1917 PAGE 4
1917 PAGE 4
THE ASHTON TERRITORIALS, 9th BATTALION of the MANCHESTER REGIMENT.
1917
Published in the Reporter 20th October 1917.
RESCUED LIEUT. GREENWOOD.
FORMER NEW MOSS COLLIER AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL.
We are enabled to publish this week a photograph of Pte. THOMAS HOWARD, of the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, of 43, Newman Street, Ashton, who has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in rescuing his officer under fire. The incident occurred during a night attack on an enemy blockhouse on the 11th and 12th of September, when Second-Lieut. W.G.GREENWOOD, son of Councillor H.T. Greenwood, was wounded. Pte. HOWARD volunteered to bring this officer in, and obtained permission to do so. Lieutenant GREENWOOD was lying about 40 yards from the blockhouse, and considerable machine gun and rifle fire was going on at the time. With great pluck, Pte. HOWARD went out and picked up the wounded officer, and carried him a distance of 200 yards over exposed ground, which was illuminated by flares and swept by bullets from enemy machine guns and rifles. Pte. HOWARD joined the Army when the war broke out. He served in the Dardanelles and has been in France about (illegible). Previous to joining the Army he was employed as a miner at the New Moss Colliery.
Published in the Reporter 20th October 1917.
ASHTON OFFICER
Lieut. G.H. Barratt Killed in Recent Advance.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Barratt, of Moss Bank, Richmond Street, Ashton, on Tuesday received a telegram from the War Office conveying the sad tidings that their third son, Lieut. GEORGE. H. BARRATT, of the 2/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Ashton Territorials) was killed in action in France whilst bravely carrying out his military duties on October 10th. Lieut. BARRATT was 23 years of age. He offered his services on the outbreak of the war. Enlisting as a Private in the 2/8th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Ardwick) he obtained a commission in the 2/9th Manchesters, being gazetted in March 1915. He was appointed signalling officer to the Battalion, and later acted as Brigade Signalling officer in France. He was a specialist in other subjects and had gained a good many certificates, and had been complimented by the Divisional General. Lieut. BARRATT was a member of the Ashton Cricket Club. Prior to enlistment he was on the staff of the County Bank, Stamford Street. In his last letter home he was very cheery, and said they were all proud to be selected to take their part in the recent offensive and were eagerly looking forward to it. (Lieut. G.H.Barratt is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing).
Published in the Reporter 20th October 1917.
WON GREAT ADMIRATION.
ASHTON SOLDIER WHO WAS BRAVE, BRIGHT, AND CHEERFUL.
"A better soldier no officer or N.C.O. could wish for. His heroic constancy and devotion to duty at all times won him the admiration of all ranks. Brave, bright, and always cheerful, he was indeed a type which many a soldier might well envy". So wrote Sergeant F. DICKINSON, of the second line of the Ashton Territorials, in informing Mrs. BARDSLEY, of 27, Bradgate Street, Ashton, that her husband, Private 351844 ERNEST BARDSLEY, 2/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, who was in his platoon had been killed by a sniper in Belgium. Pte. BARDSLEY was 20 years of age, and worked as a collier at the New Moss prior to joining in September 1914. He married Miss Lily Hall, of Bradgate Street, and his parents reside in Ellison Street. (Ernest Bardsley is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing).
Pictured below: The BARDSLEY Brothers, Pte. 351844 ERNEST BARDSLEY & Pte. 3514010 SAM BARDSLEY both served in the 2/9th Battalion. (Sam Bardsley was killed on 24th July 1920 in Basra whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Manchesters).
Published in the Reporter 27th October 1917.
ASHTON TERRITORIAL LOSES AN EYE.
Pte. GEORGE DODD of the 2/9th Manchester Regiment, and of Ashton, in a letter to his parents says,"I am wounded, and was placed in hospital on the 9th inst. I got hit in the right eye. I am sorry to say I shall lose my eye, but don't you get upset about it. I consider myself very lucky to get out alive, as it was absolutely "Hell" to be there. I don't suppose I shall be long before I get to Blighty now". Pte. DOOD has been in the Army since the outbreak of the war. He has been in hospital once before suffering from trench fever, and has been in France since March of this year. Before joining the army he was employed as a plumber. His brother, Pte. NORMAN DODD, joined the Flying Corps in June this year. He was formerly employed in the store of the Higher Hurst Co-operative Society.
Published in the Reporter 27th October 1917.
TWO SONS KILLED
Ashton Soldier Who Was Always Cheerful and Willing.
News has been received by Mrs. Walter G. Salter, of 2, Egerton Street, Ashton, that her husband, Lance Sergeant 352161 WALTER GEORGE SALTER, of the 2/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment has been killed in action on October 9th. Lance Corporal R. SPENS(?), one of an Ashton family who have a fine record of military service has written to Mrs SALTER, telling her that he was not with WALTER when he was killed. The boys had told him he was up the front, "where he was ever doing his duty". He always had a cheery word and a smile for us, and if there was anything he could do for us we had only to say the word and it was done. Sergt. SALTER was the oldest son of Mr & Mrs W. SALTER, picture framers, of Old Street, Ashton. He was 24 years of age and married Miss GREENWOOD. He was an employee of the Reporter Office. This is the second bereavement Mr & Mrs SALTER have sustained through war during the past few months, their son ERNEST being killed whilst serving with the 6th Cheshires. Sergt. SALTER attended St. Mark's Schools, Dukinfield, and had assisted his father in his business. (Walter George Salter is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing).
Published in the Reporter 27th October 1917.
HURST BROTHERS WOUNDED.
Miss C. Marsland, who resides at 106, Hope Street, Hurst, has received word that her brothers, Sergt. JAMES MARSLAND and Private JOHN W. MARSLAND, both of the 2/9th Manchesters, have been wounded in the recent heavy fighting. Sergt. JAMES MARSLAND joined the forces in September 1914, and the official account of his injuries says that he is suffering from severe gun-shot wounds to the right leg. He is at present in a hospital in Surrey, and is progressing favourably. Private JOHN W. MARSLAND, in a letter to his sister, says he has had a very lucky escape from being killed, as a bullet struck a Testament which he was carrying in his pocket. This has apparently turned the course of the bullet on to his elbow, where it has shattered the bone. The Testament was a present from Mr. J. Andrew, the superintendent of the Queen Street U.M.C., which was made to Private MARSLAND on his departure for the front. He is now in a nursing home at Chirk, and, like his brother, is making satisfactory progress.