Henry Butterworth - Hero of Waterloo

Henry Butterworth was born on 18th March 1783, the son of Edmund Butterworth, Edmund was a yeoman and had fought in Flanders under the Duke of Cumberland (also known as butcher Cumberland after the Battle of Culloden).

During his early years Henry was sent to the West Indies where he because an assistant superintendent on a sugar plantation, a job which he didn't like. He yearned to be a military man.

His elder brother, also Edmund, held a commission in the 3rd Lancashire Militia, Henry pestered his brother to try and obtain a commission which was duly done, Henry became an ensign in the 1st Lancashire Militia. It wasn't long before Henry volunteered for foreign service and together with 50 other Lancashire lads they embarked on a military career.

It wasn't long before Henry was appointed to the 32nd Cornwall Regiment of Foot, he also took 32 men from the Lancashire Militia with him, he saw active service during the Peninsular Wars, the war raged  from 1807 - 1814 and saw Napoleon's empire fight against Bourbon Spain, Great Britain fought as allies of the Kingdom of Portugal in order to gain control of the Iberian Penisular.

Henry was awarded the Military General Service Medal for his services during the conflict, he was awarded 6 bars to the medal for action in the battles of Rolera, Vimiera, Salamanca, Talavera, Pyrenees and Nivelle, he was listed as sick during the final battles of Nive and Orthes and so wasn't awarded the bars for these actions.

Lieutenant Henry Butterworth in the uniform of the 32nd Regiment of Foot wearing his campaign medals

During the Battle of Salamanca on July 22nd 1812, Henry was seriously wounded by a musket ball that passed straight through his body, one of his men named Ashworth, from Smallbridge, lifted his wounded officer onto his back and carried him 3 miles to the rear of the army lines so he could receive treatment for his wounds. Once recovered Henry again took to the battle.

In 1815, he was present at the Battle of Waterloo, he was wounded 3 times during the fierce fighting with Thomas Pictons division, he never quit the field of battle. 

After 1815 Henry retired back to Rochdale, during his 12 years as Lieutenant in the 32nd Regiment of Foot, he spent 9 of them on active service, he was wounded seven times, 3 of them being classed as severe injuries.

He retired from the military on half pay in 1820 due to ill health, he was transferred to the 35th Regiment of Foot.

On returning to Rochdale Henry Butterworth was appointed a county magistrate and a deputy-lieutenant. 

In early 1860 he became sick and died on June 8th of the same year aged 77.

He was laid to rest at St. Johns, Smallbridge, his coffin carried by 8 Waterloo veterans.

Henry Butterworth (seated) with a. group of other Waterloo veterans

Sgt Percy Kershaw - Border Regiment - KIA July 1st 1916

23 year old Sergeant Percy Kershaw was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme (July 1st 1916).

Sgt Percy Kershaw, 1/Border Regiment

Percy was the middle of five children born to John James and Esther Kershaw, born in Middleton in 1893, by 1901 the family had moved to 54 Kilworth Street, Brimrod, John James was employed as a guard on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, 10 years later in 1911, the family had moved over Smithy Bridge to No. 1 Moss Cottages.

John James was still working for the L&Y Railway in 1911, 18 year old Percy was listed as being a groom, he later became an assistant coachman for Doctor MacGill.

Percy enlisted into the Border Regiment, serving with the 1st Battalion, enlisting early on the war, he entered France on October 5th 1914.

Percy was one of over 21,000 British soldiers to lose their lives on July 1st 1916, tens of thousands more were injured.

Percy's body was recovered from the battlefield, he was laid to rest in Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery No.2 Beaumont-Hamel, the cemetery is located within the Newfoundland Memorial park.

Private John Long - Australian Infantry

On a recent trip to the battlefields and cemeteries of Northern France I came across a headstone to Private John Long, he had served with the 4th Battalion, Australian Infantry, his story is worthy of telling.

Born in 1894, John wasn't going to stay at home and join the rest of his mates going to work in the mills and mines. At the age of 16 John signed up for a life on the ocean waves as a merchant seaman.

In August 1915 John was a crew member on board the merchant streamer "Diomed", she was heading from Liverpool to Shanghai, when she was 57 miles west north west of the Scilly Isles, German U-Boat, U38, captained by Max Valentiner attacked with torpedoes. Once she was hit the U-Boat turned her guns on the stricken vessel.

