CAMPBELL John Died 22 October 1918 Age 37 Buried St Souplet British Cemetery, France

CAMPBELL John Service Record

Lance Corporal 41486 Leicestershire Regiment 1st Battalion

Lived at 5 King Street, Carnforth with his wife Isabella and daughter Janey

CANBY Thomas Barton Died 26 June 1915 Age 21 Buried at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Belgium View Grave

CANBY Thomas Barton, Service Record

Rifleman 3687, served with 9th Battalion, London Regiment Queen Victoria Rifles.

Enlisted in London and resided in Crouch End

Wounded 25 June 1915, died of wounds 26 June 1915. Educated at Bentham Grammar School, Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Battersea College. Employed as a schoolmaster at Hornsey, London

Eldest son of the late James of Brown Edge, Arkholme, Kirby Lonsdale and Alice Canby (Borwick).

His brother Sergeant Frank W Canby is missing.

Source: Lancaster Observer 2 July 1915 and 9 July 1915

The 1911 census shows Thomas 17 born Arkholme living with his mother Alice (widow) from Warton aged 46 and his siblings Francis William aged 15, Annie Grace aged 14 and Richard Irving aged 11. The address shown only says Borwick, Carnforth.

The school admission register shows him starting school 27 August 1900, Thomas’s date of birth as 6 January 1894 and he was still living at Browns Edge. Arkholme. on 19 September 1902 he moves to Bentham Grammer School

Also remembered at St Oswald’s Church, Warton.

CAPSTICK Thomas Edward Died 16 June 1917 Age 21 Remembered Arras Memorial, France Bay 2

CAPSTICK Thomas Edward Service Record

Private 32662 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion

Lived at 119 Hall Street (now part of the A6) with his parents Robert and Margaret and his brothers Henry, Norman and Sidney.

CARPENTER Henry Died 22 March 1941 Age 26 Buried Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt

CARPENTER Henry Service Record

Private 3710669 Royal Army Ordance Corps.

He was born in Durham and on his death was living at 92 Aberdeen Road, Lancaster. The Lancaster Guardian of 4 April 1941 states ‘late of Carnforth’

CHAMPION Eric Osborne Died 11 June 1917 Age 21 Buried Bedford House Cemetery Enc II Belgium

Photograph of Eric and his grave

CHAMPION Eric Osborne Service Record

Second Lieutenant South Lancashire Regiment 11th Battalion C Company

He entered Rugby School in 1910 and was Head of his house when he left at the end of 1914. He also received his commission that year. After training in a Pioneer Battalion, he went to the Front in October 1915.

Eric took part in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and again in October. He later spent three months in England suffering from a heart ailment. He returned to France in April 1917. He was killed by a high explosive shell while returning to billets with other soldiers during the Bombardment of the Third Battle of Ypres near Menin.

Son of the late Francis Coverley and Amelia Charles Champion

CLARK David William Died 24 March 1918 Age 21 Remembered Pozieres Memorial panel 90

CLARK David William Service Record

Corporal 142348 Machine Gun Corp 9th Company

Lived at 18 Kellet Road with his parents John Robinson Clark and Ada Clark as of 1911 census. The newspaper announcing his death on 27 April 1918 shows his parents now live at Canal Cottages, Carnforth.

CLARK Thomas Postlethwaite Died 3 September 1916 Age 35 Remembered Thiepval Memorial Pier and face 4A and 4D

CLARK Thomas Postlethwaite Service Record

Private 20564 King’s Own Scottish Borders Regiment 2nd Battalion.

Killed in action at Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme

Son of the late William Clark of 21 Fell Croft Dalton in Furness and husband of Frances Clark of 9 Rock Villas Silverdale

CLARKE James Morrison Forsyth Died 7 August 1916 Age 21 Remembered Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey

CLARKE James Morrison Forsyth Service Record

Private 1527 Australian Infantry 1st Australian Imperial Force 6th Battalion

The 1911 Census shows that he lived at 8 Midland Terrace with his parents Caleb and Jane and his siblings John and Annie.

However, he signed up on 15th December 1914 in Sale, State of Victoria, Australia.

He died during the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey, one of the worst campaigns in WW1. Eye witness accounts of how bad it was can be heard on the Imperial War Muesum’s webpage.

CORNTHWAITE John Died 7 July 1918 Age 27 Buried Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France

CORNTHWAITE John Service Record

Gunner 190432 Royal Field Artillery 92nd Brigade ‘B’ Battery. Died of wounds at casuality clearing station near Arras.

