th April 1942 Flag Officer Commanding the Royal India Navy signalled the Admiralty that the Mahratta Brigade wished to sponsor a ship on the same basis as the Gurkhas had already done. The change of name was proposed by the ships’ Names Committee on the 4th May 1942 and the consent of the King was received on the 19th May 1942. Scott’s shipyard were notified of the change of name to HMS Mahratta by letter dated 23rd May 1942.

It was perhaps unfortunate that the town of Walsall had already sponsored HMS MARKSMAN via their War Aid Fund, and it is understood that the renaming was not welcome in all quarters, and was not in accordance with the wishes of the ship’s company.

Having been damaged in an air raid on Scott’s in 1941 and subsequently re-erected, she was finally launched on the 28th July 1942, completed on 8th April 1943 and was assigned to the 3rd DF, Home Fleet.

Her commanding officer was LT Cdr E A F Drought DSC RN, who was appointed to the ship on the 18th February 1943.

HH the Maharaja of Dewas presented the ship with a silver plate and two Mahratta antique swords which were kept not on board but in a place of safety during hostilities.

After her work up in April and May 1943 she took part in Operation FH, the relief of the Allied garrison at Spitzbergen, having proceeded there via Seidisfjord during the first week of June.

In July 1943, she participated in Operations Camera and Governor, the large scale simulated raids off Norway already described in the section on Milne.

On 30th July 1943 a cheque for Rs 25,190-4-8 was received from Col C A Strong of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in respect of the sponsorship agreed during the ship’s building, and on the same day she accompanied Milne and Musketeer on Operation SF, one of a series of anti U-boat patrols off Iceland.

The next month Mahratta was part escort to the 10th CS on Operation Lorry, when a fast squadron ferried stores to Kola, and again took part in Operation SF, on another anti-submarine sweep described in the section on Meteor.

In September 1943, Mahratta went south for the only time in her short career when she sailed to the Mediterranean to escort the battleship HMS Valiant back to Plymouth where they arrived on the 10th October.

On the 21st September 1943, Mahratta was in the company of Sardonyx, Obedient and Shihari on convoy duty when a report was received from a n aircraft stating that a U-Boat had been sighted in position 62*19’’N, 14*55’’W. The report which was timed at 0727hrs was relayed to the C-in-C at Rosyth, and the ships worked up to maximum speed to intercept the U-Boat. The next signal from the aircraft corrected the position of the U-Boat, but the ships could not make contact with the aircraft which then failed to carry out the correct homing procedure. The result was that a promising situation degenerated into near farce. With no interception made, and two destroyers had to abandon the hunt early next morning because of lack of fuel.

The first convoy of the 1943-1944 season was RA54A, which returned ships which had spent the summer in Kola. The escorts were sent north between 20th and 28th October (Operation FR), the convoy left on 1st November and arrived at Lock Ewe a fortnight later without having been attacked.

With her sisters Milne, Meteor and Musketeer, Mahratta was part escort to convoy JW56B to Russian the last week of January 1944, the destroyers joined the screen on the 26th and this proved to be a very eventful trip for the escorts.

At 0835hrs on the 29th January, PO F Taylor, who was sweeping through the director binoculars, sighted a U-Boat bearing 120 degrees from the ship, and Mahratta gave chase, accompanied by Whitehall who had sighted the U-Boat five minutes after Mahratta. The two ships proceeded at 24 knots, which was Whitehall’s maximum speed, and at 0856hrs the ships opened fire at 11,000 yards range. The U-Boat dived at 0902 hrs after several shots had fallen close, and Whitehall dropped one depth charge at 0912 hrs, but contact was lost, and no damage was believed caused to the U-Boat. Twelve minutes later Mahratta sighted another U-Boat at about 8,000 yards range. Two depth charges were fired as an anti GNAT measure, and both ships turned towards the U-Boat which dived at 0928 hrs .

Whitehall then closed Mahratta, and at 0932 hrs carried out a Hedgehog attack with no apparent result. And asdic contact was lost six minutes later. The search was abandoned at 0948 hrs, and both destroyers turned due north to rejoin the convoy, but a third U-Boat was sighted at 1055 hrs bearing 085 degrees at 7 miles range. Mahratta and Whitehall gave chase at 24 knots, and the U-Boat dived four minutes after being sighted. At 1109 hrs the range was down to 2,000 yards and Whitehall fired one depth charge, and both ships then carried out “Observant”, before Whitehall gained a doubtful asdic contact. Mahratta made no contact at all, and at 1200 hrs both ships broke off the hunt to rejoin the convoy. During the actions described above, Mahratta expanded 34 rounds of SAP ammunition, but the light was not good, making range finding difficult. Lt Cdr Drought stated in his letter of proceedings that he felt that the ranges had been underestimated. Despite several other inconclusive hunts and many other HF/DF and Asdic contacts, the only loss to the convoy was the V class leader HARDY, torpedoed and wrecked by a U-Boat on 30th January and subsequently sunk by Venus. JW56B having arrived in the Kola Inlet on 1st February, Mahratta returned with convoy RA56 as described in previous chapter.

Mahratta’s final voyage commenced on 25th February 1944, when she departed from Lock Ewe as part escort to the cruiser Black Prince (Flag), Berwick and Jamaica which were covering convoy JW57, which consisted of 43 merchant ships.

On the night of 25th February 1944 Mahratta was screening the convoy at 12 knots in position 71*17’’N 13*30’’E about 280 miles off North Cape when she was torpedoed by U-990 in a heavy snowstorm. At 2100 hrs a slight shock was felt and the screws stopped. About five minutes later a much heavier explosion occurred as a result of a second torpedo hit. The ship flooded heavily abaft the engine room, and it is possible that her stern was blown off. She rolled over to port and sank by the stern at 2232 hrs, eleven officers and 210 ratings losing their lives, amongst them PO Taylor, who survived the sinking, but subsequently died of his wounds. The seventeen survivors were rescued by Impulsive and Active.

At the Board of Inquiry into the ships’s loss, held on 9th March 1944, LS T F Tomkins, D/SSX 27960, who was in the director when the ship was hit stated that all communications “were busted” after the first explosion, so he got out of the director and went to the after part of the bridge where he was drenched in oil fuel when the second explosion occurred.

Leading Stoker F A Gaines, D/KX 101319, was in the gearing room when the first explosion, which “wasn’t much of an explosion, more like a bump” took place, he thought at about 2055 hrs. The screws stopped immediately and lubricating oil began to leak from the system. The Chief left the gearing room to go to ascertain what had happened but before he got back there was a much more violent explosion, with a lot of blast and the gearing room filled with oil fuel. Leading Stoker Gaines thought that the 4” gun had come down into the ship, as there was a larger jagged hole where it should have been. He also stated that there was a lot of debris on top of the engine room hatch and on top of the pom-pom. He could not recall seeing any fire or flash, however.

AB W G McDonald, D/FX 103544 stated that he say a flash when the second explosion occurred, and thought he heard the Captain say “Send a signal-Mahratta been hit”, as he (McDonald left the bridge after the first explosion. When asked if the after magazine had exploded he said that he thought that possible, but couldn’t be sure, although a lot of debris was thrown up.

Mahratta was awarded the battle honour Arctic (1943-1944)

Her badge: In front of two swords in saltire white a shied also white on a blue ground.

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 ONGOING.

The third name recorded on Providence War Memorial for the second world war, is that of James Wright,whom i have yet to research.

