Private Francis Brinkman 1st Bn East Lancs Regiment

Francis Brinkman was born in 1895, the son of Robert and Catherine Brinkman.

Robert was a native of Rochdale, whilst his wife was a Geordie, hailing from Newcastle upon Tyne.

In 1911 the family were living at 7 Sellars Street in Rochdale. 

56 year old Robert was a working at the local gasworks as a labourer, 16 year old Francis was listed as being a scavenger, his younger brother Harold was a 12 year old tenter.

Francis enlisted into the East Lancashire Regiment shortly after war was declared, he was severely wounded fighting in the trenches on April 3rd 1916, he sadly passed away from his wounds the following day.

The first news his parents received was in a letter from Sergeant John Stockford, who wrote;

"About one o'clock on April 3rd the platoon were working in the trenches making them deeper when the Germans sent over about three rifle grenades. The second came right into the trench and hit your son and other comrades. Your son said to his chum, "They have got me this time", the officers of my platoon wish him a speedy recovery".

Private Francis Brinkman 1/ELR

Francis did not recover from his injuries, Sgt. Stockford wrote again to his parents, stating that he had been laid to rest in a lovely cemetery just behind the firing line and that his grave had been marked with a cross displaying his name, the date of his death and the nature of how he died, the letter went on;

"Let me convey to you deep sympathy from the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the platoon. Some day you might have an opportunity to visit your sons grave, and if God spares me, I hope it is my pleasure to show you the grave".

Another comrade of Francis' also wrote to his parents, Pte J. Branwell wrote;

"He has been a good mate of mine. He was great favourite and a very good and faithful soldier, being always first to volunteer for any dangerous post". 

John Stockford went on to survive the horrors of the war, he earned the distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, he left the army as a Colour Sergeant Major.

Francis is one of 79 men buried in Humbercamps Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Marriott Family - 3 Brothers Lost

John William Marriott was born near Hadfield, Derbyshire in 1869, in 1892 he married a 
Lincolnshire girl, Naomi Barnes, the couple would go on to have 8 chilldren.

By 1901 there family were living at 7 Townhouse Road in Littleborough, John was a manager in a calico printing works, 10 years later the family had moved to 8 Belfield Lane, Firgrove.

Their children were listed on the census as such;

John born in 1894
Millie born in 1896
Harry born in 1897
William Barnes born in 1899
Stanley born in 1902
Emily born in 1903
Norman born in 1907
Frank born in 1910

The spectre of war soon loomed large and the Marriott men were keen to do their bit for King and Country.

Harry Marriott enlisted into the Border Regiment, serving with the 2nd battalion.

On the evening of September 24th 1915, the 2/Border Regiment formed part of 7th Infantry Division, 20th Brigade together with 2/Gordon Highlanders, 1/6 Gordon Highlanders, 8?Devonshire Regiment and 9/Devonshire Regiment.

At 3.30am on the 25th September the Division received orders that at 5.50am an attack would take place with the assault phase beginning at 6.30am. This battle would become known as the "Battle of Loos", many men would perish on this day.

It was a morning of light drizzle with a light wind blowing from the south west.

The first line would consist of the Gordons and the 8/Devons, the 2/Borders would be in the second line, the 1/6 Gordons in the third line and in reserve would be the 9/Devons.

The Royal Horse Artillery began their bombardment on the stroke of 5.50am, 40 minutes later the first line of infantry left their trenches and began advancing on the German trenches, being replaced in the front line by the 2/Borders including 18 year old Pte. Harry Marriott.

Within 35 minutes the front line of German trenches had been captured, but not without heavy British losses, the 8/Devons lost Colonel Grant and Major Carden killed, and Colonel Stansfield of the Gordons very badly wounded.

The battle raged on and on and countless soldiers on both sides were killed, including Harry Marriott.

John and Naomi received an official telegram from the war office informing of their sons death, the process was destined to be repeated the following year. Harry was never recovered from he battlefield, his name adorns the Loos Memorial together with 57 other men from the 2/Borders who remain lost in foreign fields.

Pte Harry Marriott, 2/Border Regiment

John Marriott enlisted into the army joining the 12th (Service Battalion) of the Rifle Brigade.

At 9am on June 6th 1916 the Germans began shelling the positions occupied by the 12/Rifles, the shelling wasn't particularly heavy and none of the shells hit their intended mark, at 12.30pm the shelling began to become more intense, the Germans were using 5.9" and 4.2 " shells, the severity of shelling became concentrated on parts of the trench system known as A1 and the Gully, at 2pm message was received by company command that Captain Roe had been very badly injured and the telephone dugout at A1 had been blown out and the two operators killed.

The afternoon would bring even more shelling and carnage to both sides.

At 3.15pm a mine was detonated under A1 trench containing a company of 12/Rifles, 2Lt. Messenger and 22 of his platoon were buried by the explosion, including John Marriott.

At around 6pm group HQ was informed that 2Lt Messenger had been dug out alive and efforts were being made to reach the other men.

During the intense fighting on the 6th June, the 12/ Rifles lost 24 other ranks killed and 51 wounded, sadly John Marriott was one of the 24.

Rifleman John Marriotts name adorns the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial.

