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

 

 

 

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