 In the Graveyard, behind where Providence Chapel once stood,are several other ex servicemen who are either buried, or simply commemorated on family Headstones. Incidentally, Gordon Whittaker who is on the Memorial is also  commemorated on his family’s Headstone, but showing the wrong date of his being killed in action. There is also a chap who worked on Munitions during the War years who lost his life in an explosion at his place of work. There are two graves summounted by Commonwealth War Graves Headstones, which record the name, regiment, number, and date of death of the two individuals. They are No, 140179, Private Charles Bratt, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) who died on the 24th of November 1918 not quite two weeks after the signing of the Armitice , either of wounds received, or illness, possibly from the Flu epedemic that was prevalent at that time.

 The second War Graves Headstone is that of  Private Alfred Spencer No28866 11th Battalion  East Lancashire Regiment. Parents were Thomas and Amanda Spencer.  One of  three brothers who served in the  first world war, the family losing Alfred’s brother Thomas Emanuel Spencer, on April 4th 1918, a report follows that of Alfred’s. Their Father was also an old soldier, who fought in the South Africa campaign and participated in the relief of Ladysmith during the conflict there.   Alfred  died on the 14th of May 1918, aged22. Pte Spencer was of the 11th Battalion East Lancs, this battalion suffered greatly on the 1st of july 1916, before the German held village of Serre  in the opening  of the Somme battle July 1st 1916.    During the Battle of the Lys, in April 1918 , Near Vieux Berquin,   the 11th Battalion East Lancashires were attacked three times in one day by the enemy, each time holding their ground, although at a heavy cost in casualties. This being on the 13th of April, and  Alfred Spencer was wounded in this action and shipped back home to a Hospital in Liverpool where despite Medical attention he succumbed to his wounds on the 14th of May 1918 as the Burnley Newspaper reports in the article below.

                                       Military   Funeral   Today    

                                          Two Sons Sacrificed  

                                  One in April; The other in May

  There will be a military funeral in Burnley today.Prior to internment the body will be carried into St Matthews Church.  The young man who has made the supreme sacrifice is Pte Alfred Spencer (22) 28566East Lancashire Regiment. By his death the parents who live at 15, Reynolds Street, have sustained a double bereavement in a very short period. An older son Corpl Thomas Emanuel Spencer, also of the East Lancashire’s, died from wounds in a French hospital on April 4th. Pte Alfred Spencer sustained a very severe and dangerous bullet injury in the head on April 13th and suffered much from loss of blood.   He was removed to Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, where he died on Tuesday of this week.   At one time it was thought that the young man might recover.  The bullet was successfully removed, but haemorrhage supervened, and another operation had to be performed; and, in spite of all that could be done for him, death occurred as stated.   Pte Spencer joined upon August 17th 1916, after being rejected on three previous occasions.     Following a few months training he was sent on active service.     In civil life he had latterly been a clothlooker at Proctors Stoneyholme, but previously he worked for years at Fould’s Trafalgar.   He was connected with Back Lane Mission of St Matthews Church, and had been a St Matthews Scout.    The Reverend S.E.Clark (Vicar) speaks very highly of him as a good worker.  He was the youngest of three sons; the eldest is serving with the East Lancashire Field Ambulance.   Alfred Spencer enjoyed the intimate friendship of his platoon sergeant, who has been most assiduous in his enquiries.     He was in my platoon when wounded, wrote the N.C.O. “In fact we were close against each other, I think it was a toss up whether it was meant for him or myself”.  The sergeant writes of his friend as a very good lad and very obliging.      The Old Veterans Band will play today from the house to the Church.  The 11th Battalion Lancashire Volunteer Regiment is to be represented.  below is the Burnley Newspaper article of the first loss for the Spencers, that of Thomas Emmanuel, Alfred’s Brother.

PATIENT AND BRAVE

  In a chaplain’s letter to Mr and Mrs Spencer, 15, Reynolds Street, Burnley, telling of the death of their son, Corpl, Thomas Emmanuel Spencer (25), 240836, East Lancashire’s, it was stated that after being injured the young man was very patient and made a brave fight for his life.    His wounds however were too severe for his strength, and he passed away on April 4th. He sustained gunshot inflictions in the neck, chest, and spine.  Corpl Spencer enlisted in October 1914.  Before then he was a weaver at Thornber’s Healey Wood Mill.  His name figures on the St Matthew’s Roll of Honour. His two brothers are in France. Thomas lies in St Sever Military Cemetery Rouen France.

         THE WHITE LUND    MUNITIONS FACTORY DISASTER 

 The Family Headstone in Providence Graveyard bearing the name of John Crowther Killed in the Explosion at the White Lund Munitions Factory near Morecambe Lancashire on the 1st of October 1917.  

In August  1915 the firm of Vickers went into negotiations to build and administrate a filling factory. A site was found at White Lund, which was halfway between Lancaster and Morecambe, and was therefore conveniently placed for receiving empty shells from the projectile factory at Lancaster and other centres on the north west coast, and for dealing with heavy shells from the Mersey Region. Construction started on the 23rd of November 1915, but  due to delays in construction,and the delay confirmation of  filling methods of the munitions, finally sorted out in january 1916, output didn’t begin until July 1916.       The buildings, of which by far the larger proportions were of wood roofed with felt, consisted of six danger units, 16 bonded stores(the property of the Army Ordinance Departement), a paint shop, an empty shell store, stores and magazines, general offices and canteen, power station and workshop.    This lay- out gave the capacity for filling 500 tons pressed or 200 tons melted amatol weekly into shells between 60 pdr to 12in calibre. Total number of shells filled up to Disaster date of October 1917 was 2,893,100.   On October 1st, a disasterous fire broke out at about 10.30 pm., on the upper floor of one of the melt plants.  Fortunatley, the workers had not returned from supper, so the number of casualties that were killed amounted to 10, with a few seriously injured, the number of casualties being  small  when compared to the material destruction caused. Numerous explosions took place, some of which were heard as faraway as Rossendale and Burnley, the last of which was at 4.am. on the 3rd of October 1917.  By 8.am. on the 4th of October 1917 the factory was almost entirely destroyed.  By that time almost nothing was left but the filled shell stores, paint shed, explosive magazine and part of the power house, all saved by the heroic efforts of the fire brigades attending. The cause of the fire was never established and the inquest on the deaths caused reached a verdict “That the men died from injuries accidentally received whilst carrying out their duty’s in a factory during a fire, there being no evidence to show how the fire originated”.      Of the ten deaths four were Firemen, with two seriously  injured, between Morecambe and Lancaster Firebrigades no less than nine O B E’s were awarded, a B E M was awarded to the female telephonist who remained on duty for 24 hours.  Other Heroes of that day were Abraham Clarke Graham and Thomas Kew, both off duty railway men(Kew being an engine driver and Graham a shunter) when they heard the alarm, and seeing a fully loaded train close to the fire zone, was well aware of the risk of further explosions. He and Kew worked together and removed 54 wagons from the danger zone.  no simple task as some wagons were ablaze and exploding and also needed uncoupling before moving  The two men worked tirelessly for about three hours and no doubt averted an even greater disaster.  Thomas Kew even patched up a large water tank that had been damaged by exploding shells, this tank fed the sprinkler system and hosepipe fire points, all this done whilst shells were exploding around him.For their selfless bravery they received theEdward Medal from King George the V, on the 7th of May 1918.