Son of George and Susan Cornthwaite of Belle Vista, Silverdale, native of Cark in Cartmel.

CORNTHWAITE Thomas Died June 1924 Age 26 Buried unknown

CORNTHWAITE Thomas Service Record

Private 165371 Royal Garrison Artillery

The 1911 Census has him living at The Travellers Rest pub (now closed) with his parents John and Janet and his brothers Edward and John .

He died of his wounds in June 1924 and therefore is not recorded in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

Cecil Ramsden SMITH Died 12 June 1917 Age 27 Buried Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery France

SMITH Cecil Ramsden Service Record

Second Lieutenant Royal Engineers M Special Company

Killed in action near Armentieres

Son of Joshua and Sarah Mary Smith of Yewbarrow, Silverdale, husband of Gwladys May Smith (spelling from Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

1891 Census shows Joshua Smith is a coal merchant and is married to Sarah, his children are Edward, Jane Ann, Florence R, Beatrice A and Cecil R who is 10 months, they are all born and living in Bradford.

Newspaper articles in the Yorkshire Post and Bradford Daily Telegraph in June 1917 states “Killed in France on 11 June 1917, 2nd Lieutenant Cecil Ramsden Smith Special Brigade Royal Engineers beloved husband of Gweldye Smith, who he married in 1916 and she is the daughter of Rev. Edward R. Edwards. He was the younger son of Mr and Mrs Joshua Smith of Great Horton, Bradford and Yewbarrow, Silverdale, Lancashire. He was educated at the Bradford Grammar School and the University of Leeds. He joined the O.C.T. in 1915 and gained a commission in West Yorkshire 1915”.

A letter from his captain bears high testiment to Cecil Smith’s fine character and gallant service

DAWSON Robert Died 5 December 1942 Age 36 Buried Madras War Cemetery, Chennai, India

DAWSON Robert Service Record

Sergeant 1915045 Royal Engineers (attached to Queen Victoria’s Own Madras Sappers and Miners). He lived at 32 Hill Street, Carnforth, with his parents. In 1935 he married Mabel Ellen Law of Hill Top Farm, Over Kennett and moved to 95 Lancaster Road (now demolished) where they had two children Dorothy and Mary. In 1940 he volunteered for service and was evacuated that year from Dunkirk. His wife Mabel died of natural causes in 1940 and is buried at Bolton-Le-Sands, Lancashire

As a widower with young children, it is unusual that he was posted overseas.

DISBERRY Matthew James Died 8 May 1915 Age 24 Battle of Frezenberg (8-15 May) Remembered at Ypres Memorial Gate Panel 12

DISBERRY Matthew James Service Record

Private 8397 Northumberland Fusiliers was born in Carnforth and enlisted in Newcastle. He was the son of William Disberry O.B.E. and Ann of 3 Green View, Torrisholme, Morecambe.

More details can be found here and in the Wartime Memorial Project (subscribtion required)

It is unclear why he has been remembered on the Carnforth War Memorial.

DOBSON Ingram Died 12 Dec 1915 Age Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension IEI France

Photograph of Memorial

DOBSON Ingram Service Record

Private 80021 Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) 31st Battalion

Died of wounds, accidentally shot in the thigh at Locre by a fellow soldier cleaning his rifle. There is a reference that a Court of Inquiry filed in an envelope dated 26 January 1916.

Ingram Dobson’s army registration record states the following: Born in Milnthorpe, Westmorland on 19 March 1890. Next of kin Mrs A Woof, Exshaw, Calgary, Canada. He also served in the 5th Battalion of Kings Own Territorial Regiment, [Editor assumed to be Lancashire] signed Dec 14th 1914. The next of kin address is amended from Calgary to 3 Northern Terrace, Silverdale. Letter dated 5 February 1916. Unit sailed May 17 1915 on SS Northland to England.

Calgary Herald published 22 December 1915

To a large circle of friends in Calgary, and especially at Exshaw, the news contained in the official casualty list this morning that Pte. Ingram Dobson had died of wounds at the front will be received with the deepest regret.

He was exceptionally well known in Calgary and district and for four years was employed by the Canada Cement company at Exshaw. When war was declared he immediately threw up his position with this company and joined the 31st battalion. According to a telegram that the company have received he was severely wounded in the thigh and died from the effects of his injuries at the No. 2 Canadian hospital, France.

He was a native of Silverdale, Lancashire England, and during the whole time he was in the west had been employed by the Canada Cement Company. His name came in great prominence at the time of the Exshaw murder case, as he single-handed, captured Manelik, one of the thugs.

