World War 1

Retlaw

Retlaw

Pillar o' t' Community
Tackler
As some of you may know I'm reseaching the lives of men from Greater Accrington, (now Hyndburn) who served in the first World War.
I now have the names of over 14000 men and photos of near 3000 of them.
What I can't understand is how so many men can have so few descendants on Accy Web. If any of you have any photo's, postcards, letters or diaries from that era
could you let me know.

Thanks
Retlaw.
 
me grandad did retlaw,but sadly you probably know more about him than i do,was only around 13 when he died.
 
My great grandad was Arnold Kay from Clayton-le-Moors. Do you have anything on him??
My mother has a photo of him in his uniform which I'll try and get a copy of if you don't have him already.
Is there a reason for you doing this Retlaw??
 
churchman phil said:
My great grandad was Arnold Kay from Clayton-le-Moors. Do you have anything on him??
My mother has a photo of him in his uniform which I'll try and get a copy of if you don't have him already.
Is there a reason for you doing this Retlaw??
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Hi Churchman
I have nothing on an Arnold Kay from Clayton.

I have an Arthur Kay from Rishton.

Did Arnold live in Clayton when the war started, do you know regiment and number ?.

Why am I doing it. It started some 20 years ago doing research for William Turner on some of the "Pals".

Just started collecting bits of information on other men I came across, until it developed into what it now is.

Can't stop.

Retlaw.
 
Can I claim my descendancy please?

I'm afraid that I have no photos, letters, or anything, but know I had two relations who served, believe a third probably did, and have an inkling re a fourth.

I'll PM you some names to see if you have anything - and to check that my idea of Accrington co-incides with the locals!
 
Deffo not Arthur.
Was Arnold Kay, was married to Annie (Riley) and had three children (one my grandmother) on his return from the war. He eventually died of respiratory problems in the mid 20's iirc. Will try and get more info for you if you like.
 
churchman phil said:
Deffo not Arthur.
Was Arnold Kay, was married to Annie (Riley) and had three children (one my grandmother) on his return from the war. He eventually died of respiratory problems in the mid 20's iirc. Will try and get more info for you if you like.
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Yes please.
Are you sure he lived in Greater Accrington at the outbreak of WW1

Retlaw.
 
I know for sure two of my great grandfathers served in the Great War.

One was Walter Jones of Oswaldtwistle, who also served in the Boer War by lying about his age, saying he was older than he was.

The other was Alfred Martin, who never recovered from being gassed in the trenches, and died ten years after the war had ended.

Both of those lived in Oswaldtwistle.

Another great grandfather lived in Accrington, by the name of Issac John Rushton. I presume he served in the war. (Issac could be spelled Isaac, I can't read my own writing.)

We've certainly photographs, medals, and other paperwork relating to Alfred Martin.
 
garinda said:
I know for sure two of my great grandfathers served in the Great War.

One was Walter Jones of Oswaldtwistle, who also served in the Boer War by lying about his age, saying he was older than he was.

The only Walter Jones I have is Pte. 235907. A.S.C. lived at 10 Oswald St Clayton.

The other was Alfred Martin, who never recovered from being gassed in the trenches, and died ten years after the war had ended.

Alfred Martin Pte. 386028 A.S.C. lived at 9 Jubilee St. Ossy. worked for Enfield Manufacturing Co.

Both of those lived in Oswaldtwistle.

Another great grandfather lived in Accrington, by the name of Issac John Rushton. I presume he served in the war. (Issac could be spelled Isaac, I can't read my own writing.)

No record of an Isaac John Rushton.

We've certainly photographs, medals, and other paperwork relating to Alfred Martin.
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May I, at your convenience copy the photo of Alfred Martin for my collection of Heroes.

Retlaw
 
Retlaw said:
May I, at your convenience copy the photo of Alfred Martin for my collection of Heroes.

Retlaw
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Yes of course. There's certainly some of him in uniform, and I think there's some of him in those blue(?) uniforms, they wore when they were sent to convalesce back home after being gassed.

All the stuff is at my family home, so hopefully I'll search it out for you this week, and pm you when I've done it.
 
As I wasn,t born in Acc dist I have none but my wife has lots, here are some.
Francis Whittaker #240106 D-Oct.18,1918, we have a photo of him in uniform.
Christopher Marsden #15691 D-May.17,1915. James Dowling #10160 D-Aug.28,1916.
Jonathan Dowling #19679 D-Sept.3,1916. John W. Patterson #12267 D-Oct.23,1916.
She also lost a couple of uncles in the second WW.
 