Reports were made that the Captain of the Diomed was killed by shells from the submarine, the Quartermaster had his head shot off and the chief officer was shot through the thigh.

John Long together with other crew members managed to get into a lifeboat, shortly after pulling away from their ship it was sunk by Valentiner.

Not giving up, the U-Boat continued to shell the lifeboat eventually holing it, the occupants including John were thrown into the cold waters.

It was three and half hours before rescue came in the form of a Royal Navy warship.

John had visited many countries during his sea-faring days including the Far East, China, Japan and Australia.

In 1915 he landed once again in Australia and responded to the call to arms and joined the Commonwealth armies, he enlisted into the 4th Battalion, Australian Infantry at Casula, New South Wales on December 15th 1915.

After going through his initial training he embarked for Alexandria, Egypt on March 7th 1916, he arrived in Marseilles on April 4th re-joining the 4th Battalion on July 27th.

The 4th Battalion were involved in heavy fighting in the Somme sector and on August 15th 1916 John was wounded. He received a gunshot wound and compound fracture to his right thigh, take to the No. 13 Australian Field Hospital he died three days later from his injuries.

Notification was sent to his mother, Isabella Long who lived at 120 Molesworth Street, she later received his effects which included 2 rosaries, 1 of which was damaged (John was Roman Catholic), his pipe - also damaged, a prayer book, brush, knives, tobacco pouch, photos, postcards, match box cover and other items.

Isabella acknowledged receipt of her sons belongings

John was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals

The memorial scroll and plaque (also known as dead means penny) were also awarded

John was laid to rest in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery, Somme , France.

Bent House, Newhey

Bent House stands at the junction on Newhey Road and Bentgate Street, Newhey.

A large stone house in its own grounds, surrounded by a stone wall, it was built in the mid 1800's in a Georgian style by the Berry family.

Samuel Berry was born in Castleton in 1802, he became a very succesful, and very wealthy, flannel manufacturer, in 1851 the records tell us that he was lliving with his family at Stonepitfield in Milnrow, sadly it doesnt narrow down which property he was living in.

It does tell us through that he employed 97 males and 83 females at New Hey Mill.

During the next 10 years it seems that he had Bent House built as the 1861 census records show that he was now living there with his wife Alice and their five children, Mary, Jane, Elizabeth, Jame and Samuel. 

Business was clearly going well for Samuel as he was now employing over 300 people in the village.

Samuel Berry died on October 17th 1869 at the age of 68, his widow Alice continued to live at Bent House with her children, by 1871 the occupants were Alice, Jane

Elizabeth and Samuel.

Samuel (junior) took over the family business and contnued to make it thrive, he died at the relatively young age of 68 in 1921, just 7 months after his wife Jane passed away.
 In his will he left effects to the value of £7299 16s 5d.

The Berry family eventually left Bent House, by 1939 the new occupants were Josiah Greenhalgh, he came from a family of textile machinists who had premises at Vulcan Ironworks in Oldham.

Josiah was the youngest son of Richard Greenhlagh of Thorncliffe, Royton, he came to Newhey when he married Martha. in 1934 he was returned unopposed as the Conservative member for Haugh ward in the Urban District Council.

The 1939 register tells us that he was born in 1883 and was living there with his wife Martha and their daughter Nancy.

Josiah died the following year on October 12th 1940, he was very involved with St. Thomas' Church, he was a vicars warden and the manager of the St. Thomas' day school.

The house still stands, if the walls could talk what tales they could tell.....

Another Milnrow Mill Tragedy

Robert Sutcliffe was born 1843, according to the 1851 census return he was living with his Grandparents, William and Betty Schofield at Stonepitfield, Roberts to elder brothers, James and William were also living there.

All three lads were working in the local mills at the time the census was taken, 15 year old James was a mill jobber, 11 year old William a mule piecer and 8 year old Robert a short time mule piecer (on account of his age he only did short time).

In July 1857 Robert was working in the woollen mill belonging to Messrs. Schofield (no relation), Robert had hold of a strap that was connected to a driving shaft , another worker was piecing it. 

Robert was stood on top of the machinery, the shaft was turning as he was holding the strap, to steady it whilst it was pieced.