  EXERPT FROM THE ROSSENDALE FREE  PRESS OCTOBER 6TH 1917

 Article by Free press journalist who went under the name of Jax, his columns being named Jottings by Jax. Monday night’s explosions at the North of England Munitions works were plainly heard in the Rossendale district.At midnight and even later there were many people outdoors, exchanging experiences with neighbours and making conjectures as to what was happening. The sounds came in varying intensity; some faint and others comparatively loud like the deep booming of heavy artillery.  In many houses the window frames rattled uncannily, and at others the sound was of someone having bumped against the door.  The police authorities had many enquiries as to the cause, and early on they were able (having got the information by telephone) to assure interrogators that the reports were not due to hostile nocturnal visitors.   Two men who were on a local hilltop tell me that they distinctly saw the glare of the explosions or of the fire in the sky.

Also reported in Rossendale Free Press Crawshawbooth section.

Death of Mr John Crowther   We deeply regret to record the death of Mr John Crowther a former well-known butcher of this district. He went to work on Munitions some time ago, and his death is the result of the sad catastrophe reported as occurring in the North of England.  Much Sympathy is expressed with the bereaved relatives in their sorrow.      

       In the deaths Column of the same issue was this below.

 Crowther

Dedicated to my friend John Crowther who lost his life the 1st day of October 1917, in the North of England Explosion

Yours is the happier lot; you are free

Forever from the grim unloveliness of these damned days

From all the beastliness that hems us like a goad the sorrow greed.

Of game and Guerdon never satisfied

You will feed – no more to brood into fresh wakefulness.

The tired spirit; you have forgetfulness 

Of all moan things; pain no longer heed

Then I cannot, as methought I should

Grieve over this severance of brotherhood

But must rejoice always that should aka?

So high in life by sacrifice have gained

The highest, and in rude marble cross

Must be a triumph that outweighs all loss.

 from Howarth Nuttall, formerly of Crawshawbooth.

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM.H.WARNER.218th Sqdrn R.A.F 

Also in Providence Graveyard is the family grave of the Warners. On it, is commemorated their young son,who  already held the rank of a Second  Lieutenant. The date of his being killed in action recorded on the family headstone, coincides with that of the Commonwealth War Graves Commision, which is the 27th of  June 1918, whilst serving with the 218th Squadron Royal Airforce, and his age is given as a mere 18years.   The Commission also states that he was the son of Aaron and Mary Jane Warner(his mother Mary Jane died in 1906), and the family address was 43Winter Street Blackburn, and William Henry being born in Accrington. He is buried in grave E.lll.16, in Hamburg Cemetery,Germany.  

 218 Squadron was formed as a daylight bomber squadron on April 24th 1918, under the command of Canadian Major Burt Wemp D.F.C.. It was equipped with the hopelessly underpowered “Puma” engined DH.9 Aircraft which inevitably led to high casualties among theFront Line  Squadrons. Lt William Warner’s aircraft N0 D5687 was delivered to first , the Aircraft Acceptance park Hendon, in May 1918, then on to Dover, and finally to  218 Squadron Dunkirk, on the 20th May 1918.          On the 10th of June 1918, this aircraft crashed on landing, with Lt E.H.Dixon and Sgt R.J.williams onboard,but both were unhurt in the accident,and the aircraft was repaired and returned to Squadron.  On June the 26th Lt William Warner acting as observer to his pilot LieutenantC.Briggs, were part of Captain M.G.Baskerville’s formation of four D.H.9’s, operating over Zeebrugge, opposing them were four German Fokker DV2’s from Marine Feldjasta ll defending the coast, this German force also boasted the air ace Vizeflugmeister Alexandre Zenses.   During the ensuing “Dog Fight”, Captain Baskerville shot one of  the Fokker scout’s down, claiming the first aerial victory for 218 Squadron. Unfortunatley Lieutenants Briggs and Warner, were killed, when another Fokker Dv2 dived on them and opened fire, the planes wings reported to have folded during the combat, the R.A.F report also states that Warner was avenged by the Sopwith Camel C.65, which  shot down their attacker. On the 24th May 1919, a Royal Airforce Casualty Card, reporting on the death of 2nd Lieutenant William H.Warner, carries a report by his Captain, M.G.Baskervill, who reports “That the machine in which this Officer was flying,was shot by the Germans, and smashed to pieces in the air, the action taking place 4 miles out to sea”. he also states”there is no chance at all that they are alive”. Wlilliam Warners Pilot,   Lt C.Briggs,  is buried in grave B.1. in Blankenburghe Town  Cemetery    

William was originally buried in Plot18, grave 6 in Lehe Military Cemetery, Province of Hanover Germany. I can only assume that his body was carried by the current,and being washed up off the coast of Bremmerhaven Germany, and buried in the then nearest Military Cemetery. At some time he was removed and reinterred in Hamburg Military Cemetery, as a lot of the smaller Cemetery’s were concentrated into Hamburg military Cemetery.

                           Close up of Second Lt Warner’s Commemoration

Private Tom Harry Taylor

M2/202357 Army Service Corps
Died of Enteric Fever, 24th January 1918, aged 24
Lived 2 Ivy Grove, Burnley Road, Rawtenstall
Buried Cape Town (Maitland Cemetery), South Africa.

Bert Taylor and Thomas Harry Taylor were the two sons of John James Taylor and Alice Taylor, who all at one time lived at 2 Ivy Grove Burnley Road Rawtenstall. Thom Harry and his father both also lived for a time at Badger Cote Farm, which was situated along the main Burnley to Rawtenstall road approximately 1 mile from Providence Chapel towards Rawtenstall, and being on the left of the road. The boys Father John James, lived at Badger Cote Farm in 1891, and as the census shows, he is named as the adopted son of Mr Thomas Atkinson (Farmer) and his wife Sarah. Also at the Farm was a Domestic servant called Mary Burns. John James occupation is given as a joiner at a print works (either Loveclough or Sunnyside?). The Atkinson’s originated from Settle, Yorkshire, Mary from Liverpool, and John James from Crawshawbooth.

After Mr and Mrs Atkinson had passed away and John James had a family of his own, his son Thomas Harry Also continued at the Farm with the successive occupants Mr and Mrs Catlow, and he stayed with them up to joining up but not before gaining a wife, her name being Mary Jane.
Thom Harry joined the Army Service Corps (motor transport) his number being M2/202357 and enlisting in Burnley.
He served in South Africa, where unfortunately he contracted the disease enteric fever, which sadly proved fatal and he died on the 24th of January 1918 aged just 24 years. He is buried in Cape Town Maitland Cemetery, section 4, grave ref 97453 C. Both Taylor boys were to die from disease, Thom Harry just seven months after Bertie.
Thom Harry was another of the Sunday School Scholars of Providence and a memorial service was held for him in the Chapel. The reverend William Carter, pastor, delivered the sermon from 1,Peter, iii..18…in which through the ages, and not least in these war times, Christ and his people suffered, the just for the unjust, the innocent with the guilty, yet on behalf of righteousness and the bringing of men to God and good. Hymns were sung, and Mr Willie Pollard the Goodshaw Band Master played Somewhere a voice is calling, and, the Last Post, with good effect.

