A few words...

Since 2014 I have been adding names and any information i can find about the men from both WW1 and WW2 on the memorial.

And as of 2018 and into 2019, more pages have been added.

Whilst doing my research I have found evidence of some soldiers who served

before 1914

So i have started a new page called Pre 1914

to record their names.

These pages show my progress in researching all the men who are on the memorial or served and returned from duty from not only from WW1 and WW2, but any other war.

A few pictures are also included.

Discovering those who were demobilized, injured and found too young to serve.

In the Gallery there are extra pictures of their CWGC gravestones, family graves and more.

Thank you

John Melling

2020

Returned from Duty, Continued ...

Due to running out of space in some of my pages and sections.

This new page will run roughly from A to Z with new names discovered.

296 names so far as of 10\6\2020

A Rough count up

296 + 106 KIA = 402 men of Clayton le Woods and Whittle le Woods who served in WW1

The 106 KIA is minus the 3 mistakes on the memorial

I wonder how many more men's names are to be found?

Thomas Standish Atkinson

Born 1892

K35478

The last ship served on Victory X

Enlisted from 5 August 1916

Demobilized 17 February 1919

Died 3 January 1961 at Deepdale Hospital

Lived a Diamond Villa, Whittle le Woods

Wife Gertrude nee Silcock

Married someone else, possible Bigamy

Brother of Richard Atkinson, Killed in Action

263

Robert Barton

Born c1876

Age: 39 and 1 month

Rank: Gunner

Reg no: 165301

6 Siege Bty, RGA

Also ASC , 45301

He enlisted on 11 December 1915 at Chorley

Demobilized on 10 April 1919

Living at Clayton Green

During service on 31 July 1918, whilst returning from watering the horses, a squadron of aeroplanes came over, flying very low! The horse became startled and bolted to the woods and Robert Barton collided with a tree throwing him to the ground!

Sister is Mary Elizabeth Williams

264

Christopher Blundell

Born c1897

Age: 18 and 11 months

Rank: Pte

Reg no: 24447

6th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Enlisted in December 1915 in Chorley

Demobilized in 1919

Name is not on the Whittle le Woods 1914 -1915 Roll of Honour

Served in India and Mesopotamia

Lived at Somerset House, Whittle Springs

265

Finch Blundell

Born c1899

Age: 17 and 8 months

Rank: Pte

Reg no: 68174 also 312765

107 Training Res Battalion

Transferred to 104 TR battalion then Royal Engineers (inland water)

Enlisted 19 March 1917 at Chorley

Demobilized on 30 January 1919

End of the middle finger on the left hand missing.

Deformed chest

Boatman as trade

Lived at Somerset House, Whittle Springs

Brother of above

266

Harold Borsay

Born in 1891

Age: 28 at the time of discharge

Reg no: 37477

Rank: Pte

MGC

Discharged on 6 March 1919 with a disability

Harold would get married in 1920 to Alice Lyon

They had two children, John, born 1921 and Vera born 1925

I believe they lived in the Boston, Lincolnshire area

Harold died on 5 March 1981

267

Edward Corless* another brother

268

William H Evans

Age:

Reg no: 31536

Rank: Sgt

RFA

Discharged on 18 October 1917, due to a disability.

Living at Radburn Brow, Clayton Green

269

Harry Johnson

Reg no: 5871

Rank: Pte,

10 (Scottish) Kings Liverpool Regiment

166 Brigade

Promoted top L/Cpl then reverted to Pte

Enlisted 30 November 1915

Demobilized on 17 February 1919

Injured in a bomb training exercise, involving 25 men on 22 November 1916.

A court of enquiry assembled on 23 November 1916

270

Nicholas Rigby

Born 1891

Age:

Reg no: 2438

Rank: Fitter

RFA

Discharged on 3 May 1918 possibly due to a disability\injury

Lived at Clayton le Woods

271

William Snape- different one

Born 1900

Age: 18

Reg no: 83324

Rank: Pte

52 and 53 Training Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment

Enlisted on 27 Match 1918 at Preston

Discharged on 13 September 1918 as found no longer phsically fit for war service

Had an issue with his heart muscles, shortness of breathe

Lived at Tootell Terrace, Whittle le Woods, Father is William Snape

A warehouseman by trade

272

Harry Tuson

Age: 28 and 9 months

Reg no: 85187

Rank: Gunner

24 Siege Battery, RGA

Enlisted on 9 December 1915

As of his enlistment, he is living at Brownley Terrace, Clayton le Woods

He was a Warehouseman

He married Lilly Desoer

Parents are James Tuson and Isabella Dewhurst

273

Leo Westhead

Born in 1889

Age: 28

Reg no\Service no: 235482

RFC\RAF

I think he served from 13 August 1917 at\on PRESIDENT II and other places

Until 31 March 1918

Trade was a Grocers Manager

In 1911 he was living at Lukes Row, with parents and siblings

In 1939 he lived with his own family at The Gables. Wigan Rd

With wife Ellen and children Lilly and Leo

Trade still was a Grocers Manager

Son of James and Ellen Westhead

Brother of Wilfred and Thomas who also served

274

John (Sagar) Reynard

Son of Benjamin and Elizabeth

He and possible brother J C Reynard are on the Methodist Church Roll of honour

Their father Benjamin is named as living at a Mechanic, Living on Preston Road in the General & Commercial Directory of Preston 1917

275

Arnold Hart

An Arnold Hart is living at Towns Brow Clayton Le Woods Nr Chorley as of the 1911 census, aged 11.