The mill management had given instruction that this practice was not to be carried out, it is thought that Robert and others had ignored the instruction and continued with the dangerous practice.

Robert was caught on the driveshaft and was rotated numerous times around the shaft receiving catastrophic injuries to his head and upper body - he died within 25 minutes of the accident happening.

An inquest was held into his death at the Commercial Inn (now the Moonspinners in the village), the verdict returned was one of accidental death.

Fishwick Street - Named After A Notable Rochdale Man

Fishwick Street is situated at the rochdale end of Milnrow Road, connecting Milnrow Road with Dodgson Street.

I often wonder about the people behind the street names which we often drive and walk along, this is the story of one such man - Henry Fishwick.

Born in Rochdale on March 9th 1835, the son of Henry Halliwell Fishwick of Brownhill (near Falinge). The family were well known in the town and at one time owned an extensive colliery business. Many of their mines were flooded which had began the decline of the business.

The Fishwicks originally came from an area bearing the same name near Preston, for almost two centuries their ancestral home was Bulsnape Hall near Goosnargh.

From a very early age Henry took a great interest in public affairs, at the age of 18 he became the secretary of Rochdale Young Mens Christian Association, then at the age of 25 he made an unpopular decision and joined the Volunteer Force, becoming a Lieutenant, he became a great advocate for the military and along with others, namely Captain J. Fenton and Ensign Phillipi attended Queen Victorias Levee for volunteer officers on March 6th 1860.

Lieutenant Fishwick eventually became commandant of the Volunteer force, a post from which he resigned in 1869 at the rank of Major.

The following year he was gazetted as a Major in the 56th Lancashire (Salford) Volunteer Rifles, by 1871 he had taken command of the regiment and was gazetted as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1871.

As well as an active interest in the military, he held a lifelong passion for education, as far back as 1862 he was a founder of the Rochdale Lyceum that had at its core, a wish to, "the diffusion of knowledge to all classes".

Becoming a member of the town council in 1871 as conservative member for Castleton, thus began a 43 year long association with the council. He served on 5 committees, Waterworks, General Purposes, Public Libraries and Art Gallery, Education and Distress. he also served on 8 sub-committees.

In 1903, after nearly 30 years service on the council he was invited to take over as Mayor from Alderman Samuel Taylor, he was reluctant to accept the honour at first and politely declined, thus followed a meeting at which all other 43 councillors unanimously decreed that he was the right man for the job - Henry accepted.

During his term of office as Mayor he presided over two notable events for the town.

Firstly was the opening of Falinge Park, gifted to the town by Alderman Samuel Taylor. It was thought that Royalty may have come to open the park but King Edward VII, who at the time of the opening of Falinge Park was still Prince of Wales, was unable to attend due to him going away on a foreign tour.

Henry Fishwick

Secondly, was the celebration of the towns municipal jubilee in 1906, at which along with Sir Clement Royds (another street name), Alderman S. Turner and Mr James Ogden, he was given the freedom of the Borough.

Henry Fishwick was an accomplished author, he wrote numerous books including, "History of the Parish of Rochdale", a volume in the "Popular Counties Histories" series, he also edited a great many other works.

A member of many societies, including being the president of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, he sat on the council of the Chetham Society and the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, and was a long time member of the Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society.

In his business life he was the chairman of the Rochdale Manor Brewery Company, and was for some time a director of the Manchester, Bury and Oldham Steam Tramways Company. He had been a magistrate since 1874 serving both in the Borough and at County level.

He generally had a brusque manner which led many people to think he was a hard man, he was in fact a sympathetic and kindly man, but would not suffer fools gladly.

Henry Fishwick died at home, The Heights,  in September 1914 at the age of 80, he had been poorly for some time but his death still came as a shock to those in the town.

His wife, had pre-deceased him by some years, she had been the daughter of Dr. W.H. Bullmore, surgeon to the Royal Cornwall Artillery Militia. He left behind 4 children, a son in Canada and three daughters.

He had another daughter, Caroline Fishwick, she was a nursing sister and died in South Africa during the Boer War.

Henry Fishwick was laid to rest in Rochdale Cemetery on Saturday 26th September 1914. 

Poisoned Children or Unsanitary Housing ?

Mark Fannon, an electrician who lived at Back Fair View, Burnedge took issue with the coroner, Mr F.N. Molesworth over the death of his children.

