Flookburgh Men 2

Harold William Bransden. 240563, Lance Corporal, 1st/4th Bn., King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.). Killed in action on Tuesday, 9th April 1918. Age 26. Son of Walter and Jessie Robertson Bransden, of North Stifford, Grays, Essex, enlisted in Didcot, Berkshire. He is commemorated on the LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France Panel 19 and 20.  The name on the memorial, as you may have seen, is Henry. This man is the only H. Bransden, on the War Graves Commission list and in "Soldiers Died". There is just one other casualty with the same surname. Harold could be shortened to "Harry" which was also used instead of Henry. The 1/4 KORLR were the local battalion and at the time of Pte. Bransden's death were part of  the 55th Division's heroic defence of Givenchy-Festubert during the Battle of the Lys.

Further research by the Curator of The King's Own Museum shows four references to him. Harold Wm. Bransden is on 5th Bn. King's Own nominal roll, numbered 2229. The "Lancaster Observer" of 11th June 1915 refers to H W Bransden - Pte 2227, C Coy. 5/KO being wounded on 23rd April 1915. He is commemorated on Stifford Churchyard Memorial Roll and Bransden H. W., L/Cpl 240568 is named as being in 1/4th King's Own War Savings Scheme in January 1918 with No. 10 Platoon of C Company.

Recently available records show that Bransden enlisted as a regular with the 6th Bn in Ulverston on 19th August 1914 and given the number 11594, but was discharged on 4th September 1914,"Having been irregularly enlisted". He appears to have re-joined the 1/5th Bn as "Soldiers Died" gives his enlistment being at Didcot which indicates that he was one of the "Gallants", when 200 men volunteered in Lancaster in a matter of hours on 2nd September 1914 and joined 5th Bn at Didcot. Their number range was around 2000 to 2220. He was later transferred to 1/4th, possibly after being wounded.

Harold Burrow. 242987, Private, 1st/5th Bn., King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.). Killed in action, Sunday 14 April 1918 . Age 22. He enlisted at Ulverston on Dec 19th 1914 and was the son of John and Mary Jane Burrow, of The Hope and Anchor, Flookburgh.

The "Barrow News" reported that Pte."Burrows" was killed on 10th April. 1st/5th King's Own were heavily engaged at Givenchy on the 10th and relieved on the night of 14th/15th April. His officer wrote that he was "a good lad and a good soldier" and that he was killed instantly by a shell exploding at his feet while he was returning after delivering a message. He is commemorated on the LOOS MEMORIAL Pas de Calais, France. Panel 19 and 20.

Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers. Son of the late W. G. and A. S. Chilton, of Barrow-in-Furness. Died on Saturday 18 September 1920. Age 37. He is buried at KUT WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Grave C. 21.

Thomas Davis. Private. 14000, 7th Bn., King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.) who was killed in action on Monday 8th October 1917 . Age 29 . Nicknamed "Tot" he was the fourth son of Robert Benson Davis and Mrs. Jane Davis of Cark- in-Cartmel, and arrived in France 17/7/1915. He is commemorated on the TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Panel 18 to 19.

Henry Hadwin. Lance Corporal, 12088, 6th Bn., Border Regiment. Killed in action on Wednesday 25th July 1917. Age 20. He was born in Cark and was the son of Aaron and Elizabeth Hadwin, of The Fold, Cark-in-Cartmel. He is buried at WHITE HOUSE CEMETERY Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Reference III. C. 18. On his headstone are two lines of text, requested (and paid for) by his father. They are "Peace Perfect Peace" and "With Loved Ones Far Away"