TAMESIDE LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY

THE NAMES OF

363

BRITISH WWI POWs

FROM THE TAMESIDE AREA

BY

Colin McInnes and Irene Tansey

CONTENTS

• Introduction and Acknowledgements
• Transcript of Stalybridge Reporter 21 Dec 1918
• Transcript of Stalybridge Reporter 11th Jan 1919
• Transcript of Article in Ashton Reporter 11 Jan 1919
• Transcript of Article in Hyde Reporter 18 Jan 1919
• List of 363 Names in Alphabetical Order

INTRODUCTION

In December 1918 the WWI, POW fund was distributed among returned POWs or their widows. In some cases £5 was given to each man, in others the money was voted to the local Mayors fund. In the ‘Reporter’, over the next four weeks, there appeared a list of 363 ex POW from the Tameside area. As there were local editions of the paper, the names have been listed alphabetically, and the edition included for each man.

The Papers where lists appeared were

• The Stalybridge Reporter, December 21st 1918.
• The Stalybridge Reporter, January 11th1919.
• The Ashton Reporter, January 11th 1919.
• The Hyde Reporter, January 18th 1919.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We extend our gratitude to the staff of Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre for their valuable help and assistance.

AUTHORS’ NOTE

All research material used in the following pages was obtained from:
Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre,
Central Library,
Old Street,
Ashton under Lyne
OL6 7SG
Tel: 0161 342 4242
Fax: 0161 342 4245
e-mail: local.studies@tameside.gov.uk
e-mail: archives@tameside.gov.uk

The Stalybridge Reporter 21 December 1918

RELEASED PRISONERS OF WAR

Stalybridge Soldiers Presented With £5 Each

On Tuesday evening a meeting of the Stalybridge Prisoners of War Comforts Fund Committee was held at the Town Hall for the purpose of presenting each local man who has been a prisoner of war, and has returned home, with £5 from the funds. Quite a number of men attended and received the gift.

The list of men who have returned and been paid the £5 is as follows:-

[See index for names]

There are several others who have come home and have not yet been before the committee. One is away in hospital, namely, James O’Neill of 7? Copley Street, who has lost both his legs.

The Ashton Reporter, January 11 1919

RETURNED PRISONERS OF WAR

Mayor Hands £5 Each to 183 of Them at Ashton

REMARKABLE SCENES

There was a remarkable scene at the Ashton Town Hall on Monday afternoon, when the Mayor of Ashton (Councillor J. J. Broadhurst) handed £5 to each of 183 repatriated local prisoners of war, welcomed them back from captivity and wished them each a Happy New Year.

The Press had been asked to make the distribution widely known, and the results were more than surprising. It was not believed that more than 25 per cent of the 261 men who had been on the list of men receiving parcels – “adopted” is the correct term – from the Ashton Prisoners of War Fund, had been repatriated, but the committee prepared for any emergency; Alderman J. W. Kenworthy (treasurer) had huge wads of “John Bradbury’s” to the total of £1,000, and actually £915 was paid out to 183 persons.

The distribution commenced at 2pm in the County Police Court. There were men of all regiments but the badges of the Manchester Regiment predominated; there were “Jocks” and riflemen, machine gunners, sailors, civilians, and jockeys from Ruhleben, but the most noticeable feature was the “vast expansive smile” on the face of everybody. In fact they positively beamed with delight.

Mrs J A Wild asked each man his name (but it was surprising how many of them she knew without asking). Messrs A. Elliott and A. E Fowden (the joint secretaries) checked the name on the list and Alderman J W Kenworthy was kept busy counting out the “fivers” and handing them to the Mayor, who shook hands heartily with the lads as he presented them with the money.

Many explanations of surprise and delight were heard as one after the other of the lads recognised some chum with whom they had trained or fought side by side. Phrases like “I was at Metz”, “Were you in the mines at ---?” and “Glad you’ve come through all right” were heard on all sides and “Jerry’s ears must have burned, so many were the pungent comments about him. A note of pathos was added by the presence of several widows of men who had died in captivity.

Alderman E B Heap and Mr Maurice Lees, who both have worked so strenuously on behalf of the prisoners of war, and by their example steered the fund to clear waters – although once or twice the fund narrowly escaped financial wreck – were present and took a keen delight in the proceedings.

Stalybridge Reporter January 11th 1919

STALYBRIDGE WAR PRISONERS

A meeting of the Stalybridge Prisoners of War Fund Committee was held in the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance of members and representatives of mills and workshops where weekly collections have been taking place for some months past.

It was reported by Alderman J Bottomley, JP. Secretary, that the total amount of the fund had reached £1,269.1s.5d. No fewer than 85 prisoners in all have returned to the present, and the gifts of £5 to each of them has absorbed £425. Grants to Stockport Central Committee, and to the Stalybridge Ladies’ Working Committee had been made, and after deduction of these sums and working expenses, the balance in hand is about £630.

