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.