• The data is the editor’s interpretation of documents from:

  • ALLINSON

    ALLINSON John
    Died 16 October 1918 Age 21
    Buried St Aubert British Cemetery V.B.2 France


    ALLINSON John
    Service Record Lance Corporal 43724 North Staffordshire Regiment 1st Battalion.

    Son of John Thomas and Esther Allinson of The Grove Silverdale. Killed in action near Cambrai

  • AMBROSE

    AMBROSE Henry (Harry)
    Died 18 July 1916 Age 29
    Remembered Thiepval Memorial Pier and face 5D France

    AMBROSE Henry
    Service Record

    Private 20449 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion.

    Killled in action at Longueval during the Battle of the Somme

    Son of Mrs Eliza Ambrose 10 Garmoyle Road, Liverpool

  • BELL

    BELL George Arthur
    Died 31 July 1917 Age
    Buried Tyne Cot Cemetery XLV111 Belgium

    Photograph of his grave

    BELL George Arthur
    Service Record

    Private 202884 Manchester Regiment 18th Battalion

  • BENJAMIN

    BENJAMIN William

    Died between 24 and 30 Sept 1916 Age 34
    Remembered Vimy Memorial

    BENJAMIN William
    Service Record

    Lance Corporal 446589 Canadian Infrantry (Alberta Regiment) 31st Battalion A Company

    Son of John and Annie Benjamin of Millhead, Carnforth and husband of Edith Benjamin of Exshaw Alberta

  • BOLTON J

    BOLTON James Richard
    Died 10 Oct 1918 Age 18
    Buried Silverdale St John Old Churchyard Extension B18



    NAME BOLTON James Richard
    Service Record

    Private 106456 King’s Liverpool Regiment 53rd (Graduated) Battalion
    Died of pneumonia in camp at Conway in North Wales

    He was boen in Pansy Cottage, Silverdale in July 1900. Eldest son of Richard James and May Bolton of Croftlands, Silverdale. James helped to build Croftlands.

  • BOLTON W

    BOLTON William Henry (Harry)
    Died 17 Apr 1918 Age 33
    Remembered Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial



    BOLTON William Henry
    Service Record

    Private 12/3558 Auckland Regiment 2nd Battalion New Zealand

    William was born on 7 February 1888 in Townsfield, Silverdale. He served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Beetham, Cumbria. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1910 and married Catherine Forsman in 1910.

    He volunteered in 1915 and fought at the Somme, Messins Ridge and Passchendale. He came back to Silverdale on leave in July 1917 and was killed the following year in France.

    Son of Richard Bolton of Silverdale and Emma Bolton of England and husband of Catharine Bolton of 1 Servia St, Newton, New Zealand.

  • BRAITHWAITE

    BRAITHWAITE John
    Died 11 Oct 1917 Age 24
    Buried Medinghem Military Cemetery VI E 10 Belgium


    BRAITHWAITE John
    Service Record

    Private S/3679 Seaforth Highlands 7th Battalion

    Died of wounds at a casualty clearing station.

  • BRIGGS

    BRIGGS John Maurice Winnington
    Died 10 May 1945 Age 35
    Buried Calgary Canada

    Photograph of his grave



    John Maurice Winnington BRIGGS
    Service Record

    Flight Lieutenant 47438 Royal Air Force Pathfinder Unit

    In January 1938 he joined the RAF at the age of 17, his older brother Gilbert also joined the RAF and was sadly killed before the start of the war.

    September 1940 awarded Distinguished Flying Medal
    November 1941 Received Commission
    October 1942 Promoted to Flying Officer
    April 1943 Awarded pilot wings in Calgary, Canada
    November 1943 Promoted to Flying Lieutenant and posted to 1409 Meteorological Unit (Pathfinder Unit)
    October 1944 Awarded Distinguished Service Order
    May 1945 Killed in an air accident at Calgary Canada.

    He had successfully flew 145 sorties into enemy territory during his RAF career.

    For more details, Sheila Spencer has written an article for the Mourholme Magazine,

    He was the son of John T. Briggs and Margaret Stewart Briggs of Silverdale

  • CHAMPION

    CHAMPION Eric Osborne
    Died 11 June 1917 Age 21
    Buried Bedford House Cemetery Enc II Belgium

    Photograph of Eric and his grave



    CHAMPION Eric Osborne
    Service Record

    Second Lieutenant South Lancashire Regiment 11th Battalion C Company

    He entered Rugby School in 1910 and was Head of his house when he left at the end of 1914. He also received his commission that year. After training in a Pioneer Battalion, he went to the Front in October 1915.

    Eric took part in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and again in October. He later spent three months in England suffering from a heart ailment. He returned to France in April 1917. He was killed by a high explosive shell while returning to billets with other soldiers during the Bombardment of the Third Battle of Ypres near Menin.