In July 1909 Fannon's two sons, 6 year old Frank and 3 year old George Harry died within days of each other, he had lost his 1 year old daughter Fanny in the March previous.

Fannon requested that the coroner should open an inquest into their deaths, he believed they had been poisoned, a coroners jury however found that they had all died from natural causes.

Mark Fannon said that his suspicions had been raised because another of his children that was also unwell had told him that a strange man had given him a piece of toasted bread that had some funny butter on it.

The boy only took two bites of the bread and became ill, his legs, head and body became swollen and he became livid. The two dead boys hadn't eaten any of the bread but had come in contact with their poorly sibling.

The coroner disagreed with Mr. Fannon saying that the boys could not have been poisoned by infection, he added that the house in which they were living in was unsanitary.

Dr. Aveling from Royton stated that both the boys had died from bronchial pneumonia, this was after he had conducted a post mortem examination of the body of George, he also added that the house was a back to back and should be condemned.

The jury added in their remarks that the coroner should report that the house was not fit for human habitation.

 

An Accident At Haugh Mill

James Edward Dixon was born on October 30th 1899, the eldest son of Lamberth and Elizabeth Dixon.

The census returns tell us that in 1901 the family were living at 98 Shaw Road, Lamberth was employed as a stripper / grinder.

10 years later in 1911 the family had moved to along Shaw Road to number 58, the family had grown with the addition of two sisters to James; Annie Jane and Edith.

Like many children of his generation, James left school at an early age and began work at Haugh Mill.

He had a terrible accident in September 1916, caught between some shafting equipment in the mill he received a severe compound fracture of his skull and right arm, he was rushed to Rochdale Infirmary for emergency treatment.

James made a full recovery from his injuries, he married Annie Thompson in 1932, by 1939 the couple were living at 9 Two Bridges Road with their 4 year old daughter Dorothy. 

James was still working in the cotton mills.

Lamberth, James' father passed away the year after his sons wedding in 1932, he was 58.

In 1944, James was elected by a popular vote to become the local councillor on the Urban District Council for the Haugh ward.

James passed away in 1963.

Smallpox In Milnrow

New Ladyhouse Mill was built in 1879, one of the biggest employers in Milnrow it became the scene of an outbreak of smallpox in 1914.

During the afternoon of Saturday 30th May 1914, a 21 year old worker from the mill was found to be suffering from smallpox.

With Milnrow operating under its own urban district council, there was no provision with the area for anyone suffering from smallpox to be treated, a call was put out to the neighbouring Littleborough, Milnrow and Wardle joint hospital near Hollingworth Lake (the gates to the old hospital can still be seen at the end of Wildhouse Lane as it become Milnrow Road), the local government board had stated however that nobody from smallpox would be treated at that hospital, as a general rule stated that there must not be any other buildings within a quarter mile of any hospital treating people with the disease.

The local doctor in Milnrow, Dr. Chadwick together the the UDC sanitary inspector eventually cajoled the management of Maryland hospital to admit a number of smallpox cases from Milnrow.

The young man from Minrow was taken there for treatment, later the same day another male and a female suffering from the disease were also taken to Marland.

The situation didn't get any better as on Sunday, the number of sufferers increased, another male and two females were rushed to the hospital, followed on Monday by more infected people, the hospital at Marland soon became full and arrangements were made to take any further cases to the joint smallpox hospital in Heywood and Bury.

All but one of the patients were employed at New Ladyhouse Mill in the village.

The source of the outbreak was narrowed down to a bale of cotton that had travelled to Milnrow from Mexico, 2 further bales from the same shipment had been delivered to other mills in Rochdale, these however didn't cause any issues for the workers at those mills.

Discussions were held with the management of New Ladyhouse Mill and a decision taken to close the mill until June 9th, this clearly would have affected the 200 people working in the mill which had 19,000 ring spindles and 3,600 doubling spindles.

Dr. Chadwick was interviewed regarding the outbreak, he stated that in 40 years he had only seen 6 cases of smallpox, a surprising figure he mentioned was that 75% of the children in Milnrow were not vaccinated against the disease, as you can imagine as a result of the outbreak there was a run on vaccinations in the doctors surgeries in the village !

