Remembrance – William Swift

Remembrance – William Swift

by | Jul 1, 2016 | Remembrance

On this day 100 years ago a brave young man from Morton was killed in action on the first day of The Battle of the Somme.
2nd Lieutenant William Swift had been a pupil teacher at Bourne School, passed teacher training at Peterborough and gained entry into Cambridge before volunteering for the Army.

He was trained with the 8th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment and was posted with his Battalion to France.

More of the story of the 8th Lincolnshire’s and William Swift can be found on his page on this site.

William Swift is buried at the Gordon Dump Cemetary at Orviliers-La-Boiselle, and remembered on the Morton War Memorial.

      

Remembrance – Thomas Fowler

Remembrance – Thomas Fowler

by | Nov 24, 2015 | Remembrance

On 24th November we remembered Morton man, Thomas Fowler who was killed on this day 100 years ago on the foreign shores of Gallipoli.

Thomas was born in Morton in the summer of 1892 to Edward John Fowler (Morton) and his wife Ann Booth of Haconby.
Thomas was their 6th child and eventually they had 14 children in total (although one had died before 1911), the last Ida being born in 1907.
In 1911 thomas was living with his parents, in a home with 7 children and one grandchild. Thomas at this time was working as a farm labourer, the same occupation as his father and some brothers.

By 1915 many Morton lads had joined the army and Thomas along with another 6 lads all left on Friday 15th January for their respective postings, Thomas’ being with the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment.
After his training Thomas and his Battalion arrived in Gallipoli on the 22nd September 1915 as part of a reinforcement of men to replace those that the 6th Lincolnshire had lost at Sulva Bay and attempts to push forward following the initial battles in August.
The war for the 6th Lincolnshires became one of trenches, sniping, bombing and patrols, although the biggest threat to their existence was dysentery due to the conditions and lack of fresh water.
Thomas Fowler died on the 24th November 1915, his parents receiving a letter stating that he was killed by a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

 

Remembrance – Arthur Ashton

Remembrance – Arthur Ashton

by | Nov 7, 2015 | Remembrance

On the 7th November we remembered Morton soldier Arthur Ashton who was killed this day in 1915.

Arthur Ashton was born in Dunsby, Lincolnshire to Cornelius Ashton, a cattleman on a farm and his wife Alice Boyfield. Cornelius was born in Morton and after his marriage to Alice Boyfield in 1891 lived there before moving to Dunsby.

By 1905 Arthur had lost both his parents and in 1911 was living in Morton with his Uncle Arthur Ashton, Aunt Kate and their children Bernard and Myra.

On the 4th September 1914 Arthur enlisted for the Territorial Force at Derby and at this point he was assigned to the 5th battalion Notts and Derby Regiment.

Upon mobilisation the 5th Battalion was moved to Harpenden and in November 1914 went on to Braintree for training.

By February 1915 the battalion was ready for action and moved to Southampton to be shipped to France, where they landed at Harve on the 25th February. The Battalion was part of the first complete territorial force to link up with the British Expeditionary Force.

On the 15th August 1915 Arthur Ashton was wounded in his right thigh and records show he was admitted at Abeele. By 22nd October 1915 Arthur was passed as fit for service and was sent back to duty.

On the 6th November 1915, the 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters started a tour and took to the trenches on the right sub-sector of the front line, south of Richbourg-L’Avoue, setting up headquarters in Albert Road. Two companies were placed in the front line, one in support and one in reserve, a position they were to hold until being relieved on the 10th November.

Arthur saw his final action on the 7th of November 1915 when he was shot by a sniper and killed in action age 19.

More information can be found on the newly updated web page

         

Flags were flown at half mast in Belper today as a mark of remembrance for Arthur Ashton

Remembrance – Francis Nicholas Andrews

Remembrance – Francis Nicholas Andrews

by | Oct 11, 2015 | Remembrance

Remembering Bourne man 2nd Lieutenant Francis Nicholas Andrews of the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, died on the 11th October 1915.

Remembered with Honour Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille

Rest in Peace

    

 

Remembrance – Joseph Parker Taylor

Remembrance – Joseph Parker Taylor

by | Sep 26, 2015 | Remembrance

Today, 26th September, we have been remembering Joseph Parker Taylor who died this day in 1915.

Joseph was born in Morton in 1896 to Joseph and Emma Taylor and was one of 8 children of which only 6 had survived by 1911.

Joseph’s Mother, Emma Taylor, died in 1910 and by 1911 Joseph was working as a 2nd Wagoner on a farm and living with farm foreman, Arthur Cook.

Enlisting in the Army, Joseph joined the 7th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment who were shipped to France in July 1915.

By mid August the battalion had first seen action in the heavy fighting in the trenches East of Ypres and from there had been moved to an area with sporadic heavy fighting being the front line near to Voormezeele.

This sector saw heavy casualties in September 1915 and on the 25th September the battalion were to be included in a large action where several bluffs were made as to which sector was the main attack. They remained in trenches until the end of September suffering heavy losses from enemy sniper and trench mortar action.

Joseph Parker Taylor was killed on the 26th September 1915 and is buried in the Voormezeele Cemetery in Belgium.
Joseph is also remembered on the Morton memorial.