Accrington Research

[Mary90]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Mary. I apologise on behalf of Retlaw. AccringtonLibrary (upstairs) have a very big WW1 collection of books & cuttings. You could do with going in when Kath or John are on duty. About 4 years ago a student at Lancaster University did a similar study.

Hi Bob, thank you for your information. I have already been to Accrington library and gone through the files on the Pals, and read through many newspapers They were really lovely and helpful in the library! Unfortunatly in Sheffield they don't collect any articles on the Pals, so i had to trail through every newspaper from the 1st July 1916!

[Bob Dobson]

Have you tried Burnley and Chorley libraries? There are groups in those towns which are active. If you struggle to find contacts, send me a PM

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Have you tried Burnley and Chorley libraries? There are groups in those towns which are active. If you struggle to find contacts, send me a PM

Don't involve her with that Chorley lot, the number of mistakes in the Chorley Pals books, is unbelievable, I've printed out six new pages, for Accrington Libraries copy of their book. One great blunder is attached.
His real name is Richard Ormerod L/Cpl 15173 Burnley Coy, Lewis Gunner, K.I.A. July 1st 1916, I have an original photo of him & a copy of his personal diary, also been in contact with his family.
Retlaw.

[entwisi]

Having seen how much work Retlaw has done I'd say ask nicely if he will spend a day with you and go through his records, he has amassed so much info its silly and admireable in the same breath.... I do have one bug bear which I did raise with him a few years ago(but like me he's a stubborn old goat! ) is that he's stuck in his old version of some decrepid old software which whilst it works for him and may be more efficient for him to add to makes his data old(and obsolete) before its finished.

IMHO a well presented web view of his reserch wold be a joy to behold and a superb resource for the next 200 years...

I hope that when the inevitable happens( theres nowt as sure as death and taxes!) his info is converted to a useable web form and stored in something like the British Library, IMHO that would be a better epitaph than any stone up Burnley road!

@Retlaw, please please please ensure that if no one else wants it you pass it top me and I'll promise to do my best! I dont know where my ancesters were back then( I know my dad was in Fleet Air arms in WW2 but not much further back) but I'd absolutely hate to see your research wasted.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by entwisi

Having seen how much work Retlaw has done I'd say ask nicely if he will spend a day with you and go through his records, he has amassed so much info its silly and admireable in the same breath.... I do have one bug bear which I did raise with him a few years ago(but like me he's a stubborn old goat! ) is that he's stuck in his old version of some decrepid old software which whilst it works for him and may be more efficient for him to add to makes his data old(and obsolete) before its finished.

IMHO a well presented web view of his reserch wold be a joy to behold and a superb resource for the next 200 years...

I hope that when the inevitable happens( theres nowt as sure as death and taxes!) his info is converted to a useable web form and stored in something like the British Library, IMHO that would be a better epitaph than any stone up Burnley road!

@Retlaw, please please please ensure that if no one else wants it you pass it top me and I'll promise to do my best! I dont know where my ancesters were back then( I know my dad was in Fleet Air arms in WW2 but not much further back) but I'd absolutely hate to see your research wasted.

Hi Ian
I thought I had finished researching the Pals, so I contacted the publisher of William Turners Books, they told me it was unsaleable, they would need to sell 300 copies just to break even, and who would want to buy a book of over 4000 names of genealogy info on the 11th Battalion East Lancs. I have now been thinking of printing it out on a special paper that the goverment use, it goes black if some one tries to photocopy it or scan it. Thought of Web pages too, although I've made some attempt, I cant get pages to link.
Now that the 1911 Census & the Silver Badge records have come on line, I'm now back into it, and adding still more info on the Pals, it was 389 pages, but looks like it will be over 400 before long,. Then theres my Accrington Heroes file over 14000 names, nearly 900 pages.
AND WordStar may be antiquated, but it beats any of Gill Bates's crap, there are quite a few of us around the world who still use WordStar.
The Stubborn, Awkward, Cantankerous old Goat, Retlaw

[Restless]

I'm sure more than 300 people would buy it. Webs site sounds like it is way to go. Did you try html raw or use a program like dreamweaver.

[Balbus]

Sometimes books like this are financed by people paying for them in advance of publication. Can we try that? Put me down for one.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Restless

I'm sure more than 300 people would buy it. Webs site sounds like it is way to go. Did you try html raw or use a program like dreamweaver.

I've had a look at programs like dreamweaver, trouble is their not in proper English, them septics have all sorts of daft words, and phrases, sometimes 3 or 4 meaning the same thing, by the time I've figured out what their up to, I've forgotton where I am, my short term memory is going to pot, I need a ready made program on the lines of Burnley in the Great War.
Then I might get some where.
Retlaw.

[stetrovers]

My grandad was from Accrington, but he was in the Lincolnshire Regiment, so, I assume not all Accrington Pals were from Accrington.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by stetrovers

My grandad was from Accrington, but he was in the Lincolnshire Regiment, so, I assume not all Accrington Pals were from Accrington.

No but Greater Accrington, supplied the most men.
There was supposed to be a full company (250 men) from Chorley & Burnley, but both of those towns fell short af their target, Chorley had a Blackburn contingent, qute a few of those were actually from Oswaldtwistle.
By the 11-11-1918, over 560 men from Accrington alone, had served in the 11th Battalion East Lancs.
Who was your Grandad.
Retlaw.

[Balbus]

A

[AngleIron]

Originally Posted by Mary90

Hi everyone! Im am currently researching the local history of Accrington and there role in World War One. I need at least 100 people to fill out this very short questionnaire. There is only 6 questions and it is completley anonymous! I need a wide demographic to answer the questionnaire to produce accurate results, so please can everyone and anyone answer the questions whether you no alot or nothing about history! Thankyou, it is REALLY appreciated just follow this link....
Accrington Pals Survey

form completed