Firgrove Mill Fire

2.30am on Wednesday 5th May 1869, flames are seen licking the sky coming from the cotton mill of Messrs. James Leigh and Sons at Firgrove.

Word is quickly sent to Rochdale and two pumps are quickly despatched to the scene, by the time they arrived the fire had taken a substantial hold in the building, despite the best efforts of the brigade the building was doomed.

The fire crews had a plentiful supply of water from the nearby canal, but they couldn't save the building, sterling efforts were made to save the scutching and mixing rooms to no avail.

They did however manage to save the steam engine and boiler house.

The mill stood four storeys high and was filled with the latest machinery, the damage was estimated to have been between £10,000 and £12,000.

Fortunately for Mr. Leigh the vast majority of the building was insured through the Liverpool, London, Lancashire and Atlas insurance companies.

Unfortunately though the 150 people employed at the mill found themselves without jobs, trade at the time was very poor and its doubtful many of the workers would have found alternative employment.

Second Lieutenant Albert Armitage Nuttall

Albert Armitage Nuttall was born on April 11th 1896 to Robert Hewitt Nuttall (gas works manager) and Sarah Hannah Nuttall (nee Armitage).

Family Gravestone At St. Thomas', Newhey

The 1901 census tells us that the family were living at 22 Rochdale Road, Milnrow, Albert had a younger sister, Dora.

Robert was a native of Bacup, Sarah was a Yorkshire lass, hailing from Marsden, the couple were married in Rochdale in 1884.

By 1911 the family had moved over to Marsden, Robert was managing the local gas works in the Yorkshire town.

After beginning his education in Milnrow, Albert continued his schooling in Marsden, he was clearly an intelligent lad moving from Marsden National School to Huddersfield high School and eventually to Huddersfield Technical College.

He was awarded a West Riding Scholarship to attend Manchester University in order to study mechanical engineering, he was also fortunate to be able to gain two years work experience with the National Gas Turbine Company in Ashton under Lyne.

Albert excelled in sports and was a very strong and keen swimmer, he was also an accomplished golfer.

In 1914 Albert joined the University Officer Training Corps, he gained a commission in 1915 with the Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment, being gazetted on August 23rd.

Albert spent the winter training and joined his unit in July 1916, the 1st/7th Battalion serving in "A" Company.

The battalion war diary for the 14th august 1916 tells us the following;

"Work continued except on centre of new line at Oblong Wood. Quiet day. Rain in early morning. Warm and moist day. Smoke barrage ordered 9.30-10pm on B company front trenches, drew retaliation of artillery and trench mortars chiefly on Gemmel Trench & resultory rifle fire. 

Two officers wounded by shrapnel in A company.

Casualties - 2 Lt Arnott & Nuttall, 2 other ranks wounded."

Second Lieutenant Nuttall died of his wounds the following day.

He was laid to rest in Forceville Community Cemetery.

                                                        LEST WE FORGET

A Khaki Wedding In Milnrow

24th July 1916 - a wedding takes place at Milnrow Wesleyan Chapel between Raymond Ibbotson and Mabel Wood.

Raymond was serving with the Royal Engineers and married his sweetheart wearing his army uniform, Mabel was working as an invoice clerk.

Mabel was the only daughter of Mark and Jane Wood of 4 Entwisle Street, Milnrow.

Raymond was the only son of Tom and Phyllis Ibbotson of 72 Market Street, Shaw.

The bride was given away by her father, the officiating minister was Reverend W.E. Sellers.

After the ceremony the wedding party went and had a wedding breakfast at Duckworths restaurant and afterwards a trip to higher Hodder by motor charabanc.

The couple were apparently well known in the Milnrow district, Raymond had worked in the drawing office at Messrs. Holroyds and then at the time of his enlistment he was working for a Manchester firm - Churchills.

Staff and ex colleagues of Raymonds at Holroyds gave the couple a wedding gift of a canteen of cutlery.

The happy couple honeymooned in Bispham.

Marriage Register Entry For Raymond Ibbotson & Mabel Wood

Raymonds survived the war, he did have a number of minor mis-deamours on his military conduct sheet, he was absent without leave a couple of times for which he received a couple of days CB (confined to barracks), and was caught breaking into the cookhouse during the night in July 1917.......