Before enlisting into the army John had worked as a weft carrier at the Lowfield Spinning Company, after his death his parents received a letter from Mr SV Walters, it read;

"In him we lost a true and noble comrade, Jack was one who always did his duty to King and Country. He was very brave, but under the circumstances of his death did not get a fighting chance. I can assure you his death is deeply regretted by all who knew him".

Rifleman John Marriott 12/Rifle Brigade

Two years would pas before bad news would once again come through the door of 13 Belfield Lane.

19 year old William Barnes Marriott, had served as a territorial soldier with the Army Service Corps, he then became an infantryman with the 1/London Regiment.

He was killed in action on October 11th 1918.

Before enlisting William had worked at the Lowfield Spinning Company, he was a member of the choir at St. Anns and also assisted at the Sunday school.

William is one of 225 identified casualties who were laid to rest in Wellington Cemetery, Rieux-de-Cambresis in France.

One can only imagine the heartache felt by the parents of these 3 lads, John William Marriott passed away in 1934 at the age of 66, Naomi lived until she was 80, passing away in 1953.

 

Private William Hesketh, Lancashire Fusiliers - Died 01/01/1918

January 1st 1918.

William HESKETH, born in 1885 at Rochdale served with the 1st/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.

He had married Harriet Ashworth in the town in 1911, 3 years his younger she had been born in Whitworth.

William died of wounds in No.1 Casualty Clearing Station in France on New Years Day 1918, he was laid to rest in Chocques Military Cemtery, leaving behind Harriet and a young child.

Frank Jones - SS Ceramic - December 6th 1942

Laid down in 1912 at the world famous shipyard of Harland & Wolff in Belfast, the ocean liner, SS Ceramic was to become the pride of the White Start Line on its Liverpool - Australia route.

She saw service during WW1 and was attacked by U-Boats on numerous occasion but was always able to return back to port, the torpedoes either missed their intended target or she was able to outrun surfaced U-Boats that gave chase to her.

SS Ceramic

On November 6th 1942, the Ceramic left Liverpool bound for Australia, she was carrying 377 passengers and a crew of 264.

Rochdale born Frank Jones was onboard, travelling to the Antipodes.

Ceramic sailed as part of Convoy ON149 until it dispersed as planned in the North Atlantic with SS Ceramic continuing her journey alone.

At midnight on 6th December, in and rough seas in the mid-Atlantic, U-515 hit the Ceramic with a single torpedo, three minutes later she was attacked again by two more that hit her engine room, stopping her engines and her electric lighting. The liner radioed a distress signal, which was picked up by a Royal Navy cruiser - HMS Enterprise.
The crippled liner stayed afloat and her passengers & crew began to abandon ship.

About three hours later U-515 fired two more torpedoes, which broke the ship's back and sank her immediately, the weather had by now taken a turn for the worse, it was very stormy and raining. The heavy sea capsized some of the lifeboats and left many people struggling in the water.

The following morning U-515 returned to the area of the sinking and picked up a lone survivor.

Frank Jones was 30 years of age at the time of his death, he lived at 3 Abbott Street, Castleton with his parents William and Nellie Jones.

Lest we forget.

Aircraftsman 1st Class Lewis Sutcliffe - RAFVR

Lewis Sutcliffe joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in mid 1941.

At the time of his death on December 5th 1942, he was just 22 years of age.

Born and raised in Bamford he had been an active member of St. Michaels choir, he had married a Yorkshire lass, Rose Bradley, in the January before he was killed, on the day he died she had received a letter from him stating that he was expecting to be home on leave for Christmas.

The couple lived at 839 Bury Road, Bamford.

On the day of her husbands funeral, his wife learnt that her father had passed away during an operation.

Rose gave birth to their daughter, June Lois, on June 1st 1943 - did Lewis know he was to be a father ?

Lewis was laid to rest in Rochdale Cemetery.

Lest we forget.

Private Alfred Davies - Army Ordnance Corps

Alfred Davies was the eldest son of Arnold and Agnes Davies, originally from Shropshire the family had by 1901 moved to Rochdale.

The 1911 census shows the following family members living at 23 Shawclough Road;

Thomas Arnold Davies, 55, Motor Car Trimmer, born in Shrewsbury.
Agnes Davies, 51, born in Woolton, Lancashire. 
Jesse Harriet Davies, 26, Cotton Drum Winder, born in Shrewsbury.
Alfred Davies, 21, Commercial Traveller (Stationary), born in Cleobury, Shrops.
Elsie Davies, 17, Sewing Machinist, born in Shropshire.

In 1912 Alfred married Elizabeth Gillespie in Rochdale.

At some point after that Alfred joined the Army, serving with the Army Ordnance Corps, sadly his service papers haven't survived.

Alfred died on December 5th 1918, his wife received notification of his death at their home, 84 Hamer Lane.

He is one of 8 identified casualties buried in Lessines Communal Cemetery, France, 5 of which served in the AOC and were all killed on the same day.

Welcome

Every village, town and city in every corner of the country has been affected in some way by war, Rochdale is not unique in that regard.

Every soldier, sailor and airman that has donned the Kings or Queens uniform deserves some form of respect and gratitude, I hope through this blog to be able to tell brief stories of these men and women and in some small way hope that their sacrifices were not and vain, but more importantly that they are not forgotten.