War Supplement 3

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Evening Post Special Supplement, Saturday, November 8, 2008

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You’ll see by the Lancashire’s Badge which I wear, Each day I am training that Arms I may bear, To fight for my Country and King, And we’ll show the whole world, or at least we’ll all try That we know how to fight, and if needs be to die And may God to us Victory bring.

RESTING PLACE: Alfred Craven’s grave

Soldier’s postcard message to mum “DEAR mother, I am writing you a few lines to let you know not to write until you hear from me again as we are perhaps leaving tonight or tomorrow morning, so I will let you know later, Ernest.” Those were the words written on a postcard from 19-year-old gunner Alfred Ernest Craven to his mother Elizabeth, of Fletcher Road, Preston, in 1916. Within months he was dead. A victim of fierce fighting close to Ypres, his body was buried at the Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium. His second cousin Barbara Allen, of The Turnpike, Fulwood, is trying to discover how he met his fate. She says: “I know he was killed in action on September 9, 1917. “I am very proud of Ernie. It was very moving to go to the battlefields and see the grave.” Mrs Allen knows he served with the West Lancashire Royal Field Artillery but does not know the precise details of his death and is appealing for anyone who can help to come forward. An appeal has been made for information about two brothers named Craven who may be related to the family. Catholic historian John Garlington says: “James Craven was wounded six times before he was killed close to the end of the war. His brother Joseph had been killed the year before.” Mrs Allen thinks the two, who were from Broughton Street, could be related to her extended family.

T

HIS poem features on a postcard dating from the First World War and sits alongside a drawing picturing soldiers training next to the badge of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. On the back is a message from young Preston Private Joseph Barton who writes to his parents, who lived in Moor Lane: “I received the parcel you sent on Tuesday night thanking you very much for the same, I haven’t time to write a letter. I will tell you why later on. Just going on parade. From your loving son, Joe.” The same soldier also wrote postcards to his sisters Lilly and Clara. To Lilly, he wrote: “Just a line to let you know I am alright, hoping you are all the same at home.” More poignant perhaps is a postcard written to Clara on August 31, 1916, from the front line in France. He wrote: “Dear Clara, Just a line for old time sake although there is a war on we don’t forget (happy days).” Within four weeks, Private Barton was dead – killed as he fought alongside his colleagues in the Loyals’ first battalion during the infamous Battle of the Somme. His body was never found and he is currently listed on the Thiepval Memorial as well as on Preston’s Harris Museum Roll of Honour. He was aged just 22.

HAPPIER TIMES: Joseph Barton with sisters Helena, left, and Clara. Inset, one of the postcards he sent home from the front, this one featuring a poem about his regiment

Postcards from the His nephew and Lilly’s son John Grime, 70, of Portree Close, Fulwood, says: “I remember as a child being told he was blown to pieces and they only ever got his helmet back – that has been ingrained on my mind. “But his story is only some-

frontline

thing I’ve really found out while researching my family over the last two years. “My family always said he was killed but when you are youngster you don’t tend to ask questions and now I wish I had.” Mr Grime, who has served himself in what was then

‘Your son died in his sleep’ “YOUR son was brought in here on the morning of the 14th in a very serious condition having been badly wounded in both legs and arms and suffering from loss of blood and shock.” Those words were written to the mother of young Preston Private George Dixon by a nurse at his bedside. He had been fighting in the 8th Battalion of the Border Regiment in Belgium when tragedy struck. And as the letter reads on, it reveals the worst possible news anyone could ever tell a mother about her child. The hospital sister writes: “He

was quite conscious when brought in but the doctors thought he would not be able to stand an operation and so everything possible was done to try and resuscitate him but he did not seem to improve at all and only lived until evening. “We were able to make him comfortable so that he went off to sleep and was not conscious the last few hours. “He did not have any message but I am very doubtful if he knew he was not going to get better as I always try to cheer them up as much as possible, as sometimes it has a wonderful effect. “ I am so sorry there was not

more we could do but I think everything possible was done.” Pte Dixon, who is listed on the Harris Museum Roll of Honour, died aged 21 on July 14, 1917. The revealing letter from the nurse, dated July 29, 1917, was been discovered by the soldier’s family as they tried to find out more about their heroic relative while going through the family tree. His nephew George Borrill, 77, says: “It’s very sad indeed. I think it’s very interesting to see things like this letter.” The family want to hear from anyone who can come forward with more details about Pte Dixon.

Malaya as part of National Service, also discovered that Joseph worked as a baker and confectioner. He adds: “We were a big family of bakers apart from my mother. It is likely he worked in the family shop in Moor Lane.”

Fought from July to November 1916, there were more than 1.5m casualties at the Somme. The battle is best remembered for its first day – July 1 – still the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. A young Adolf Hitler was hospitalised in the battle.

The letter home THE letter to Pte Dixon’s mother, August 29, 1917. Dear Mrs Dixon, I very much regret that you have not been written to before now about your son. But I have found little time lately to do all the writing I would like. Your son was brought in here on the morning of the 14th in a very serious condition, having been badly wounded... and suffering from loss of blood and shock. He was quite conscious when brought in, but the doctors thought he would not be able to stand an operation and so everything possible was done to try and resuscitate him but he

TRAGIC: George Dixon did not seem to improve at all and only lived until evening. He was buried the following day. With a great deal of sympathy. H Gardener, Sister