 Private Herbert Law  32539 B Coy 8th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry 
Died of Wounds, 19th September 1918, aged 40
Lived at 11 Taylor Street, Rawtenstall, and is Commemorated on theDoiran Memorial, Greece.  Herbert was the son of Joseph Law of Loveclough, and lived at No 11 Taylor Street Rawtenstall, he married Emily Ann Ivett, and his in laws Elizabeth and James Ivett, also lived on the same street as them, their address being No 1 Taylor Street, which is just around the corner from the two Taylor brothers who are both on Providence Chapel War Memorial.
In his Civil Life Herbert was a joiner by trade working for the then Crawshawbooth firm of Ormerod and Ashworth, and whose premises were 845 Burnley road Crawshawbooth.
He enlisted in September 1916 at Rawtenstall and became No 32539 Pte H.Law B Company of the 8th Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry being stationed at first at South Wales.
He was drafted to Salonica in 1917 and was to die there, one year later, in battle.
On the 18th of September the Kings Own Shropshire Light Infantry were deployed and Herbert was wounded, the wounds must have been too severe as he died the next day.
Herbert is yet another with no known grave, his grave marker could have been destroyed by later action which was sometimes the case, but he is commemorated on the Colonial Hill War Memorial at Diorn Village in northern Greece, nearthe Macedonian border.  The Photograph of Herbert, was kindly supplied by Herberts Grandson, Mr Neil Chadderton.

          The  Doiran Memorial

IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF

418 OFFICERS AND

10282 OTHER RANKS

OF THE BRITISH SALONIKA FORCE

WHO DIED IN MACEDONIA AND SERBIA

1915-1918

AND TO COMMEMORATE

1979 OF ALL RANKS

WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE

BUT WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE PANELS

Herbert’s wife Emily also wrote to the Mayor of Rawtenstall for a Mayors card to commemorate Herbert’s life, and in September 1919 on the first anniversary of Herbert’s death, his mother in law Mrs Ivett, put an epitaph in the Roll of Honour, which was printed in the Rossendale Free Press and also included was the name of her nephew Private Wilf Popple killed in action with the 10th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in August 1918, also added were remembrances from Herbert’s brothers and sisters.

Below is the official notice from the Record Office dated the 3rd of October 1918 to Herberts wife Emily, informing her of him dying from wounds received, although now faint, the details can still be read. 

The Letter below dated 20th of March 1919 from the British Red Cross must have added closure to any thoughts Emily may have had as to whether Herbert may still be alive.

With kind thanks to Herbert’s Grandson Mr Neil Chadderton for the copies of both letters.

Brief description of the action
In July 1918 General L.F.F Franchet d’Esperey became Commander in Chief and launched a major offensive with six Serbian and two French Divisions against a seventy-mile frontage held by just one Bulgarian Division.
The attack began with a heavy nightime bombardment in the early hours of September 1918, resulting in a five-mile penetration by nightfall on September the 16th.
On the 17th of September the Serbs advanced 20miles, and with the French and Greeks on their flanks widened the breach to 25 miles.
The British attack, launched on September the 18th 1918 was on the front between the Vardar and Lake Doiran, and stopped the Bulgars sending troops westwards against the right flank of the penetration.
By September the 19th the Serbian Cavalry had reached Kevardaci, and two days later the whole Bulgarian front had collapsed.

]]> http://providencechapel.info/2009/07/herbert-law/feed/ 1 http://providencechapel.info/2009/07/bert-taylor/ http://providencechapel.info/2009/07/bert-taylor/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:43:53 +0000 Admin http://providencechapel.info/?p=120 Family Headstone in Providence Graveyard Pte Bert Taylor, No 32072 6th Kings own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Died of Spotted Fever, 7th of April 1917, aged 22
Lived 2 Ivy Grove, Burnley Road, Rawtenstall
Commemorated on Kirkee 1914-1918 War Memorial, India.

 Bert or Bertie as he was also known at one time also lived at 2 Ivy Grove Rawtenstall, as did his brother Tom Harry. Bert enlisted at Preston into the 6th Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancashire’s serving at first in the Pay Office and then volunteering for India, where, as did his brother the following year, contracted a fatal disease that would ultimately end his life on the 7th of April 1917.
The then notable J.P., Mr Compston wrote to the Rossendale Free Press respecting the sad death of Private Bert Taylor of the Kings Royal Lancashire’s, saying… that at the weekend came the sad news to Mr and Mrs J.J. Taylor of Burnley Road Rawtenstall, that their son Bert at 22 years of age had died in Hospital at Colabo, Bombay India on April 7th of the very fatal spotted fever, and the anniversary sermons at Providence Chapel Loveclough were saddened thereby, the deceased having long been a scholar at the Sunday School. Of the half hundred young men from that small school who are in the King’s Services, Bert Taylor is the first to have fallen.

For some time he had been at Preston and was much liked by his Officers and was placed in the Pay Office, later, a contingent was wanted for India and Bert Volunteered to go. Somehow he there contracted the dreaded disease mentioned, and though everything was done for him that could be, he finally succumbed. Two of the Nursing Sisters wrote letters to Mr and Mrs Taylor, saying how grieved they all were at the death of one who had become a great favourite on the ward, which was served by the Australian Army Nursing Service. Manifestly Bert Taylor had profited by what he had learnt at Sunday School, and calmly met death in peaceful confidence, requesting that a curl of his hair should be sent to his mother. This request was complied with, the curl, after disinfection, and having been neatly tied up in a bit of blue ribbon, came duly to land. There are besides the Parents four sisters, and also one brother, Private Thomas Henry Taylor in the Army Motor Services in London, though now over here on a very short leave. Wide circles of friends lament Bertie Taylor’s death and offer their sincere sympathy to the family….Possibly Bert’s Body was cremated as he has no known grave but is commemorated on the 1914-1918 War Memorial at Khadki (Kirkee) which is situated on a Plateau between Bombay and Poona, access is by train to Poona from Bombay India.

Pte Albert Pickup No 201976 1/4th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action, 25th April 1917
Lived at 1063 Burnley Road Loveclough
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France

Picture of the Family Grave in Providence Chapel Graveyard, which also commemorates Albert as having been killed in action in the Great War aged 31 years.  

Lance Corporal Gordon Whittaker
R8408 8th Kings Royal Rifle Corps
Killed in Action, 30th July 1915
Lived 23 Stoneholme Terrace, Crawshawbooth
Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
Gordon was born in 1886 to Thomas and Harriet Whittaker and was one of eight children including John, Thomas Stanley,  (who enlisted in the  4th Battalion Welsh Fusiliers at Rawtenstall Dec 1915  later discharged), William,George , Herbert,Leah and Sarah. Gordon was baptised at Providence Chapel aged 10 weeks, in1886.
Their home address was 23 Stoneholme Terrace Crawshawbooth.  
A local lad he was described as an ardent supporter of Tariff Reform and as such lectured all over Rossendale Valley on the subject, he was highly respected in the district his early death being regretted by many. He served with D Company 8th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps with his mate from Crawshawbooth Joe White, their consecutive Numbers being R8408  and  R8407 respectively.
They entered France on the 19th May 1915.
Gordon wrote home to his parents on the 25th of July 1915 telling them “We had just come out of a rough trench and had got wet through in the heavy rain they were experiencing”, and goes on to describe a German attack, “ First came their Trench Mortars and then they began to shell with the result that I got wounded”. He states that some of the men were buried in the bombardment and Gordon had helped to dig them out, fortunately they were only shocked but their trench had been blown to level country, and also goes on to say he had to see a Doctor to dress his wounds. Later they were congratulated by the Commanding Officer for their work and he reflects on with the trenches being blown in, how he lost everything bar what he stood up in, and how, only 200 yards from him he saw his old mate Joe White who he was glad to say came through safely. A certain Pathos to the letter attached to the fact that he was looking forward to being home on furlough (leave), if the rumours were correct.
Gordon Whittaker was killed in action on the 30th of July 1915;during this action Flamethrowers were used reportedly for the first time.
Shortly after, his Sergeant E.Hindle wrote home to his parents at their home in Crawshawbooth stating “that Gordon had been killed by his side when a German Shell struck him killing him instantly and every one was cut to the heart when they heard of his death”. The Sergeant goes on to say Gordon was a Britisher to the backbone and proved a hero after being wounded and returning to the trenches.
Hindle describes how he and Gordon were awakened from their sleep by a heavy bombardment and a big battle-taking place, the Huns having used burning acid (flamethrower) on the British troops. They took up their positions just in the rear of the firing line waiting to be sent as support to the men in front, Hundreds of shells were flying about and one of them struck Gordon burying both men, on getting free Hindle was horrified to see his friend dead. Sgt Hindle describes the fighting they had to do at tremendous odds and by the time they got to their trenches (German Trenches) they hadn’t enough men to hold them and had to retire.
The Sergeant assures Mr and Mrs Whittaker that their son was a splendid soldier and died doing his duty as only a British soldier could, and expressed sympathy from all who knew him in the regiment.
Joe White
The Rossendale Free press carried its own obituary to Gordon in their Crawshawbooth and Loveclough section shortly after his death
And reads
Lance Corporal Gordon Whittaker who was killed in action at Ypres
Another hero has been added to the already long list of victims from the Rossendale Valley.
I remember very vividly the deceased being home on furlough, and his bright and cheery conversation regarding life in the British army.
His natural ability and characteristic dash were sure to come to the front, and I have not the least doubt had he been spared, he would have gained further rapid promotion. Prior to the war he was best known in this district perhaps for his advocacy of Tariff Reform, and he belonged to that type who rather courted than shirked any public opposition. But all classes deplore the death of such a promising young fellow, and the deepest sympathy is felt with the bereaved parents and family.
The flag at the Conservative Club is flying half-mast as a token of the esteem felt by the members

