BLACKBURN CEMETERY
WAR GRAVES
This headstone was erected in 1970
James Pitts, Private, 1st Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
Born: 26th February 1877 in Blackburn, the son of Patrick and Mary Pitts.
Address: In 1901 the family were at St Johns St, Blackburn
Died: 18th February 1955 in Blackburn
His VC is now in the museum of the Manchester Regiment in Ashton under Lyne
Awarded the VC during the 2nd Boer War for bravery on 6th January 1900, Caesars Camp, Natal, aged 22.
Extract from the London Gazette
"During an attack on Caesar's Camp in Natal, South Africa, on the 6th
January 1900, when 16 men of 'D' Company, Manchester Regiment were
defending one of the slopes of the hill, Private Pitts and Privates
Scott occupied a sangar *. On their left all of our men had been shot
and their positions occupied by the Boers. These two men stayed at their
post, without food or water, all the time under extremely heavy fire
from the enemy, for 15 hours. During this period they kept a keen
lookout and exchanged their fire, even though, on their immediate left
rear, the Boers occupied the sangars close by. Private Pitts and Private
Scott held this position until the Boers were driven from the hill by
relieving troops.
Additional information:. James Pitts became a lance-corporal in the Army
Reserve. His colleague Privates Scott also received the Victoria Cross.
"
These are the First World War graves I found whilst looking for family graves the last time I visited the cemetery. There will obviously be many more.
The graves are arranged alphabetically by denomination.
Church of England
|
Ashworth Lawrence |
Manchester Rgt |
6 Aug 1915 |
46y |
|
Ball William |
Border Rgt |
4 Feb 1919 |
18y |
|
Brandwood W. |
East Lancs |
15 Apr 1915 |
42y |
|
Cocker John |
Royal Lancaster Rgt |
29 May 1917 |
39y |
|
Cowell J. |
Liverpool Rgt |
15 Sept 1915 |
34y |
|
Critchley Henry |
R A F |
25 Nov 1918 |
31y |
|
Dawson William |
R F A |
25 July 1920 |
38y |
|
Fielding J. |
Rifle Brigade |
16 Apr 1916 |
|
|
Fielding Norman T. |
East Lancs |
26 Apr 1921 |
19y |
|
Haworth F. |
Rifle Brigade |
31 March 1915 |
37y |
|
Hodgkinson Archibald |
M G C |
11 Oct 1919 |
23y |
|
Holland F. |
Lancashire Fusiliers |
11 Nov 1918 |
33y |
|
Kenyon W. |
R F A |
6 Jan 1918 |
|
|
Parkington S. |
Labour Corps |
6 Apr 1918 |
41y |
|
Shorrock Walter |
R A F |
3 Nov 1918 |
24y |
|
Smith Samuel |
Royal Engineers |
4 Nov 1918 |
29y |
|
Thompson R. |
East Lancs |
16 July 1915 |
30y |
|
Wright Robert |
Royal Engineers |
12 Nov 1917 |
38y |
Roman Catholic
|
Briercliffe Henry |
R G A |
28 Nov 1918 |
28y |
|
Briggs Herbert |
Munster Fusiliers |
26 Oct 1918 |
34y |
|
Butterworth A. H. |
Lancashire Fusiliers |
8 Sept 1919 |
37y |
|
Burton A. |
East Lancs |
16 May 1917 |
|
|
Clark Hugh |
Royal Welsh Fus. |
27 Sept 1919 |
31y |
|
Dalton J. |
Labour Corps |
6 Aug 1917 |
|
|
Farran John |
Scotts Guards |
5 Jan 1920 |
34y |
|
Harkin H. |
Defence Corps |
28 March 1920 |
|
|
Kay J. |
R A S C |
23 June 1919 |
|
|
Kirby T. |
Scotts Guards |
23 Sept 1917 |
46y |
|
Lang R. |
Manchester Rgt |
2 Aug 1916 |
|
|
Mitchell George |
Cheshire Rgt |
12 Nov 1919 |
22y |
|
Raby Robert |
R F A |
14 July 1915 |
34y |
|
Riley J. |
Cyclist Corps |
8 Feb 1919 |
Non-Conformist
|
Armstrong J. |
Sherwood Foresters |
4 Nov 1918 |
26y |
|
Duckworth Christopher |
Lancashire Fusiliers |
19 Apr 1920 |
22y |
|
Harrison Stephen |
East Lancs |
1 June 1920 |
35y |
|
Nutall Henry |
South Lancs |
10 June 1918 |
31y |
