Letters from the front that told of life for soldiers
LOCAL historian Harold Cunliffe looks back at some of the letters published in local newspapers during the ‘Great War’.
●●LETTER TO THE MAYOR
Private J. Whitworth wrote to the Mayor of Middleton, W M Wiggins. He gives an eye-witness account of the fortifications which Middleton’s brave sons faced.
He wrote: “I am forwarding for your acceptance, two copies of the Orient News. Perhaps you will be interested to know that I am at present, along with a crowd of Lancashire men, on the shores of the Dardanelles, about twenty miles from Gallipoli, helping to keep johnny Turk in order.
“About ten days ago the famous ‘River Clyde’ was towed off the shores prior to commencing that journey (which to us at present is out of bounds) which to Lancashire people means so much.
“We sailed past Cape Helles and Gallipoli Point on our way up the straits. The further you go up the more you realise what an impossible task our men were set to do, for at every turning you see huge forts, in which are mounted 12 and 15 inch guns pointing towards the place which has cost us so many valuable lives. I have been able to secure a few photographs of a few of those guns for future reference; also some views of the town of Chanak where we are at present billeted, showing the damage done by the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ during 1915.
“I am at present trying to get photos of the graves of several Middleton men who are buried at Gallipoli and Salonica. Should you happen to know anyone in our town who has a relative buried out here and you can get their particulars, I will endeavour as far as possible (during the time that I am here) to obtain photos of their graves as I have no doubt they would be appreciated.
“My address is as follows; S,440607, Pte J. Whitworth, R.A.S.C. Statics Section, R. Branch, 3rd Echelon, G.H.Q. Army of the Black Sea.
“We have in the town several Middleton men, and we have many a chat about the old town and when we shall have the pleasure of having a leisurely stroll down Long Street.
“I trust that this will find you and the mayoress in the best of health, as I am glad to say at the time of writing all the boys from Middleton are.”
●●SERVED FOR FIVE YEARS
The Mayor of Middleton, who served for a period of five years during the Great War, was Alderman William Martin Wiggins J.P. At the close of the Middleton Town Council meeting, members went into general committee to consider in private how best public recognition can be given to the magnificent services rendered by Ald Wiggins, during his five years of Mayoralty.
It was unanimously decided to confer upon the Alderman the freedom of the borough. This recognition to Ald Wiggins would have been enthusiastic, as it was well deserved. The council sensed the sentiment of the community: “No greater honour than this can be given to any man, that he shall have conferred upon him the freedom of the borough he had served so well.”
●●MEMORIAL FUND
Alderman Wiggins made an appeal in this newspaper for financial support to make a lasting memorial to those who served with H.M. Forces.
The original idea was to make a memorial hall which could be rented out. The annual income was to be used for the education of the children of the fallen.
In his appeal to this newspaper, Alderman Wiggins said: “I would like to appeal for financial support for the Middleton Memorial Fund. I fully realise that men who have served with H.M. Forces on land, sea or in the air have given of their best in that capacity and ought not to be expected to have to help to raise a memorial to their less fortunate brothers who have made the great sacrifice.”