His cheery, bright disposition won for him hosts of friends who will sincerely mourn his loss.

More information about the murder at Exshaw Canadian Great War Project

The 1891 census shows that Ingram Dobson was living at Back Lane, Silverdale, Lancashire with his parents William Dobson who was a rural post messenger and his mother Annie.

The 1901 census shows that Ingram Dobson aged 11, stepson was living at Burrows Yard with John Woof limestone quarryman aged 40, Ann Woof aged 38, along with his siblings Winifred Dobson aged 9 and Edith A Woof aged 1.

The 1911 census shows he is still living with his step father and his mother, aged 21 and is employed as a lime packer. The siblings living at the address with Edith Annie Woof aged 11, Charles Robert Woof aged 9 and Jack Woof aged 4.

DUGDALE John Ainscow Died 22 October 1919 Age 27 Buried St Oswald’s Church, Warton, Lancashire, England

DUGDALE John Ainscow Service Record

Captain Norfolk Regiment

The 1901 census shows that John was living with his parents John (48), Wesleyan Minister Margaret A. (32), and his younger siblings Arthur G (5), James W (3) alongside Madeline Dron who was a servant.

1911 Census shows that John was born in Wigan Lancashire and was attending Kingswood School in Bath as a pupil.

John is buried alongside his father Rev. John Dugdale who died 31st July 1920.

DUMBLETON Herbert Died 1 March 1944 Age 29 Remembered Plymouth Naval Memorial

DUMBLETON Herbert Service Record

Royal Navy Service no. D/KX 112272 Stoke 1st Class served on the frigate HMS Gould. He had been in many engagements and was involved in the Battle of Crete and also in Malta convoys. His wife Laura was also serving in WRNS. Herbert was educated at Ripley’s Hospital before joining the Royal Navy he was employed by Messrs Hopwood Bros.

Son of Bertie and Mary Dumbleton and married to Laura Dumbleton all from Carnforth, Lancashire

1921 Census shows him as aged 6, his father was a goods guard with the London North West Railway Company. He was living with his siblings Mabel aged 2 and Jack aged 8 months. His brother also served in the Royal Artillery, The Green Howards and the Royal Scot Fusiliers.

Stoker 1st Class D/KX112272 Herbert Dumbleton of the Royal Navy. Born in June 1915 at 22 Gerrard St, Lancaster, he was educated at Ripley Hospital School, Lancaster. By 1939 he was living in Leeds, where he married Laura Dunkley in 1943. Prior to moving to Leeds he was almost certainly living at 11 Kings Drive, Carnforth, with his mother, Mary. He was killed in action on 1 March 1944 when HMS Gould, a British Captain class frigate, was torpedoed in the North Atlantic by the German submarine, U-358. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Ref: Panel 89, Column 3. He was 28 years old.

EDMONDSON Frederick Died 6 Jun 1916 Age 20 Buried Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery C23 Belgium

Photograph of his grave

EDMONDSON Frederick Service Record

Corporal Z/806 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) 12th Battalion

Son of Richard and Mary Hannah Edmondson of Glenside Nursery, Silverdale.

EDMONDSON John Died 1 November 1918 Age 25 Buried Ramillies British Cemetery France Photograph of his grave

EDMONDSON John Service Record

Rifleman R/202112 Rifle Brigade The Prince Consort’s Own 1st Battalion

He enlisted voluntary in June 1915 Lived at 65 North Road, Carnforth (Census 1911) with his parents James and Margaret, his sister Margaret and his brothers James and Albert.

He was employed by Counsellor FJ Crellin of Tudor Square, Dalton.

EDMONDSON Tyson Died 28 Mar 1918 Age 26 Buried Englebelmer France

Photograph of Tyson.

EDMONDSON Tyson Service Record

Private 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand. Died of wounds.

Son of James and Hannah Edmondson of Silverdale Lancashire

EDMONDSON William Grice Died 26 March 1917 Age 18 Buried Tilstock Christchurch Cemetery UK

Photograph of his grave

EDMONDSON William Grice Service Record

3/9538 Private Manchester Regiment 51st G Battalion Training Reserve

Son of Richard and Lily Edmondson of 9 Jackson St, Carnforth

1911 Census shows William (12) living at 9 Jackson Square with his parents and sister Elizabeth (13), his cousins William Ratcliffe (12) George Ratcliffe (9) and Lily (16) who’s occupation was domestic general

EDWARDS Edwin Daniel Died 27 February 1942 Age 22 Remembered Chatham Naval Memorial. Ref: Number 53, 3

EDWARDS Edwin George Service Record

Seaman C/JX 193991 Royal Navy. He lived at 7 Edward St with his parents, George and Jane. Before the war he worked as a railway porter. On enlisting he joined the Royal Navy. He was killed in action on 27 February 1942, during the sinking of HMS Electra in the battle of the Java Sea.