Official name Thomas Arnold Hart

Possible war service -

31426 Transport Sergeant with the Border Regiment,

also 58687 21st Manchester Regiment

Ernest Hart

Likely brother of above

Born 1900, no sign of him yet in the census

276, 277

Henry Warbrick

Born1896

Rank: Pte

Reg no: 201759

1/5 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Another no is 4520, same Regiment

Enlisted and served from the 10 November 1915 until

Discharged as of 4 April 1919 due to injury

He got gangrene whilst in the trenches

Married Mary Prescott

Children are Betty, Monica and Bill

Died aged 76 on 24 August 1972

Oldest Brother of Thomas Warbrick(Born1889)

Uncle of Thomas Warbrick(Born 1917, Killed in Action in 1944)

278

Paul Gent

Rank: Pte

Reg no: 76418

Devonshire Regiment

Formerly 29036 with 20th Lancashire Fusiliers

Lived at Whittle le Woods according to the article in the Lancashire Evening Post dated Friday 8th September 1916 which says he was wounded with the Lancashire Fusiliers

Further research has found he later served with the Devonshire Regiment Reg no 76418

And was demobilized on 5 October 1919

279

J T Little, also known as James Thomas Little

An advert in the Preston Herald, Saturday 18 August 1917

stated he was shortly leaving to join the colours - no mention of who he would be joining

Lived at Shaw Brow, Whittle Le Woods as of 1911

Married Sarah A Schofield in 1904

Children are Frederick, Thomas and Herbert

He was a well known Whittle le Woods overseer.

However, he was possibly also involved in allegations of press-ganging local men into joining up

280

Walter Snape - to check

Age: 39 and 1 month

Reg no: 190039

Rank: Gunner

1 Depot, Royal Field Artillery

He enlisted on 9 December 1915 at Chorley

Discharged as of 22 September 1917 at Preston

His military character described as good and steady and sober

An Insurance Agent by trade

Married Alice Smith and had children -

Veronica Snape born 21 January 1915

William Standing Snape born 10 September 1916

Living at Rose Cottage, Whittle le Woods as of enlistment.

His name is not on the 1914 -1915 Roll of Honour

281

? Bouskill

His name is on the Methodist Church Roll of Honour

282

Alfred Laytham - as of 18 May 2020

Reg no: 164873

Rank: Spr

Royal Engineers

His name is posted in the wounded list for Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 09 October 1917

3rd October Daily List

Whittle le Woods

283

Herbert Stirzaker - as of 18 May 2020

Rank: Pte

Reg no: 53658

1/5 Lancashire Fusiliers

I found him by a fluke as I was searching the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) dated 22 October 1918

And found his surname and initial and number under the Lancashire Fusiliers wounded section after a long time sifting through

284

Norman Longton- as of 18 May 2020

Reg no: 34626

Rank: Pte

Cheshire Regiment

Awarded the M.M before 12 June 1918

Found his name in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 18 June 1918

MM mention is In the UK, British Army Recipients of the Military Medal, 1914-1920 but no picture or any clues

Need to try and trace it

On the service medal and award roll, it's said he served with -

6th Cheshire Reg

10th Cheshire Reg

7th Cheshire Reg

remarks- Infantry Base Depot

Possibly married Alice Bisby in 1920, Brindle

Think his father is Lawrence Longton

285

R F Heap

Rank: Gnr

Reg no: 334648

RGA

Found his information at last whilst looking through the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry )- Tuesday 18 December 1917

Also mentioned on 8 December 1917

He is listed with the RGA as wounded.

Another Brother of Christopher and Walter, KIA

Living in Clayton le Woods

286

Frederick Hilton - new as of 19 MAY 2020

Rank: Cpl or Pte

Reg no: 11976

Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Whittle le Woods

Service reckons from 5 July 1915

Posted at missing in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 28 May 1918

Name is in the list of men from the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment who were released prisoners of war from Germany in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 24 December 1918

Class Z demobilised on 19 February 1919

287

William Roscoe - New as of 19 May 2020

Born in 1894

Reg no:201934

Rank: L/Cpl

2/4 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Enlisted as of 2 December 1915

Discharged as of 18 August 1918

Formerly Reg no 4744, 2/4 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Entitled to the Silver War Badge

Whittle Springs

Listed as Wounded

As of 19 May 2020 I found this new soldier with his name listed under the wounded section of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in the Daily list of 26 November in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 04 December 1917

288

Walter Houghton- New as of 19 May 2020

Reg no: G/52016

2 Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

Whittle le Woods

Clayton le Woods

Discharged on 18 March 1918

Found his name in the Wounded section of the Middlesex Regiment

whilst looking through the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 21 August 1917

The daily list of 13 August

To add more research

289

Robert Heap

Whittle le Woods and Wheelton

He was wounded and taken prisoner of war in Germany,

To Research

See Brothers profiles

290

John Thomas Smith

Reg no: 37295

Rank: Pte

10 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

9 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

2/4 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

In the wounded section of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 15 October 1918

Whittle le Woods

Discharged 17 January 1919

291

W Cuerden - likely to be Wilfred Cuerden, as of 20 May 2020

Rank: Pte

Reg no: 60562

Machester Regiment

Whittle le Woods

Brother of Austin Cuerden

I found his name in the Machester Regiment wounded list of the War Office Daily list of 10th July 1918 within Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) - Tuesday 16 July 1918

I have then found his name in the medal roll which shows he joined the Labour Corp as Pte 621350

292