Battle continued to take toll on families

ONE hundred years ago, the bloody Battle of the Somme came to an end.

But the final month of the campaign took its toll on local families, with at least six soldiers with links to Littleborough losing their lives during November 1916. Littleborough Historical and Archaeological Society (LHAS) is continuing to remember those who were killed on the centenaries of their deaths.

November 10 saw the death of Driver Frank Collinge, of Whitelees Road, who died aged just 18 from wounds received in France.

Pte Harold England, of Birch Road, died on November 13 aged 25, leaving his young wife Ada.

Pte Walter Wright, of Laneside, was killed on November 17 after sustaining injuries in training.

Two days later, Pte Harry Dearden, of Spring Gardens, died aged 29 at Grandcourt, leaving a wife and daughter.

Other losses included Gunner Joseph Platt, of Wardle, who died on November 22 aged 22 and Pte John Shand, of Calderbrook, who died on November 18.

For more information on the group’s commemorative, visit littleboroughshistory.org. ●●Among the Littleborough soldiers to lose their lives in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme were (clockwise from top left) Pte Harry Dearden, Pte Walter Wright, Pte Harold England and Gunner Frank Collinge