Gordon’s Parents
Harriet Whittaker, Gordons mother died on the 4th of May 1916,aged 64, a report from the Rossendale Free Press stated

Death of Mrs Whittaker

We deeply regret to record the death of Mrs Whittaker of Stoneholme Terrace Crawshawbooth. The deceased lady who had been in delicate health for a considerable period received a shock by the death of her son Gordon who was killed in France. Mrs Whittaker was a highly esteemed resident of this district, and was associated with Providence U.M.C

Gordon’s Father, Thomas Whittaker now a widower wrote to the Town Hall on April 16th 1917 requesting, as many bereaved families did, a Mayors Card, which acknowledged the sacrifice and loss of the soldier named.
Thomas died on the 3rd of June 1917 and both parents are buried within Providence Chapel Graveyard.

23 Stone Holme Terrace
April 16th 1917
Respected Sir
I see in the Free Press of Saturday last that it is your intention to present a memento of all the lads who have made the Great Sacrifice for King and Country, and I am sure it is very thoughtful and kind of you to do it.
My son is L’Cpl Gordon Whittaker 8408 of the Kings Royal Rifles killed in action July 30 1915 in France

Gordon Whittaker 8th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps
The Letters.

On enlisting and dealing with day to day army life Gordon Whittaker 8th Battalion K.R.R.C. D Coy,
wrote to his local newspaper, the Rossendale Free Press to tell them about his exciting new life. In the period April to august 1913 his letters to the same paper were of a more political theme and he received quite a few conflicting reply’s in return, however here are the Letters from his early life as a soldier, full of enthusiasm, and a true patriot, but sadly he was to lose his life just seven months later.

WITH THE KING’S ROYAL RIFLES.

LETTER FROM PRIVATE GORDON WHITTAKER
We have received the following interesting letter from Private Gordon Whittaker, formerly of Crawshawbooth, whose name will be familiar to many of our readers through the letters on political topics which he has contributed to our correspondence columns at various times: -
Kings Royal Rifle Depot,
Winchester
January 2nd, 1915.

Dear Sir, – It gives me great pleasure to write to you upon a different subject than usual. As you and your readers are perhaps aware, I have taken upon myself the duties of training to defend my King and Country. Having had nearly a week in Barracks, I can assure you and the young men of Rossendale that it is a most healthy and jovial life. You are put through your drill day after day by men fully qualified, who are very willing to teach you and who are patient. I may say that my comrade, Rifleman White, and I have had various trainers, and we find each of them good and patient. From the Sergeants down to the Lance Corporals you find every one willing to learn. Training may seem hard to some, but when you have good trainers it is excellent and easy. You may have heard that a soldier’s life is a hard one, We find it very easy. You hear the Bugle call at 6.30 a.m. when you rise and dress and clean up your room, at 7.30 a.m. you parade for breakfast, then you finish until 9.15 a.m. Then you have four drills of 45 minutes between 9.15 and 4p.m. parade at 4.30p.m. for tea and finish for the day. Of course you are not allowed to leave the Barracks before 5p.m. without leave, but you can leave at 5p.m. until 9.30p.m.without leave. At 10p.m. the bugle calls for lights out. That is the day’s work of a recruit. You may get one or two days a week on what they call “fatigue” work; that is, assisting in various departments in the Barracks such as cookhouse, gymnasium, tea rooms, etc, which only lasts a few hours per day. When you are on fatigue work you don’t drill that day. There is one thing that handicaps recruits, and that is meals. We can honestly say that it is like going to a tea party every day. When there are something like thousands parading outside the tea rooms, a new recruit would necessarily think there would be a famine, but we have the first famine to see since we arrived. You get for breakfast bread and butter as much as you like, with bacon and ham and fried tomatoes, but when you come to Friday morning you find a nice frizzled kipper or two waiting for you to devour. As for dinner, we have potatoes, beef, roasted or stewed, peas, carrots, cabbages or beans and bread as much as you like. I may say that I omitted from breakfast menu pigs feet. At tea time we get bread and butter, cheese, marmalade, and jam, and sweet bread. If you want supper you buy it yourselves and it can be got for about 2d each in the temperance canteen in the Barracks. As regards recreation there is plenty provided,. There is a large billiard room, reading room, and recreation room at the disposal of the soldiers between drills, and after drill hours until 9.p.m. One thing which makes the soldiers life happy is the merry way old soldiers welcome you, and in bedrooms, which on an average contain about twenty beds, you hear soldiers relating to their experiences and bang off singing the latest parody “On the Blue Ridged Mountains of Germany”. This makes things jolly and we have no need to be downhearted at all. In such a crisis a soldiers life is the best life for each young man to live. In conclusion I may say that we look out every day for recruits from Rawtenstall, but alas we see none. Yet there are hundreds coming in every day , men come from Rochdale, Bolton, Keighly but none from Rawtenstall. Men of Rossendale if you had heard and seen the men we have, men who have come from the firing line , you would not hesitate a minute, but join the Regiment with a fine record of Battle honours. Hoping to hear in the next news from Rossendale that there has been a big rush of recruits then Germany can pack up and retreat.-
We remain yours etc.
Rifleman GORDON WHITTAKER 8408
Rifleman J . WHITE, 8407
P.S.- I shall esteem it a favour if you publish this in your next issue.- Gordon Whittaker, late of Stone Holme Terrace Crawshawbooth.

Gordon wrote to the Free Press again and this letter appeared in the Saturday 23rd of January edition.

