32 Evening Post Special Supplement, Saturday, November 8, 2008
uk
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Our
tribute Two brave men among the
to the
local
heroes
AS we
O
approach N August 4, 1914,
the British declared
the 90th war on Germany
after neutral Bel-
anniversary of gium was invaded.
Staying true to a pact signed
the Armistice, back in the 1830s protecting
Belgian sovereignty, the
the Evening British sent an expeditionary
force of 100,000 men across
Post today the Channel to combat the
Germans as they battered their
remembers the way through to France.
Miraculously, the British Ex-
peditionary Force managed to
fallen hold off nine German battal-
ions at the Battle of Mons on
servicemen of August 23 and 24. It was hailed
as a “miracle” thanks to the
the First World “Angels of Mons”.
But after the triumph, the
War listed on British were forced to retreat
as the Germans stormed for-
Preston’s wards killing 50,000 British Ex-
peditionary Force fighters.
Harris Museum Among them were Preston-
born William Henry Richard-
Roll of Honour. son, of the 1st battalion of the
Loyal North Lancashire Regi-
Many of their ment, and Sgt Sam Newton, of
the East Lancashire Regiment
poignant and – both are listed on the Harris
Museum Roll of Honour.
Sgt Newton died on Septem-
forgotten ber 9 as the Allies pushed the
Germans back over the Rivers
stories on the Marne and Aisne.
His grandson John Ianson, of
frontline have Leyland Road, Penwortham,
says: “I have been over to
been retold by France to take photos of his
grave – it was always some-
reporter CHRIS
VISSER,
pictured, along School’s search
with memories
and photos. for history boys
Lest we HISTORIANS from the for-
forget. mer Preston Grammar School
are tracing old boys in a bid to
build up a record of former
● Did your relatives pupils who went on to fight for
fight in the Great our country in the First World
War. Do you have a War.
story to tell? Though every effort was made
● E-mail Chris on by the school to note the
chris.visser@ deaths at the time, recent re-
lep.co.uk search has disclosed that sever-
● Or write to al names are absent from the
Chris Visser, war memorials, now resting in
Newsroom, Preston Minster.
Lancashire The approach to the 90th an-
Evening Post, niversary of the Armistice has
Oliver’s Place, seen the expansion of the
Fulwood, school’s archives via comput-
Preston, erised data and internet search
PR2 9ZA engines. However, the list of
names that has been collated is
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SHOUT (space) and the text up to a maximum of 160
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Lancashire Evening Post Oliver's Place Preston PR2 9ZA
first to fall
FRONTLINE: A contemporary picture of Sgt Sam
Newton, killed in the early months of the war.
Inset, the Menin Gate at Ypres, where Pte
William Richardson’s name is inscribed
thing my mum wanted to do.
“I have put a wreath on there.
We do remember him.”
far from complete. Spokesman
Alick Hadwen explained that
all the sources available from
school archives had been ex-
hausted.
“The 300 names already listed
can now only be added to with
information supplied by the
present generations of families
whose sons were educated at
Preston Grammar School and
who served in the Great War.”
The association’s annual re-
membrance service is to be
held tomorrow at 3pm at Pre-
ston Minster.
The school’s former pupils and
families are invited to attend
the service.
Visit pgsassociation.org.uk or
telephone 01772 733544.
Sgt Newton was a fully-fledged
soldier before he signed up
and is today buried in a small
SEARCH: The former Preston Grammar School
lep.co.
lep.co.uk
was Private Richardson, of
Heysham Street, Preston, who
fought in Belgium as part of
the First Battle of Ypres.
His great grandson Steve Wal-
lace, of Fulwood, found key
documents with his mother
Kathleen Wallace which pin-
point what his great grandfa-
ther could have been doing on
the day he died - November 4,
1914. He was 29-years-old.
The battalion war diary for the
day reads: “Heavy rifle and ar-
tillery fire about 10am and in-
flicted several casualties. I
think this is the heaviest shrap-
nel and artillery fire we have as
yet had to put up with since the
commencement of war.
“The bearing of the NCOs
(non-commissioned officers)
and men of the regiment was
worthy of all praise. Total ca-
sualties of 250 men in
the trenches was 15
killed and 35 wound-
ed. “
Mr Wallace says: “I’m
very proud of him and
that he was one of the
first to go over.
“His role in the war
helped shape the rest
of it.”
Private Richardson’s
body was never found
but his name features
cemetery at La Ferte-sous-
on the famous Menin
Gate at Ypres, Belgium, which
Jouarre – 66km east of France.
Also, on the frontline early on
remembers 54,000 men whose
graves are not known.
Father
buried
abroad
FATHER-OF-ONE Edwin
Stocks died in the con-
flict.
The private served with
the 9th battalion of the
King’s Own Yorkshire
Light Infantry after leaving
behind his son, also called
Edwin, and wife Margaret,
who lived on Avenham
Road, Preston.
He was killed near Ypres
on October 3, 1917, aged
28.
He is buried at the Hooge
Crater Cemetery in Bel-
gium.