It was stated that most of the mills and works were discontinuing collections for the fund, but it is possible that some will continue the collections and give the proceeds to the District Infirmary. A hint was given that an appeal might be made later to them for collections on behalf of a war memorial fund for the town.

In addition to the list of returned prisoners given a week or two ago in the “Reporter,” other arrivals home, who have each been presented with £5 are as follows:

• Harold Blain, Wakefield Road
• Leonard Broadbent 48, West Street
• James Hallas 13, Brougham Street
• Horatio Cooper 84, Back Cross Street
• John Dyson 19, Stamford Street
• Percy Hoskinson, 37, Union Street
• Walter Williams, ?2 Robinson Street
• Thomas Coleman, 47, Huddersfield Road
• Philip Calligan, 5, Avon Street
• Wm. Garlick, Kinder Street
• Gerrard Bardsley, 32, Kinder Street
• Leonard Baker, Cockbrook (formerly of Stalybridge)
• Richard Cartwright, 102, Kenworthy Street
• Harry Chase, 3, Wilkinson’s Square Grosvenor Street
• Wm. Sidebottom, 69, Forrester Street
• Jonathan Schofield, 1 Tongue’s Buildings
• James Smith, 2, Thomas Street
• Herbert Day, 36 Huddersfield Road
• Joseph Booth, 53, Canal Street
• Samuel Bardsley, Brougham Street
• Wm. Renwick, 46 Trinity Street
• Lawrence Bowe, 25, Back Avon Street
• Alfred Patten, 85 Millwood Terrace, Wakefield Road
• Richard Beatty, 51 Stamford Street
• Matthew Rigby, 111 Grasscroft Street

The Hyde Reporter January 18, 1919

PRISONERS OF WAR

Returned Men Welcomed at St George’s

A successful gathering, organised by the members of St George’s Young Men’s Class, was held in the school on Tuesday evening for the purpose of extending a hearty welcome to returned prisoners of war who are members of the Sunday School and class.

There were nine, returned prisoners present, their names being:

• Sergeant Harold Ainsworth,
• Signaller James Wild,
• Lance Corporal John Roberts,
• Lance Corporal Herbert Gunnell,
• Private Fred Walker,
• Private Percy Sellers,
• Private Eric Aldred,
• Private Joe Leigh,
• Albany Sherran.

Councillor T Middleton, leader of the class, presided, and there were also on the platform the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs J Mirfin), the Vicar (Rev. H.J. Graham), and Mr E Waddington (secretary of the class). Among those present were many soldiers on leave.

The Mayor, in extending a hearty welcome to the returned prisoners of war, remarked that he was very pleased to see those gallant soldiers with them again. There was no doubt they had gone through some terrible sufferings while they had been in the hands of the enemy, and he hoped they would soon regain their health and strength. He hoped the Government would see that those responsible for the cruelty and ill treatment of our soldiers would be severely punished, as they thoroughly deserved to be. – (Hear, hear). During the past two years the Mayoress and himself had taken a great interest in the Prisoners of War Fund, and they had received many postcards from the men in Germany who had received their parcels from home. – (Applause).

The Mayoress, in a few words of welcome, said they had been very successful in getting funds for the Prisoners of War Fund, and when the Armistice was signed they had over £500 left. It had been decided that this should be handed over to the Mayor’s Emergency Fund for the benefit of discharged sailors and soldiers, and if any prisoners of war were in need of help they should go to Mr Watson, at the Pensions Office, and he would give them assistance from that fund. – (Applause).

The Rev. H.J. Graham, who also welcomed the returned soldiers, observed that the soldiers had suffered and made sacrifices for us, but he believed the prisoners of war had suffered both in body and mind more than anybody else. He was pleased to know that, however bitter their experiences, they had not spoilt their souls. They were the same cheerful boys they knew before the war. He hoped that their sacrifices would not be in vain, and that the nations of the world would see there was a better order of things in the future. – (Applause)

The Chairman, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress, said their presence put a sort of official seal to the welcome. It was a real pleasure to them all to see the boys back again. He was pleased to see that one of the first things the Armistice provided for was the return of the prisoners of war. Everybody was glad their sufferings were at an end, but the authorities should see the men guilty of such barbarous cruelty to our men were brought to strict justice. – (Applause). Mr E Waddington seconded, and the resolution was carried with applause.

During the evening a capital musical and vocal programme was given by Misses Thorn, Mellor, Mirfin, and Messrs. J. Handforth, Jones, P. Ellis, and Privates J Wild and F Walker, two of the returned prisoners, and Miss M Handforth ably played the accompaniments.

The Artistes were cordially thanked on the motion of Councillor G Spencer, seconded by Mr. W.B Robinson. Afterwards dancing was indulged in.

This article kindly donated by Colin McInnes and transcribed by Irene Tansey 14 October 2006 ©