Memories of a WW1 soldier
A MARPLE soldier who gave his life in the First World War was honoured when his great-grandson wore his medals in this year’s Remembrance Day parade.
Private Frederick Atkinson was the son of Charlie and Rachel Atkinson and was born in the Liverpool area.
As a young man, he followed his father’s footsteps and joined the regular army, serving for three years including a period in India.
He had left the Army some time before war broke out in 1914 and married Mary and was still working in the Marple area at the time.
He joined the 2nd South Lancashire Battalion, which was among the first units to arrive in France and he saw action at the Battle of Mons on August 23, 1914.
On October 20, 1914, he and his comrades were dug-in on Aubers Ridge near the French village of Le Bassee which is east of the town of Bethune, when they came under heavy attack from German infantry.
The following day, the Germans once more attacked and managed to enter the British trenches, forcing the unit to retreat and as they did so, they suffered many losses to machine gun fire – Private Atkinson’s body was never recovered.
His great-grandson Wayne Atkinson said: “Regimental records published after the war indicate the battalion suffered 160 soldiers killed in this period.
“However, only seven of the deaths are recorded as being during the two days of fighting, while 153 are recorded as occurring on October 24 when the battalion was not engaged in action.”
More information can be found in the book Remembered by P Clarke, A Cook and J Bintliff.