LETTER FROM PRIVATE GORDON WHITTAKER
—————————————–
Private Gordon Whittaker, of the King’s Royal Rifles, formerly of Crawshawbooth sends the following letter from camp at Surrey.-

Sir it gives me great pleasure to write and let you know that I am A1 and in the pink. I am doing well down here. We have some good pals, and good instructors. We have been drilled rather hard since we came to Surrey. On Wednesday January 6th we had drills with rifles. We were examined by the adjutant and he passed our squad as fit for joining the Regular Forces. He said we did our drills well for the short time we had been here. We have to leave here some day next week for Aldershot to fire our course of musketry. Then we shall be full soldiers. We shall then come back to Surrey to go through what is called inoculation. Some like it , some don’t, and if you don’t have it, you don’t get leave, so I shall be inoculated, and then come home for a weeks furlough. The only fault we find here is that we have not very good accommodation. We are put up in schools and stables. All schools in the district are used for housing the soldiers. We happen to be in one. In the room where I and my pal are there are two bags of straw and three blankets and with our coats thrown on the bed at night we are kept quite warm. We have to go out to feed in big tents . The food is excellent. We keep in the best of health and though we have to rough it we feel much better when we think of the reason we are here. I think that the 8th King’s Royal Rifles will have their revenge when they get out at the front. They are supposed to be the finest shooters in the British Army, and I feel honoured in being attached to such a fine regiment. We are all trained to make the Germans Fly with very little casualties on our side. Out of the whole 8th Battalion there are very few who do not want to go to the front and do their little share. Anyhow we shall soon have the chance. About six more weeks and we shall be drafted out as efficient men. I don’t know of anything else at present but remain, yours faithfully,
GORDON WHITTAKER.
P.S.- I was pleased to see my last letter in your issue. We receive your paper every week.

A week later Gordon kept Rossendale up to speed of his experiences, with this letter in Sat January 30th 1915.
ENGLAND’S HOPE IN YOUNG MEN.
—————————————–
HOW THE KAISERS BIRTHDAY PRESENT
WAS LOST

Sir, it gives me great pleasure to take up my pen and write to you once more, when we know of the Germans’ latest raid. We heard the German Navy were to make the Kaiser a beautiful birthday present of England but they had not asked permission of the ” Rulers of the Sea”- the British Navy. Sir Donald Beatty was waiting and presented the Kaiser with the sinking of the “Blucher” as a present from the British Navy with warmest congratulations. I may say that the Kaiser fully expected having England for his Birthday but his expectations were not realised. Anyone, it is the duty of our young men to realise the danger of allowing the “baby killers” to capture our shore, and the only safeguard is to be prepared to meet them and defeat them, when they make their raids. The young men should join some of the Regiments for they get some good training and nothing is lost by so doing. I may say I am delighted in being attached to one of the best shooting Regiments in the British Army, and when the 8th Battalion King’s Royal Rifles gets out there will be some dirty work , for we shall be trained and fully competent men. Old men who have finished their time with the Colours have re joined and make it their duty to prepare us, and spare no energy in showing us how to use the rifle as far as shooting and bayonetting is concerned. We are leaving here this week to go to Aldershot to fire our course of musketry, then we join the Battalion for Battalion training after which we shall have Divisional training. Then we shall be sent to the base ready to reinforce troops in the firing line. I may say that we have been inoculated. We were told by some that it was a very painful operation, but I am convinced otherwise now that I have gone through it. I am now prepared for the second dose, which we get in about ten days time. When we have been inoculated we get two days rest to get over it, but one day is enough as we were all right the day following. As regards the place we are training in it is lovely, and on Friday it was snowing all day, and when we got up on Saturday we saw one of the loveliest winter scenes one could wish to see. All the fir trees were weighted with snow, and I may say that there are hundreds of such trees here. Up the drive from the school in which we are billeted there are fir trees as high as telegraph poles, and they were curved over with the weight of snow. On our way to the doctors on Saturday afternoon for inoculation we saw several telegraph poles brought to earth by the weight of snow on the wires. Snow fell to about one foot in depth, and we were employed clearing it away on Saturday morning.- Yours sincerely,
Rifleman GORDON WHITTAKER (8408),
8TH Battalion K.R.R. “D” Company
Remonham, Hind Head, Surrey.

Early February 1915 this report appeared in the Crawshawbooth/Loveclough section of the Free press.

Private Gordon Whittaker, who was well known to readers before war broke out as a strong advocate of Tariff Reform, has been home on furlough for a few days before returning to Aldershot on Thursday. He carries his breezy air along wherever he goes, saying, he’s never felt better in his life. He would make an admirable recruiting Sergeant and whether one agrees Politically or not his enthusiasm for the Army is to be admired. Asked about how he progressed with Tariff Reform in these times he says a few discussions
Had taken place but a Political truce was observed by the rank and file.

Not every one shared Gordon’s enthusiasm and love of his Regiment as this reply appeared on the 30th of January, same page as Gordons heading about the Kaisers lost present.

A NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
REPLY.
————————-
TO THE EDITOR
Sir -When I arrived home at Rawtenstall on Saturday for 48 hours leave I received my “Free Press” as usual and by your kind permission I wish to reply to a letter I read from a member of the 8th Battalion King’s Royal Rifles. It is only some few weeks ago I perchanced to see his name in your column of local recruits. After months of agitation for men by expert militarists he at length decided to join the K.R..R . Not five days after his enlistment he endeavoured to inspire your readers with a spirit of chivalry, and said he had taken upon himself the duties of training to defend King and country. Having had nearly a week in barracks he goes on to tell us of various trainers, jovial times, and that a soldiers life is the best life to live.
The latter I am not going to dispute- it may be, and it may not be. The life of a soldier may be a splendid one for a man of spirit. Neither is it my ambition to disparage anyone who has taken the oath, yet it is my duty (as Carlyle said) to feed you on facts. I myself am a member of the Northumberland Fusiliers, stationed at Wendover, who are being prepared by men with the fullest knowledge of military drill and the use of firearms, and whenever the N.F. have seen active service, they have done it nobly and well. The Officers are men of courtesy and competency. Your correspondent of the K.R.R. says in your last issue of the “Free Press”: “When the 8th Battalion King’s Royal Rifles get out there will be some dirty work, for we shall be fully trained by competent men”. I do not know what the Officers have instilled in the mind of their docile pupil, but I feel sure they have not wasted their energy practising “dirty work”. If your correspondent is seeking some world planet, distant from strife, or easy position, I advise him to wait until he has gained experience. There are scores of Rossendale lads , who have joined the colours months ago, some of them even winning battle honours, who do not boast about it in the Press.- I remain, yours,
Lance Corporal “A. W.,” N.F.

Gordon must have read the reply for no further letters to the free press have been observed.
He was killed in action just off the Menin road, July 30th 1915. On August 14th 1915 this letter appeared in the Free Press from one of Gordons former rivals in the Tariff Reform debate that raged in the free press in the summer of 1913.

THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL GORDON
WHITTAKER
——————-
TO THE EDITOR
Sir, It is with deepest sorrow I write to express my sympathy with the family of Lance Corporal Gordon Whittaker. Knowing him as I did, Gordon was a young man who struggled unceasingly with the ideas of progressive thought. Just after the outbreak of war he put the love of patriotism into action, and joined the King’s Royal Rifles, and I have every reason to believe he made a cheerful and dutiful soldier. Politically our views were as wide apart as the Arctic Poles, and everyone who knew him could not help but admire him for his bold stand against austere criticism. During April to August, 1913, the readers of the “Rossendale Free Press” were confronted with many letters on the subject of Tariff Reform. Myself (under the nom de plume of Democrat) and others wrote in opposition to Tariff Reform and the party advocating it. In one of Gordon’s letters he requested me to read Longfellow’s poem-
“Be noble in every thought
And in every deed !”

