Locally The Ormskirk Advertiser was the fulcrum for war news, not just local news, it had notions far ‘above its status’ as a twice weekly late Wednesday/Thursday & Saturday editions, often the latter replication of the former, with additional information or photograph.

.Produced for Lancashire Libraries located in; Ormskirk, Burscough, Parbold, Tarleton, Skelmersdale, Preston, Self.

 

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The Year of 1914..

 

Football, lack of excercise, soft jobs.

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No aspect of the social history of Burscough would deny him an inclusion.

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As is well documented in this site, the very first Remounts of any era on a war footing was here in Lathom.

Ormskirk Advertiser 1st October 1914.

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The recruitment problem.

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Farmers and sons!

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From The Rev Travers Stoney.

 

 

Another attempt to awaken Burscough to enlist.

8th October 1914.

Then the Vicar responded.

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Recruiting at Burscough 29th October 1914.

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Lathom himself a pre war Lancashire Hussar officer, endorsing recruitment.

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Edits below numbering seven all 5th November 1914.

From the joint owner editors The Advertiser Hutton & Hutton placing their thoughts in cotext of what they write, younger was 34 years, father 66 years. Never an inkling of attempt or rejection to enlist, from a man deemed leadership material by status alone!

‘Dont do as i do, but do as i say’

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Coultons bakers Ormskirk, Southport & Burscough

Men went also proud service record.

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No letting up!

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Melling Lydiate farming areas then as are today.

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The same drum. {Five part edit}

 

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November 1914.

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1909 five years to turmoil. Richard Haldane Minister of War in Bannerman’s Liberal Government which won a landslide victory in 1906, was twelve months into his reforms of The British Army.. If he had not there would have been No BEF in 1914.

Source.  Faces of WW! Max Arthur.

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Christmas Eve 1914… Long years ahead.

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Skelmersdale resident, Ormskirk employment. Blackburn man reservist served with 2 Manchesters.

9844 Sjt M Lynch.

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January 1915 we enter the first year of the unknowing.

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January 1915 contd

 

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Second week of 1915

 

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As much social history as military.

Buried at home Liverpool with no grave! Commemorated upon a screen wall aalong along with others ‘en masse’

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January 1915 views of society Ormskirk District.

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Lord Derby

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St John The Baptist Parish Magazine  The Vicar Rev Travers Stoney October 1915

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Baxter family five sons served, two lost.

Set that against the constant plea for recruits!

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 Capt Christopher Chavasse MC Chap Forces 4th Class 

Advertiser February 1915.

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First week March 1915

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First week of March 1915.

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First week March 1915

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former ormskirk man dies Egypt  dies 20th March 1915.

Original CWWG page pre 2003, still retain all pages on file printed pre 1999.

‘Aint broken why try fix it’

Skeleton entry 1999, still so today, brought to life by research.

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Not that space for four graves is NOT available.. there is another two to a grave adjacent this.

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25th March 1915 the Advertiser reflects upon Pte John Selkirk

See Lest we Forget.

First Liverpool Scot to fall in theatre from Ormskirk, not the first man.

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First week April 1915 this account appeared in the Advertiser Adam Horrocks Coldstream Guards.

Social or military history it details his account of the ‘Brick stacks’ at Guinchy. 

History suggests mis placed optimism ref his “beginning of the end”

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April 1915 again the cry for more men.

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Beating the recruiting Drum.

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So May 1915 has arrived and the desire for recruits continued.

Second formation Territorial Battalions (2/10th) Liverpool Scottish in this case.

Need to purchase your own kit as with 6th (Rifles) Bn The Kings Liverpool Regt.

Recruited many men from the Insurance & Shipping Companies that populated the city of Liverpool.

1/10th Liverpool Scottish were In The Ypres Salient by 4th November 1914, so entitled 1914 Star, but NOT the Clasp / Bar.

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Week two May 1915.  Another call for recruits.

 

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Losses or missing on the Lusitania were comparable to the war itself.

Missing person or mistaken identity..

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Strikes for more pay, shell shortages, losses at the front.

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May 1915 home issues mounting up, recruitment still the issue

Poor manufacture strikes all amounted the same effect

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Sgt Grayson  Kings Liverpool somewhere in Flanders

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Lord Derby with his pre Derby Scheme push for men

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Week two June 1915 the requirements for men for service continued

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June 1915, pre Derby Scheme era

Lord Derby takes his recruiting campaign to the rural districts

 

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Horse named Blackie the mount of Lt L Comer Wall RFA  55h West Lancashire Div TF..

 

Grave of Comer Wall

His groom / batman killed with Comer Wall.

All images publications Richard Houghton except Blackie Photo.

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June 1915 still the social “are you doing enough young man rages”

Soldiers to assist farmers at the coming harvest.

Its the farmer, ONLY the farmer that holds reserved occupation.. not his son/s or labour force of those in his employ part or full time.

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June 1915 week three Hospitals in the news.

 

 

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Skelmersdale Parish Church Service for Pte Joseph Johnson.

Mill Road Maternity Hospital Liverpool

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July 1915.