Mabel passed away in Fleetwood in 1980, Raymond passed away in Blackpool 8 years later.

Rochdale Mayors Alarming Experience At Garfield

The Mayor of rochdale in 1914 was one Councillor Redfern J.P. - he also happened to be the secretary of the Operative Spinners Association.

He visited Garfield Mill along with 4 of his colleagues on the morning of Tuesday 6th January 1914, Mr A. Holland - the President of the Spinners, and two members of the Master Cotton Spinners Association, Mr Robert Stott and Mr H. Bleakley who was also the manger of Arkwright Mill.

They were making a courtesy visit to Garfield.

Arriving around 10am they decided it would be beneficial to go through the entire mill and see its workings, they began their visit on the 5th floor, deciding to get to the top via the mills hoist.

The hoist tenter loaded the four men onto the hoist platform  and took them to the top encountering no problems at all, once on the top floor for some unknown reason the platform failed to remain stationary and began to slowly run back down the ground, with the men still aboard.

One of the party shouted for someone to grab a bar that crossed the top of the lift that the winding ropes were attached to, all the men complied with the instruction. The hoist platform continued its decent, at first the speed of the lift wasn't too great but as it gathered momentum it became much faster.

Fortunately the ropes held and didn't break, the cage crashed into the floor of the shaft, closely followed by the four men whose speed had been checked by the counter weights travelling upwards.

They ended up in a heap on the shaft floor.

The Mayor injured his right hand and received numerous cuts and bruises, all the men suffered from shock, especially Robert Stott who was an elderly gentleman.

The men continued with their tour of the mill and suffered no lasting effects from their hoist experience !

Prizefight - Scuppered !

August 1885 - the Chief Constable of Rochdale, Mr. Wilkinson received a tip off that an unregulated, illegal prizefight was scheduled to take place somewhere between Rochdale and Milnrow.

Detective Sergeant Banks and Detective Constable Boothman were tasked along with a number of other officers to put paid to the illegal activity.

On arriving at Belfield they saw a group of around 70 people gathered around, the officers decided to lay in ambush and gather intelligence on the proceedings. After watching for a short time a large group of the crowd went into the Printers Arms on Belfield Road.

On leaving the pub the group as a whole made their way towards Milnrow.

Keeping tabs on them from a distance the police followed the group for around a mile until they stopped in a valley near to Uncouth Bridge.

Two of the men stripped to their waists and began to fight, the onlookers forming a circle around them.

The detectives ran towards the crowd who were now becoming very animated at the fight going on in front of them - on seeing the approaching police officers, the crowd began to run towards Milnrow in order to escape.

The police did manage to apprehend some of the onlookers and were able to glean some information as to the identity of the fighters. 

James Thomas Jones and Thomas Pugh, both painters by trade, were soon arrested by the authorities, on being questioned they both stated that the fight wasn't for money, they stated it wasn't a "prize-fight', but more of a "love-fight" over a local woman.....

Jones pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of the peace, Pugh's brother produced a doctors note stating that Thomas was unable to attend court but that he was intending to plead guilty - both men were bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.

Fatal Shooting At Miniature Rifle Range

14 year old Willie Lord, of 6 Ashes Lane, Kiln Lane, was a member of the the Milnrow company of the Church Lads Brigade, as was his pal, 13 year Joe Ridehaugh of 23 Albert Street.

Willie had been a member of the Brigade for around 4 years, Joe had only been member for a couple of months, Willie worked as a piecer at Milnrow Spinning Company.

During the evening of Wednesday 27th March 1918 the lads were practising rifle shooting at the miniature rifle range at St. James School in the village, there were 12 boys present for the session.

Around 8pm, 16 year old James Ormerod Wild bought some shot and loaded a rifle, James then went to move a chair which was in the line fo fire, Willie Lord went to the targets, he had replaced two of them with fresh targets, Joe had been stood on the shooting step and picked up the rifle, believing it not to be loaded.

One of his fingers caught the trigger and the rifle went off, it seems by sheer fluke, Willie Lord who was stood down the range about 25 yards away next to a target was hit by the bullet. 

It passed directly through his heart and exited his body under the left arm - he died almost instantly.

An inquest was held the Saturday after Willie's death where evidence was heard from the boys present at the time of the fatal shooting, also Rev. Holland was there to give evidence, he had been in charge of the range on the night in question.