The last time I met our patriot it was on Easter week. He then looked in good health, and spoke in glowing terms of the Army life. Yet ’tis true, none can foretell the results of war, when all other problems and political issues shrink into insignificance. As the Lacdaemonians in ancient days sacrificed all they possessed:-
“Go tell the Spartans thou that passest by
That here obedient to their laws we die”
Gordon’s end was a brave and courageous one, his death was the death of a martyr for freedom.
In the words of Tolstoy, “The advance of humanity towards righteousness is due not to tyrants but to martyrs” with these remarks-
The toll of war tells sadly
In the village home where he was held most dear,
Hearts are now stricken with sorrow grief and tear,
Hearts that are yearning for his kindly face,
His voice his touch to fill the silent place.

No passion flower which bloome’d for you and me,
Will ever fill the vacant chair left by he,
No mother’s last embrace and fondling kiss,
Would touch the cheek of him they miss.

No more to roam the sunkissed hills,
Of Rossendale, where those pleasant rills
Send out the joy of Nature’s music sweet,
For now he lies in dreamless sleep.

No more, no more will he wield the pen
On topics important that interest men,
No more will the Press publish his letters,
For he has died to free us from fetters.

Brave deeds, thou wrought in ancient days,
Are mirrored in histories warring page.
They tell of men who nobly fought and died
Where duty placed them side by side.

Since last he bade farewell to fathers home
He’s sacrificed his blood and bone
To fight for England while there was breath
A splendid soldier dies a hero’s death.

Yes, for honours sake the ghastly deed was done
For honours sake his duty was not to shun
His days of active life through mart and street
Are gone forever yet leave a memory sweet.R.H.HEYS.
New Mills Stockport.

Joe White No 8407 8thBattalion D Company Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Gordon’s friend Joe White mentioned earlier survived the war and became the well-known Secretary of the then Discharged Soldiers and Sailors living at 14 Cooperation Street Crawshawbooth, but alas was to succumb to the terrible influenza epidemic of 1919, dying from the illness within a day of his own father who had the Robin Hood pub in Edgeside Holme.

Joe lies buried in Rawtenstall Cemetery under a Commonwealth War Graves headstone

The letters from Gordon’s long running argument with the Democrat amongst others are reproduced here and can be found in the Rossendale Free Press of May 1913 and quite entertaining it must have been too, like a long running soap perhaps?.

THE TARIFF QUESTION
TO THE EDITOR
Sir , – Would you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper to criticise a very bold statement made by Councillor J.Taylor, J.P.. at the Scoutbottom Liberal Club and reported in your issue of March 22nd . the statement I refer to is that : “From a revenue stand point Tariff Reform would be a huge failure”. On February 28th Mr Ure made an appearance in Manchester and used a similar argument and explained it in the very same way that Councillor Taylor explains it, namely. “What taxes will you lay on? Is your Tariff for revenue or Protection?. Mr Bonar Law (our leader ) answered “We shall put on our Tariff for the sake of both, and we shall secure both”. “The answer meant that goods would come in and at the same time stay out; that a thing is and a thing is not”. The answer meant nothing of the sort. Practical experience shows that Tariff countries today employ their customs duties for protective and revenue purposes. The American Tariff gives protection and brings in revenue. The German Tariff gives protection and brings in revenue. And so will the reformed British Tariff. The explanation of the (Mr Taylor and Mr Ure ) phenomenon is that some goods are kept out by protective duties while others are able to come in despite of the Tariff . it is worth while pointing out that the Exchequer gains in either case. For, when foreign goods are kept out and products of native manufacture take their place, the “internal” revenue benefits by reason of additional production and employment so afforded. Every £100 worth of increased production means increased revenue from rates and taxes, and every man on that additional production will necessarily contribute to the nations wealth in the process of spending his wages. Mr Ures pet argument supported by Councillor Taylor is that Tariff Reform would fail to bring in anything like an adequate amount of revenue. In his latest speech he placed the sum it was likely to raise from manufactured imports at 2-1.7 million pounds. “That ” he said, was “why Tariff Reform was the most colossal swindle ever attempted on the people of this country”. The following facts largely discount his fatuous objurgation. Firstly, his estimate is not based on the avowed proposals of tariff Reformers. They propose an average duty of 10 percent on imported manufactures, the duty varying with the amount of labour represented in the commodities imported . Mr Ure takes an average duty of 5 percent . Secondly, in making his estimate Mr Ure excludes over 50 percent of our manufactured imports because they are not completely finished. Thirdly Mr. Chiozza Money M.P. a Gentleman whose statistical abilities are somewhat more conspicuous than the Lord Advocate’s, admitted so long ago as 1907 that an average 10 percent duty on imports of manufactures would raise 13 million pounds a year. Manufactured imports have increased since then so the revenue therefrom would be proportionally greater, let Councillor J.Taylor J.P. know that his “pet argument” has been exploded many times and is only a very weak argument against Tariff Reform , so weak that it would be wise to send it back to his leaders and tell them that if there is no stronger argument “Free Trade” is doomed in the country . Thanking you in anticipation, I am yours etc,
-GORDON WHITTAKER..

A swift reply came from the Democrat to Gordon’s letter in the following issue of the Free Press!

TARIFF REFORM AND IT’S MOTLEY CREW
TO THE EDITOR

Sir – Your correspondent Gordon Whittaker seems to be suffering from grave disappointment. The word “Democrat” seems to stick in the forepart of his neck. Three times in his last letter he disgorges some ranting declaration as to who this “Democrat” might be , I have no desire to choke him, and I hope he will soon get over it ; still I am quite content with my nom de plume. In my last letter to your valuable paper I gave some homely advice to those who were inimical. I was asked by Gordon Whittaker to know the meaning of Democrat and I have so far succeeded in making it’s definition as clear as the noon day sun. It is perfectly obvious that Gordon Whittaker exhibits a very pronounced form of prevarication which is characteristic of the party to which he belongs and, from his letters he has developed a state of shallow flippancy. He is too, very unstable, first he takes up position of bold attack , and then when opposition appears he suddenly evacuates that position and takes up another of mild and feeble defence. Reverting back to our previous letters , in one of them I made remarks that the American worker is no better off than the British worker , This I maintain and I conscientiously believe that the American workers with their Tariff slavery have been robbed, and have allowed their country for many years (as we are now allowing ours) to be the happy hunting ground for the protectionist trust maker.
Nowhere have the crude fallacies of protectionist argument , the contention that the protectionist duties benefit working men , and that you make a nation richer by making goods dearer, been more vigorously preached by Trust fed Politicians and a Trust owned Press. In his letter for April 19 Gordon Whittaker refers with his usual and useless pernicious bigotry in regard to the Marconi scheme. It is idiotic for the Tariffists to make accusations against Ministers for investigating in an American Company which has no connection with British Government contracts, for they would do well to compare the high standard of morality recognised by Radical administrations with that of the Tory party. While no Liberal Minister since 1882 has been allowed to hold a single directorship while in office, the two Tory administrations held between them eighty nine directorships in companies which in many cases were interested in Government contracts. Gordon Whittaker says “Democrat” would do well to look at the figures for the Presidential election , and note the large majority of 1,500,000 for Protection. I have seen those figures and made remarks about them in my last letter . It is evident “you” are under the influence of moral strabismus , and subject to reading between the lines, or you would have noticed my remarks. On this point I have proved that in the House of Representatives there is a Democratic majority, and they are at the present time getting to the heart of the fiscal mystery . They now know, and have informed the world, that Protection or Tariff Reform, which is one and the same meaning, or atrocious crime , necessarily tends to destroy and ruin a nation. The Democratic party of America have made a bold start for the removal of the heavy load of Protection which has rested so long on American shoulders. President Wilson has himself dismissed as “audacious and impudent” the pretence that high Protection is a benefit to the worker. It is true the more Democratic the Government of any country becomes, the greater it’s freedom from political corruption will grow. Surely , Mr Editor, our abstruse and zany crank is not enmeshed in the garbage of superfluity, or plainly speaking, using too many words. Gordon, did you say “scurrilous”? I am sorry; in fact I thought your hide was too thick for anything to penetrate , but after writing that sentence I imagine you would sit back in your chair and try and understand it. I hope you inwardly digest it. Doubtless you thought it sounded severe, though it only succeeded in being silly. I can almost catch a faint echo of the words you would say to yourself, ” What a terrible plight the day of my birth was to me.” It may probably give you inspiration in allowing me to tell you, there is more knowledge to-day than ever there was, an’ there’s more cranks. Could only the Tariff Reform League get rid of it’s cranks in the same way as the factories get rid of their cinders, an’ pay so much a load for cartin’ them away, the unemployed would be busy shovelin’ from now till the next Haley’s Comet appears. Before I conclude, allow me, Mr Editor, to plead once more with our forlorn and shipwrecked brother, let me ask him once more to leave those motley crew of Bandits, come out of the quagmire and abyss into which “you” have allowed “yourself “to sink so low. Abdicate “yourself ” from the party with the manners of a Yahoo, and who now in the House of Commons indulges in antics which are happily rare in the human species, which is only a mere description of the wandering tribe of Tariff Reformers.-
Thanking you Mr. Editor, once more I am etc,
-”DEMOCRAT.”
May 12th, 1913.

