As we are coming up to Remembrance Day I thought I'd share the following cuttings sent to us recently by Arthur Heywood.
These newspaper clippings show the absolute heartbreak some families endured during WW1.
The following families lost 3 and 4 sons in the war.
I cannot even begin to understand how they coped with losing their loved ones.
Many thanks for sharing, Arthur.
Much appreciated.
Updated from
The Hyde In Wartime Book
At the end of July, 1915, Mrs Esther Long of Cheapside, Hyde, a widow, received from Buckingham Palace a letter, sent on behalf of His Majesty the King congratulating her upon the fact that she had six sons serving with the colours. The eldest soldier-son was 46 years of age, and the youngest 25. Sergeant Major Thomas Long, George Street, the eldest, married, a volunteer and Territorial for 27 years, and served in the Boer War, and been wounded in France. The seconds son, Lance Corporal Walter Long, for many years with the old Hyde Volunteers, enlisted for active service about Christmas, 1914, and went to France in February, 1915. He died at a Rouen Hospital on the 17th December, 1915, from wounds received in action. His home was at Hallbottom Gate, Newton, and he was married. Private John Long, the third son, enlisted at Whitsuntide, 1915. He was killed instantly, at Dardanelles, on the 1st. January, 1916. The forth, Private William Long, an old soldier, unmarried, served some time in India, also in South Africa, after the Boar War, was in much fighting in France and was 'gassed' on the 2nd of May, 1915. Later he was discharged as physically unfit for further military service, after serving 17 years. The fifth, Private Henry Long, spent 6 years in India, was called up as a reservist immediately after the war started, and at once went to France. He fought at Mons; was taken prisoner, and was subsequently located in Hanover, Germany. He is married, and his home is at Winsford. The youngest of the six, Trooper Joseph Long, went to France in October, 1914, and as been in the thick of the fighting. At the end of February, 1916, he was still in France, having been there all the time, with the exception of one leave of about a week.
Nice one nipper.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to do anything too dramatic to be headlined a 'hero' by the tabloids these days, perhaps confront a shoplifter or something!
ReplyDeleteBut these guys in WW1 were a true definition of the word.
Under horrific bombardment for weeks in that frontline surrounded by dead colleagues and if that wasn't bad enough then having to charge across open ground into enemy gunfire knowing this will probably be your last day, now that really did take bravery and guts....
Barry in Oz. I totally agree Dave B, my Great Grandad joined up at the start of the war and fought at some of the major Battles, wounded twice yet kept returning to the front line. His son, My Grandfather, joined in 1918 and fought in Archangel, Russia against the Communists. So both Father and Son fought in the great War.
ReplyDelete