    Son of the late Francis Coverley and Amelia Charles Champion

  • CLARK T

    CLARK Thomas Postlethwaite
    Died 3 September 1916 Age 35
    Remembered Thiepval Memorial Pier and face 4A and 4D

    NAME CLARK Thomas Postlethwaite
    Service Record

    Private 20564 King’s Own Scottish Borders Regiment 2nd Battalion.

    Killed in action at Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme

    Son of the late William Clark of 21 Fell Croft Dalton in Furness and husband of Franes Clark of 9 Rock Villas Silverdale

  • CORNTHWAITE

    CORNTHWAITE John
    Died 7 July 1918 Age 27
    Buried Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension

    John CORNTHWAITE
    Service Record

    Gunner 190432 Royal Field Artillery 92nd Brigade ‘B’ Battery. Died of wounds at casuality clearing station near Arras.

    Son of George and Susan Cornthwaite of Belle Vista, Silverdale, native of Cark in Cartmel.

  • DOBSON

    DOBSON Ingram
    Died 12 Dec 1915 Age
    Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension IEI France

    Photograph of memorial


    DOBSON Ingram
    Service Record

    Private 80021 Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) 31st Battalion

    Died of wounds, accidentally shot in the thigh at Locre by a fellow soldier cleaning his rifle. There is a reference that a Court of Inquiry filed in an envelope dated 26 January 1916.

    Ingram Dobson’s army registration record states the following:
    Born in Milnthorpe, Westmorland on 19 March 1890. Next of kin Mrs A Woof, Exshaw, Calgary, Canada. He also served in the 5th Battalion of Kings Own Territorial Regiment, [Editor assumed to be Lancashire] signed Dec 14th 1914. The next of kin address is amended from Calgary to 3 Northern Terrace, Silverdale. Letter dated 5 February 1916. Unit sailed May 17 1915 on SS Northland to England.

    Calgary Herald published 22 December 1915

    To a large circle of friends in Calgary, and especially at Exshaw, the news contained in the official casualty list this morning that Pte. Ingram Dobson had died of wounds at the front will be received with the deepest regret.

    He was exceptionally well known in Calgary and district and for four years was employed by the Canada Cement company at Exshaw. When war was declared he immediately threw up his position with this company and joined the 31st battalion. According to a telegram that the company have received he was severely wounded in the thigh and died from the effects of his injuries at the No. 2 Canadian hospital, France.

    He was a native of Silverdale, Lancashire England, and during the whole time he was in the west had been employed by the Canada Cement Company. His name came in great prominence at the time of the Exshaw murder case, as he single-handed, captured Manelik, one of the thugs.

    His cheery, bright disposition won for him hosts of friends who will sincerely mourn his loss.

    More information about the murder at ExshawCanadian Great War Project

    The 1891 census shows that Ingram Dobson was living at Back Lane, Silverdale, Lancashire with his parents William Dobson who was a rural post messenger and his mother Annie.

    The 1901 census shows that Ingram Dobson aged 11, stepson was living at Burrows Yard with John Woof limestone quarryman aged 40, Ann Woof aged 38, along with his siblings Winifred Dobson aged 9 and Edith A Woof aged 1.

    The 1911 census it shows he is still living with his step father and his mother, aged 21 and is employed as a lime packer. The siblings living at the adress were Edith Annie Woof aged 11, Charles Robert Woof aged 9 and Jack Woof aged 4.

  • EDMONDSON F

    EDMONDSON Frederick
    Died 6 Jun 1916 Age 20
    Buried Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery C23 Belgium

    Photograph of his grave


    EDMONDSON Frederick
    Service Record

    Corporal Z/806 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) 12th Battalion

    Son of Richard and Mary Hannah Edmondson of Glenside Nursery, Silverdale.

  • EDMONDSON Tyson

    EDMONDSON Tyson
    Died 28 Mar 1918 Age 26
    Buried Englebelmer France

    Photograph of Tyson.


    EDMONDSON Tyson

    Service Record

    Private 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand.. Died of wounds.

    Son of James and Hannah Edmondson of Silverdale Lancashire

  • FARRAR

    FARRAR Lucien
    Died 13 Jan 1918 Age 21
    Buried Cologne Southern Cemetery Germany

    Photograph of his grave


    FARRAR Lucien
    Service Record

    Private 19005 Loyal North Lancaster Regiment 1st/4th Battalion.

    Died as a prisoner of war in Germany of wounds received near Epeby

    Son of William and Ellenor of Challon Hall Cottages, Silverdale

    The 1901 census shows he was living at 1 Westview Cottages with his parents William and Ellenor and his siblings John W aged 12, Annie E aged 10, George aged 8, Sarah aged 6, and he was the youngest aged 4.