After Democrat’s letter, another plea from Gordon was published in the same issue

TO THE EDITOR

Sir- In answer to your correspondent “Conservative Free Trader”, of the 7th inst., let me point out that before I can make any arrangements for a debate I must know who “Democrat” is. The questions which C.F.T. says are the most important must be boldly and manfully faced, and the fallacies and mendacities of the Free Trade case must be ruthlessly exposed. There-fore if “Democrat ” is willing to defend Free Trade and condemn Tariff Reform, and is a man with reasoning abilities, then I will consider meeting him in a debate . Hoping that he will now disclose his identity and be a man and show his cause is worthy of his name, I am yours etc,
GORDON WHITTAKER
Also in the same issue that our two opponents aired their views of each other, another observer entered the fray.

TO THE EDITOR..
Sir,- I have followed during the last few weeks the controversy in your paper between “Democrat” and Gordon Whittaker, and I sincerely sympathise with “Democrat” in his effort to convert this advocate of “the motley crew”. He is certainly beyond the reach of reason ; no argument however plain and logical, appears to have had the least effect on his moribund mind. Scientists tell us that a certain stage of a man’s life the molecules of his brain solidify , and render him incapable of comprehending fresh ideas, and I look upon Mr Whittaker as a living proof of this theory. For many years he has been a persistent pest in the columns of your paper , simply repeating in a “parrot-like” form, the old stale arguments of the “Protectionist Brotherhood”. Times without number he has had his statements ridiculed and proved erroneous and absurd, still he continues to persist in the propagation of his insane doctrine. As he has not put any propositions yet that are worthy of replies, I will ask him (if he thinks he has a case) to give us in a lucid form, what he really proposes to do , stating clearly the relations of “Labour and Capital,” defining the true meaning of the terms “wealth” and “capital”, explicitly stating the ways and means by which he intends to carry on the production and distribution of wealth, so that we may for once clear the air of any uncertain matter and march on, “each siding each , the higher truth to find”. Yours etc.

ANTI-PROTECTIONIST.

Excerpt from War Diary 8th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps and the action in which Gordon Whittaker lost his life.

29/7/1915
Thursday
Sanctuary wood
Dugouts made, Communication Trenches cleared, parapets raised especially in F1. 7thK.R.R relieved 8th K.R.R about midnight. 8th Battalion returns to Ypres, A+D Coys to Ramparts near Lille Gate, B+C Coys to dug outs near White House west of Asylum.

30/7/1915
Friday
Enemy attack trenches occupied by 8th Rifle Brigade+7th Kings Royal Rifles at 3.am using Liquid fire on G3+G4. Front Line Trenches opposite Zouave Wood lost. Bombardment by our guns and counter bombardment opens at 3.45.am. Platoons of 8th Kings Royal Rifles ordered to reinforce 8th Rifle Brigade in Zouave Wood.
D.Coy (Gordon Whittaker’s) leads off getting to Zouave Wood at 6.30 am. The 3 Platoons are under Major Green and Captain Barber, remainder of Battalion goes to Sanctuary Wood.
The three Platoons of D Company reinforce A Company of the 8th Rifle Brigade at the edge of Zouave Wood and are heavily shelled and are withdrawn to Sanctuary Wood at 12.noon.
Lt Hawkes R.A.M.C is killed just past Bridge 14 on the way up to Sanctuary Wood with the Battalion.. Intensive Bombardment by our Artillery opens at 2.15pm, counter attack arranged for 2.45pm. 8th Battalion to support 7th Battalion and attack to be launched from Sanctuary Wood and the Rifle Brigades from Zouave Wood. Enemy machine gun fire makes it impossible to leave wood, edge of wood being heavily crumped, a few platoons succeed in getting some way out from wood, A and B Company’s in front line supported by C Company, D Company kept in reserve in trench near Headquarters in Sanctuary Wood

About 3.15a.m. a message was received by Colonel Green from Major Seymour saying that the 7th Battalion and our own advance was stuck up, and asking whether he should again attempt to push on. Colonel Green seeing that the Rifle Brigade attack had also been held up decided to hold on and ask for orders. The order was shortly received from the Brigadier not to press the attack further. Colonel Green issued orders for a trench to be dug through Sanctuary Wood at the point held by our firing line; this was done by all available men, and helped by the 7th Notts and Derby’s and the D.C.L.I who had sent two Companies to reinforce.

The losses had been very and the Medical arrangements were entirely inadequate and with Dr Hawkes having been killed only one Doctor was available to deal with over 500 cases. Great difficulties were experienced in finding and collecting the wounded in the thick woods, and when found in bringing them in to the dressing station. With it being impossible to bring the ambulances within 900 yards of the first aid station, many men had to remain out exposed for over 24 hours.
This coupled with the fact the Battalion had no rations for 36 hours and suffered for the want of water, caused the loss of many riflemen who might have been saved.
At about 3.a.m. a terrific rifle and machine gun fire was opened by both sides and the Artillery, Flare lights, and rockets of both sides added to the confusion of what appeared to be a heavy night attack took place.
The 7th Battalion and A and D had been relieved, and only B and C Company’s and machine Guns were present and the two of them took up positions and awaited developments under Colonel Green.
One Machine Gun under rifleman Bentley particularly distinguished itself.
At daybreak the firing died down and the two Company’s having been relieved withdrew.

The Sketch below shows the area where Gordon Whittaker fought and died along with 10 Officers, and 190 men, killed wounded or missing of his Battalion, the 8th Kings Royal Rifle Corps.

Just along the Menin Road past Hooge Crater Museum, is a Memorial Cross to the various  Battalions of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps who fought in Flanders, the base of which is shown in the picture on the left,  there is a similar one near Poziers, on the Somme.