Joe told the inquest in his evidence;

"Jim Wild sent me to Mr. Holland to get some shot which I got and took to Jim Wild. He went to move a chair out of the way putting the rifle on the platform. I picked up the rifle and as I was raising it I must have touched the trigger and it went off, I turned round to Jim wild and asked if it was loaded and he told me it was".

James Wild said that he told the boys not to touch the rifle after he had loaded it, another boy, William Sutcliffe, of 10 Bridge Street said that he thought Joe hadn't heard the instruction from Jim Wild.

Rev. Holland then told the inquest that all the lads he received instruction in musketry, they had been told to never fire when anyone was at the targets and to always point the rifles downwards.

It didn't take long for the jury to return a verdict of "Accidental Death".

A 1916 Christmas Day Tragedy

John Chaffer Buckley was a fulling miller, he had finished work for the Christmas period, it was 1916, war raged in Europe, but John who was born in Norden was going to enjoy the Christmas festivities.

The 1911 census gives us a snapshot of the family at that time, living at 14 Gordon Street, Newhey;

John Buckley, head of the household, aged 36, fulling miller, born in Norden.
Emily Buckley, wife, aged 35, born in Norden.
Edna Buckley, daughter, aged 11.
Lena Buckley, daughter, aged 9.
Rose Buckley, daughter, aged 7.
Harry Buckley, son, aged 3.
Sarah Ashworth, John's 60 year old mother in law also lived with the family.

John and Emily had been married for 12 years at this point, they'd had 5 children, 1 of which had passed away, another child, 

Phyllis was born to the couple in 1913.

Rose died aged 11, in July 1915.

Alan would be born to the couple in early 1916.

Christmas Day 1916, John left home at 104 Shaw Road around 11.30am and headed for the Wheatsheaf pub in the Haugh. 

He clearly had a good drink as he didn't return home until 5pm that afternoon.

104 Shaw Road Where John Buckley Died In 1916

Emily said that he'd a lot to drink but wasn't particularly drunk, she made him something to eat and he had a sleep on the sofa.

Around 7.30pm he made his way out again to the Sheaf, Emily asked him not to go but he didn't listen.

Arriving home at around 10pm he was now in a much worse state than before. 

Emily made him a cup of tea and a slice of bread and butter and went upstairs to bed around 11pm. 

On entering the bedroom he said to his wife that he was going back downstairs to sit by the fire.

John misplaced his footing at the top of the stairs, there was no handrail to grab onto, he tumbled head over heels down the steep staircase crashing into a heap at the foot of the stairs.

Emily's mother and Edna managed to put John onto the hearthrug in front of the fire and the doctor sent for immediately. 

It was in vain - John had died around 10 minutes later from a severe concussion.

John was laid to rest in the churchyard of St. Thomas' on December 29th 1916.

13 month old Alan Buckley passed away in February 1917, he was laid to rest alongside his father.

Emily Buckley lived to the age of 63, she passed away in 1939, she had never remarried after John's death, she became heavily involved with Newhey Methodist Church, she was survived by 3 daughters, Edna, Lena and Phyllis and her son Harry.

The SS Falaba And A Rochdale Victim

SS Falaba

The SS Falaba was a 5000 ton British passenger & cargo ship, built in 1906 by Stephens and Sons in Glasgow.

Owned by the Elder Dempster Shipping Line, she would regularly ply her trade between Liverpool and ports in Africa and further afield.

Richard Jackson Whittaker was born in 1877 in Heywood to John and Louisa Ann Whittaker, he was baptised on June 3rd 1877 at St. James's church in Heywood.

John Whittaker was a once time owner of the Beach hotel at Hollingworth Lake.

Richard would see service with the 23rd Company, 8th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Yeomanry in South Africa during the Boer War, he was discharged from the army on January 25th 1901 due to being medically unfit, he had already been awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free state and South Africa 1901.

South Africa had a profound effect on Richard, for after the Boer War finished he paid a short visit back to his country of birth before returning to Africa. 
As a qualified joiner / carpenter he set himself up as a builder and contractor based in Pretoria.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914 he was working as clerk of works on some building operations in Delagoa Bay in Portuguese East Africa, the work was suspended due to the war, Richard decided to return to England.