  • GRAHAM

    GRAHAM Thomas Abba
    Died 9 February 1917 Age 29
    Remembered at Basra Memorial Iraq Panel 7



    Thomas Abba GRAHAM
    Service Record

    Private 22193 Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 6th Battalion. Killed in action at Kut al Amara Mesopotamia (now Iraq).

    Son of Albert C and Mary Graham of Ye Neste, Silverdale, Lancashire

  • HAYTON J

    HAYTON John
    Died 24 October 1916 Age 34
    Buried Etaples Military Cemetery France


    John HAYTON
    Service Record

    Private 446784 Canadian Infantry 50th Battalion (Alberta Regiment)

    Son of James and Agnes Hayton of Silverdale

    Born 20 December 1882 in Silverdale. He signed up to the Canadian Infantry on May 11 1915 and showed his next of kin as Miss A.M. Hayton of Main Road Halton, Lancashire

  • HAYTON JW

    HAYTONJohn William
    Died 26 February 1917 Age 21
    Remembered Thieval France Pier 4A


    John William HAYTON
    Service Record

    Private 55752 Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st Battalion

    Son of William and Margaret A Hayton of the Row, Silverdale, Lancashire.

    Killed in action by shellfire near Serre in the Somme battlefield

  • HEBDEN

    HEBDEN Reginald Robert Hope
    Died 9 April 1917 Age 28
    Remembered Vimy Memorial France


    Reginald Robert Hope HEBDEN
    Service Record

    Private 147476 Canadian Infantry 78th Battalion (Manitoba Regiment), he previously served in the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers Militia. He signed up for the army on 3 July 1915 at Manitoba.

    Reginald was born on 11 December 1887 at Silverdale and at the time of his death it shows he was the son of the late Silvester and Emma Latimer Hebden. His occupation was shown as farmer

    1891 Census shows Reginald (aged 3) was living at Sunnyside with his parents Silvester (aged 43) retired master cotton spinner, Emma Latimer Hebden (aged 43) and his siblings John (aged 16) Emma (aged 13) Silvester (aged 10) Gladys (aged 8). They also had a servant Elizabeth Hunter (aged 47).

    The 1901 census shows he is still living in Sunnyside with his parents and his two sisters Emma and Gladys along with his grandma Jane Hope widowed (aged 80).

    The probate for Reginald shows of Sunnyside, Silverdale His will left 698 7 shillings and 3d to Maud Hebden spinster.

  • HEWITSON

    HEWITSON Kenneth
    Died 22 September 1943 Age 21
    Buried Hanover War Cemetery

    Photograph of his grave


    NAME HEWITSON Kenneth
    Service Record

    Flight Sergeant 1266114 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 218 Squadron

    Shot down over Neustadt-am-Rubenberge while on a bombing raid on Germany

    Son of Richard and Emma Hewitson of Silverdale

  • HODGSON

    HODGSONMartin
    Died 16 January 1917 Age 19
    Buried Tancrez Farm Cemetery Belgium

    Photograph of his grave

    HODGSON Martin
    Service Record

    Private 49402 Cheshire Regiment 10th Battalion

    Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann and has sibling Arthur,

    1901 Census shows that he and his father were born in Silverdale. Sarah was born in Wigan and the family by the 1901 census had moved to Cheadle in Cheshire. His father’s ocupation was coachman domestic. By 1911 the family had increased to include Jessie and Ernest. Arthur is not recorded on the 1911 census. His father’s occupation was now club steward.

  • HOLDEN

    Thomas Henry HOLDEN
    Died 4 August 1917 Age 24
    Remembered Ypres Memorial Gate Panel 43



    Thomas Henry HOLDEN
    Service Record

    Private 28009 Loyal North Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion.

    Killed in action on the Westhoek Ridge during the 3rd Battle of Ypres

    Son of Robert and Sarah Holden of 2 Station Cottages Silverdale.

  • HORN

    HORN Jonathan
    Died 14 January 1918 Age 31
    Buried Oxford Road Cemetery V K 12 Belgium

    Photograph of his grave


    HORN Jonathan
    Service Record

    Rifleman B/200918 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) 2nd Battalion

    Killed in action near Wieltje in Ypres

    Son of Jonathan and Margaret Horn of Low Finley, Warcop, Penrith Also on the headstone in Warcop

  • KEEN

    KEEN George William
    Died 16 August 1915 Age 25
    Buried Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery Belgium

    Photograph of his grave

    KEEN George William
    Service Record

    Private 1950 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 1st/5th Battalion.

    Only son of Townson and Emma Keen of Silverdale, Lancashire