WW1 PROJECT

Introduction

The original idea for a World War One project was discussed by the Luddenden Conservation Society in 2014.

The project focused on commemorating each of the 45 men from WW1 named on the Luddenden & Midgley War Memorial on the centenary of their death.

Salute A Soldier

The project ended on the Centenary of the Dedication of the War Memorial on Sunday 30 April 2023.

On this day a special Commemoration service was held at St Mary's Church and at the War Memorial. The families of the soldiers that were traced as part of the project were invited to attend. In addition, for the soldiers who's families couldn't be traced or were unable to attend, villagers chose a soldier to represent for the day to 'Salute A Soldier'.

An information packs for each of the soldiers were given to these people and they were invited to lay a flower on the steps of the cenotaph.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Explore Midgley and Luddenden Rolls of Honour

ALso, there is a nation Roll of Honour website which includes the names on the Luddenden and Midgley Memorial.

THE SOLDIERS COMMEMORATED

on the village cenotaph in surname order:

Rifleman Edwin Ackroyd aged 20
Private Matthew Ackroyd aged 21
Private William Noel Ackerley aged 18
Pioneer William Ackerley aged 48
Private Sam Binns aged 33
Lance Bombardier John Bolton aged 33
Lt Richard Bracken Farrer aged 37
Private Leonard Brooksbank aged 27
Gunner George Broadbent aged 24
Private James C Morris Breeze aged 30
Private Clifford Campbell aged 18
Private Karl Chapman aged 20
Gunner John Joseph Corboy aged 27
Private Gladstone Crowther aged 32
Private Charlie Dewhirst aged 22
Lt Richard Bracken Farrer aged 37
Private Thomas Greenwood aged 31
Private Harold Greenwood aged 24
Chaplain Wilfred John Harding aged 31
Private Richard Henry Hallas aged 35
Private Frank Hewitt aged 24
Private Alfred Holmes aged 30
Gunner John Ogden Horsfield aged 27
Private David Victor Jackson aged 23
Private Michael Kennedy aged 36
Private John Patrick Kelly aged 25
Private Willie Mitchell aged 29
Private John Murgatroyd aged 29
Private Herbert Murgatroyd aged 25
Private Harry Oates aged 19
Private Percy Odell aged 20
Private Jesse Ogden aged 22
Private Albert Ogden aged 24 In 1911
Private Harry Patrick aged 39
Sergeant Issac Rayner aged 30
Private Michael Roach aged 25
Private John Edward Roach aged 22
Private Angus Robinson aged 18
Private Tom Summerscales aged 25
Private Thomas Henry Sutcliffe aged 36
Private Cyril Wormald Thomas aged 18
Private Willie Uttley aged 33
Gunner Arthur Wilcock aged 25
Bombardier William Henry Wormald aged 21
Private Rufus Yates aged 20

Other information

As well as the seven war graves in Luddenden Cemetery (six from World War 1 and one from World War 2), there are many inscriptions on gravestones to commemorate soldiers that perished in war.

• A list of these wargraves can be found on the Commonwealth Wargrave Commission Website

• File:Annex-A.pdf contains a map of the cemetery and photos of all the gravestones that have inscriptions relating to the war dead.

Unveiling of the War Memorial

• File:Annex-B.pdf The programme of events for the unveiling Ceremony.
• File:Annex-C.pdf A Souvenir for the Unveiling Ceremony.