On arriving back in England, he stayed with his aunt and uncle on Market Street, Healey, where his mother also lived.

Whilst back in England he was offered the opportunity to take a job as clerk of works on a new Government railway project in Sierra Leone, West Africa. 
Leaving Healey on 27th March he made his way to Liverpool to join the SS Falaba for passage to Sierra Leone.

The day after setting sail, the Falaba was shadowed in the Irish Sea by a German U-Boat, U-28, captained by Georg von Forstner.

Whilst off the coast of Southern Ireland the U-boat made contact with the Falaba stating its intention to torpedo the vessel and giving the crew time to evacuate the ship. 
The Germans claimed to have given 23 minutes in order to evacuate the ship, this was disputed by the British who claimed they only got 7 minutes.

A single torpedo slammed into the side of the ship, resulting in the deaths of over 100 passengers and crew, including Richard Whittaker, the Germans also claimed that she was carrying rifle cartridges which when exposed hastened the sinking - the subsequent board of enquiry revealed that she was indeed carrying 13 tonnes of cartridges and gunpowder for Government use, this was no more than what was carried during peacetime. Evidence was also given that the crew of the submarine were cheering and jeering whilst the men and women on the Falaba fought for their lives.

Many of the dead were recovered from the cold waters of the Irish Sea, it would be several weeks however before Richards body was found. 
His was one of 6 bodies that washed ashore on the coast of Cornwall at St. Ives.
On Richards body was found £11 in gold, a silver watch with a gold guard, a diamond ring and a photograph.

Along with the others recovered, Richard was buried in Barnoon Cemetery, St. Ives.

His headstone reads;

Richard Jackson Whittaker sailed on SS Falaba from Liverpool 27/3/1915 torpedoed by Germans 28/3/1915, body found off Cornwall 25/4/1915 interred 29/4/1915, 39, also Louisa Ann of Lancashire his mother 14/7/1925, 78

Richard Jackson Whittaker 1877-1915

Mary Jane Billington Of Charles Lane

Mary Jane Billington was born in Milnrow in 1873, the daughter of a farmer, George and his wife Harriet.

The family can be traced through the various census returns, in 1881 the family were living at 49 Butterworth Hall, at this time George's occupation was listed as being a carter, Mary had 3 siblings, Jesse, Alice and Harry, Mary being the second eldest child.

George was a native of Preston, his wife Harriet was a Milnrow girl, her maiden name being Hornby, they married in 1871.

Harriet the daughter of Samuel and Mary Hornby was baptised by the vicar of St. James, F.R. Raines on the 15th September 1850 (incidentally, Raines Crest is named after the clergyman).

In 1891, George & Harriet were living on Charles Lane, George was now listed as being a farmer and cotton waste dealer, the family had grown by one with the addition of another son, Samuel.

Mary Jane is listed as being a domestic house maid.

10 years later and the family is still living on Charles Lane, number 49. 

The family have taken in a boarder, 60 year old James Kerr, a wheelwright from Ayr in Scotland, it may be that he was also employed on Georges farm, as both Harry and Samuel gave their accusations as wheelwright to the census enumerator.

Tragedy struck the family on Tuesday 21st January 1902.

At around 4pm, Mary Jane was in the yard of the farm and told their wheelwright (possibly James Kerr), to fill the skip with firewood, she then told her brother, Jesse, that she was going for a short walk before tea. At 8 o'clock that evening when she hadn't returned home, the family became worried and began searching for her.

A body was seen floating in Stott Lodge near Butterworth Hall early the following morning.

PC Thomason managed to recover the body with grappling hooks at around 5.30am on Wednesday morning - it was Mary Jane, she had drowned in 8-10 feet of water.

An inquest was held at the Hole in the Wall in Milnrow the following Friday.

The coroner stated that no marks had been found on Mary Janes body and that he urged the jury to return an open verdict, there was no suggestion that Mary Jane had any intention of taking her own life.

The lodge was predominantly used to water the horses that worked at Butterworth Hall colliery.

Mary Jane was the third person to drown in Stotts Lodge within 12 months, the coroner stated that the owners of the lodge should attempt to make it shallower to prevent any further drownings, and that Milnrow Urban District Council should see to it that steps were taken to remedy the problem.

Mary was laid to rest at St. James on Friday 24th January 1902.