Retlaw said:
May I, at your convenience copy the photo of Alfred Martin for my collection of Heroes.

Retlaw
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I've just realised Walter Jones would still have been in Wales then, so that's why he's not on your list.

Issac Rushton I've worked would have been in his early fifties at the outbreak of war, so ditto.
 
HARTLEY, Pte. John James, 9552 (2nd Bn., Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt.)); s. of Matthew and Margaret Hartley of 14 Adelaide Street, Accrington; k.i.a. 23rd November 1917 (20); comm. Arras Memorial. [1, 2, 3, 4]

HARTLEY, Rifleman Thomas Howarth, 2710 (7th Bn., Royal Irish Rifles); s. of Matthew and Margaret Hartley of 14 Adelaide Street, Accrington; k.i.a. 9th September 1916 (24); comm. Thiepval Memorial. [1, 2, 3, 4]

These are my two great uncles, I never met them obviously, as I was not born until 1952.
 
ossy kid said:
As I wasn,t born in Acc dist I have none but my wife has lots, here are some.
Francis Whittaker #240106 D-Oct.18,1918, we have a photo of him in uniform.
Christopher Marsden #15691 D-May.17,1915. James Dowling #10160 D-Aug.28,1916.
Jonathan Dowling #19679 D-Sept.3,1916. John W. Patterson #12267 D-Oct.23,1916.
She also lost a couple of uncles in the second WW.
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Jonathan Dowling Pte. 19679. 6/7th Royal Scots K.I.A. 4-9-1916.
Age 23 worked at Blythes Chemicals
Widow and 3 children at 6 Tattersall St Os.
Mother lived at 46 Havelock St, Os
Buried in Contalmaison Cemetery

James Dowling Cpl 10160 2nd East Lancs
enlisted age 18. K.I.A. 28-8-1916 age 26.
Mother lived at 46 Havelock St, Os.
Treasured possession a Queen Mary gift box which stopped a German
bullet. Mother lived at 46 Havelock St, Os
Buried in Vermelles Cemetery
Another brother serving. Have'nt identified him yet

Retlaw
 
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ossy kid said:
As I wasn,t born in Acc dist I have none but my wife has lots, here are some.
Francis Whittaker #240106 D-Oct.18,1918, we have a photo of him in uniform.

Francis Whittaker Pte. 240106. 1/5th East Lancs formerly Pte. 1477. 1/5th. died 18-10-1918. buried in St Sever Cemetery France.
age 22 awarded the D.C.M. widow lives at 130 Whalley Rd C-l-Moors.
worked at Howard & Bulloughs. Four brothers in the army.
I have a picture of Francis, but he's not in uniform.
May I at some time copy your picture.

Chris Marsden Pte. 15691. 2nd Royal Scots.
K.I.A. 17-5-1915 age 26.
Son of Christopher & Margaret Marsden
Widow Catherine Marsden
No known grave. Le Touret Memorial
Not on any Local War Memorial


Christopher Marsden #15691 D-May.17,1915. James
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Ernie said:
HARTLEY, Pte. John James, 9552 (2nd Bn., Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt.)); s. of Matthew and Margaret Hartley of 14 Adelaide Street, Accrington; k.i.a. 23rd November 1917 (20); comm. Arras Memorial. [1, 2, 3, 4]

HARTLEY, Rifleman Thomas Howarth, 2710 (7th Bn., Royal Irish Rifles); s. of Matthew and Margaret Hartley of 14 Adelaide Street, Accrington; k.i.a. 9th September 1916 (24); comm. Thiepval Memorial. [1, 2, 3, 4]

These are my two great uncles, I never met them obviously, as I was not born until 1952.
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Ive got those two in my files. I lived in Hargreaves St not far from where their parents lived.

Do you have any pictures of your uncles.

Retlaw.
 
churchman phil said:
Have you got a website of these details Retlaw? To aid genealogy searches??
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No I've tried to make a web site but I can't get it to work as I want so gave up. I wanted to make it like burnleyinthegreatwar.

Websites cost money and take up a lot of time.
I've still got a 2 year backlog of work on what I'm doing now.

Retlaw.
 
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