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July 1915

Ormskirk Terriers thanks for the comforts from home

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July continues in Ormskirk recruitment the theme.

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July 1915 continues seeking more men from those staying put.

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Four sons of the good Bishop had gone, only one a fighting man, even he a Pioneer Officer.

The most highly decorated family of any war before or after of the British Commonwealth Forces.

VC Bar, MC’s times 3,  from three brothers, the fourth (pioneer) no rewards.     One cousin MC. Encompassing three doctors, one padre, one pioneer officer. One killed in action, one died of wounds.

*Two sons of the surviving Great War brothers MC’s WW2. 

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Continuation of July 1915.

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July 1915 history confirms this was tip of an iceberg, then.

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July 1815 began the Derby Scheme era

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Ormskirk Post Office 

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July 1915 continues.

Football becomes acceptable for a soldier, not so the slacker or shirker as the local press called them.

Good food at Eastbourne.

 

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Firms that encouraged employees to enlist often supporting their spouse and kin.

 

Scarisbrick VAD the two churches did much to support the troops

As July 1915 neared its close, the increasing demand was for more recruits.

Rainford near St Helens another rural village suffered no such social rejection ir inactivity to service. Many worked in the town or for Pilkingtons at its colliery or ‘sandwash’ or related to serving men.

August 1915 the usual issues remained.

First week of august 1915

 

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The unrelenting need for more men, dominated August 1915 while the new word

Compulsion was being echoed more often.

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The players of ‘war chess’ from August 1914 as much social history now as was military then.

Some had gone, some to go the very year of 1915, some returned and sustained, one or two not yet here for good or for worse.

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August 1915 rolls on with ever increasing uncertainty of the swing of war.

 

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August 1915 news to home from the front.

August 1915 same old contention

Lord Derby said to his prospective farmers or sons of farmers likely to seek a farm.

“Serve your country first the approach me later, do not approach me for a farm, unless you have served“

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Patriotic Skelmersdale who were never shy of enlistment were pushed for more, this had a social impact on Mining, as the village then was built on coal.

Socially news of how sons were progressing brought cheer to many, and no doubt scoffing also. These ‘walked’ in different circles to many, nonetheless ‘silver spoons’ died as hard as any other. All these came home bad memories however for some.

Rufford again… still six !

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August week three 1915.

Wickham family of Rufford.

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No images Cartmel or Culshaw 

My view of a Pit Owner named Kellett written ten years ago

Death of William Oswald Kellett J P, of Sefton House, Lathom. Supporter of Scouts, benefits for his employees, ardent recruiter for King & Country during the Great War with his ‘pocket’ by providing benefits to the wives of servicemen In his employ. The testimony provided by the Advertiser speaks volumes of a supporter of national & local interests. Colliery owners were not the most favoured personalities of the 20th century, was he an exception the common theme ?

Yes he was an exception .. years has taught me much of the ‘social home aspect’ behind The Great War…Mine owners were often Pariah…in their industry unlike Industrial Construction owners .Pilkington, Fairclough, Rylands, .Lever, Whitecross, Brunner all Household names of industry within 25 miles of Ormskirk.. Supporting families  of servicemen added contentment that supported the soldier knowing his family would have food on the table.

Men like he ought be seen for what they were not always a tarnished pit owner…

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September 1915.

Miners make best soldiers The area is rural hence the produce market prices left in the edit, built on coalfields.

St Helens Wigan Ashton Leigh adjacent town would not disagree

The Pals were there so the Bishop went visiting.

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This hospital today known as Ashworth Secure unit…is a top security institution

Ian Brady being one of its former inmates. In the Great War it was the centre of Neurosis Shell Shock cases and became the foremost centre for such treatment.

 

Parity to £7000 today

First week of September 1915

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Week two September 1915 no let up for those who fail to serve

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Week three September 1915.

Working ladies releasing men for service both sons of Finch & Stretch served.

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September 1915

The Derby Armlet to show you have attested for service, or have served then discharged.

Internet Image Long Long Trail

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Week two November 1915.

Wells, Bradley both killed, Wilding wounded at Loos 25th September the first three. Refer to Lest We Forget

Slow to the consideration were the Advertiser, St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Bolton been doing this since March 1915 or before.

This gentleman was unstinting in his personal generosity for soldier comforts.

Week two 1915 one of the busiest war related to date.

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Workplace recognition gratitude November 1915 presented to his father.

Grave of Mrs Sharrock Newburgh Churchyard

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Late November 1915.

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Last days of November 1915.

 

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December 1915.

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End of year is coming, so is conscription.

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Recruiting under Derby Scheme if final days of 1915.

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Christmas 1915 approaching, the first entire war year, the country was emotional of the service and sacrifices made, with an uncertain future ahead.

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Last days of December 1915… The Derby Scheme officially ends 31st December, conscription becomes law 1st January, at his Lordships request a stay of implementation delays conscription until 1st April 1916.

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This is the conclusion of 1915 the first complete year of The Great War. 1916 will resume on its own page, commencing Monday 10th June. The page will be posted ascending order therefore ending January bottom, December top.