Launched in 1934, HMS Electra was a British E-Class destroyer, which had mostly been deployed in the North Atlantic, where it had been involved in the battle of the Denmark Strait, which ended in the sinking of the Bismarck.

In October 1941 Electra was assigned to “Force Z”, a naval squadron that had been put together with the aim of deterring the Japanese from invading Malaya and Singapore. It comprised the battlecruiser, HMS Repulse, and the battleship, HMS Prince of Wales, plus four destroyers, but perhaps crucially, no aircraft carrier. On 10 December 1941, Force Z was attacked by Japanese aircraft and the Repulse and Prince of Wales were both sunk thus leaving Malaya open to invasion. The surviving destroyer escort had no option but to retreat back to Singapore.

On 27 February 1942, HMS Electra sailed as part of multi-national fleet trying to intercept the Japanese invasion fleet heading for Java. The subsequent engagement became known as the battle of the Java Sea and resulted in an overwhelming Japanese victory. HMS Electra engaged the much larger Japanese light cruiser, ‘Jintsu’, and three other ships, in an attempt to provide cover whilst others retreated. After taking several direct hits, Electra keeled over and sank with 119 men.

Her wreck was discovered in 2003, but when it was re-surveyed in 2016, it was found to have been heavily damaged by illegal salvage. Pre-atomic bomb steel is a valuable commodity with many uses and the main source is from ships sunk in WW1 and 2. Whilst there are some legitimate sources, notably the fleet scuttled by the Imperial German Navy in 1919 in Scapa Flow, much of it comes from these wrecks and their long term survival as war graves is under severe threat.

The 1921 census showed Edwin aged 1 year 10 months staying at his grandparents Daniel and Ann Parkinson, their son in law George Edwards and Jane Edwards their daughter. His sibling was John Edwards who was 7 months.

In the Lancaster Guardian on 26 February 1943, there is a memorial message from his cousin which stated that Edwin was killed in action Feb 27th 1942, also Jack his brother who is missing in action since 14 February 1942 from Annie and Harold of 21 Highfield Terrace, Carnforth, Lancashire.

Harold ESCOLME
Died 2 August 1917 Age 19
Remembered Menin Gate Memorial Panel 6 Belgium

Service Record

Rifleman 242593 King’s Liverpool Regiment 1st and 6th Battalion.

Son of John and Elizabeth Escolme of Yealand Conyers, Lancashire.

William Henry FALLOWFIELD
Died 29 May 1917 Age 20
Buried St John’s Church Yealand Conyers Lancashire, England

Photograph of his grave

Service Record

Private M2/15388 2 Driver Army Service Corp 621st M.T. No 4 Motor Ambulance Convoy (British Expeditionary Force).

Injured in Belgium, resulting in an amputation from thigh,

Baptised 28 Apr 1895 at Warton Church, Lancashire, Son of Richard and Julia Fallowfield

1901 Census shows William aged 6 was living in Yealand Conyers with his parents both 36, and his siblings Agnes Annie aged 11 and John Thomas aged 9, William Henry aged 6.

FARRAR Lucien Died 13 Jan 1918 Age 21 Buried Cologne Southern Cemetery Germany

Photograph of his grave

FARRAR Lucien Service Record

Private 19005 Loyal North Lancaster Regiment 1st/4th Battalion.

Died as a prisoner of war in Germany of wounds received near Epeby

Son of William and Ellenor of Challon Hall Cottages, Silverdale

The 1901 census shows he was living at 1 Westview Cottages with his parents William and Ellenor and his siblings John W aged 12, Annie E aged 10, George aged 8, Sarah aged 6, and he was the youngest aged 4.

FLEMING George Frederick Died 15 August 1916 Age 21 Remembered at Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 5D

FLEMING George Frederick Service Record

Private 1508 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 1st/5th Battalion. Son of Isabella Fleming of 30, Temple Road, Sale Moor, Manchester and the late Henry Fleming (formerly of Carnforth). The 1911 census shows him living with his parents and siblings Mary, Amy, Margaret, William and John at 55 Lancaster Road, Carnforth.