5 replies to this topic

[Ciaran Byrne]

Does anyone live near Littleborough in Lancashire? If so, I would be most grateful if someone could check the War Memorial there for me. My great Uncle had two sons who were killed during World War Two. Their surname was Emerson. I have found one on the CWGC site but cannot find the other one as I do not know his name. The one I do know is James Patrick Emerson who was killed in 1943. The other one remains a mystery but according to my mum his name is on the war memorial in Littleborough.
Any takers??

[Mark Hone]

A few years ago a local historian called Peter Cryer was supposed to be writing a book on Littleborough's war dead. I only know this because I happened to come across it yesterday in an old press cutting about the 2001 discovery of a mass grave at Arras. I've never seen the book or have any idea whether it was ever published. Might be worth contacting the local studies library in Rochdale. I'll be paying a visit there myself in the near future to look for a photo of one of our school war dead. Unfortunately Littleborough itself is a bit out of the way for me.

[Peter Bennett]

I can probably check this for you in about a week's time, as my Daughter lives just over t' brow (as they say in those parts!)

The last time I visited this memorial was January 2004, the names were badly faded as per the example attached. I reported this to the War Memorials Trust and a local organisation called "Littleborough In Bloom" contacted me to say that the Council had run out of money to pay for re-furbishment.

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[Ciaran Byrne]

Thanks for the replies fellas. Peter, that would be great if you could find out the name for me. It is the last piece of a jbig jigsaw I am currently putting together at the moment.

[Peter Bennett]

Dear Ciaran, apologies for the delay due to illness & work commitments.

I am delighted to see that the Littleborough War Memorial Name Panels have been fully restored, but there is only one Emerson from WW2 as you can see. It might be worth you contacting the local Branch of The British Legion.

Regards

Peter

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[Bernard P]

Mark Hone, on 03 January 2006 - 06:14 AM, said:

A few years ago a local historian called Peter Cryer was supposed to be writing a book on Littleborough's war dead. I only know this because I happened to come across it yesterday in an old press cutting about the 2001 discovery of a mass grave at Arras. I've never seen the book or have any idea whether it was ever published. Might be worth contacting the local studies library in Rochdale. I'll be paying a visit there myself in the near future to look for a photo of one of our school war dead. Unfortunately Littleborough itself is a bit out of the way for me.

Just came across this whilst searching for something else. Peter Cryer did research the soldiers on the main Littleborough War Memorial. He later went on to research those on other local war memorials of which there are many. Subsequently, I have taken over his researches and have added, with assistance from many others, another 100+ soldiers. In total there were around 400 soldiers connected to the town of which around 130 are NOT listed on the main war memorial. Of those some 12 soldiers are not really known to us.

The local History Society has some 5 preserved war memorial which have now been placed on our Memorial Wall within 'Littleborughs History Centre' and they are available for viewing.

Bernard