Kirkby Lonsdale

ROLL OF HONOUR - Men who are serving

Royal Horse Artillery. - Pte. Rd. Packham.
7th Hussars. - Capt. Wm. Paget-Tomlinson.
Royal Garrison Artillery. - Gunner E. Petter.
Royal Engineers. - Lieut. J. E. Chippindall, Second Lieut. G. D. Burton.
Lancashire Fusiliers. - Major W. B. Pearson.
Welsh Fusiliers. - Corpl. Frederick Price.
6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding. - Second Lieut. E. C. Palmer.

(Lancaster Guardian, 5th December 1914)
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9155 Serjeant Robert Holmes, 2nd King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). Killed in action on 8th May 1915.

Mrs. Holmes, of Beck Head, Kirkby Lonsdale, on Friday received a War Office intimation that her son, Sergt. Robt. Holmes, had been killed in action on the 8th May, the place not being stated. Sergt. Holmes, who had served in the King's Own for over eight years, went out on the 10th January, after a short holiday at home, and one of his Kirkby Lonsdale comrades saw his death, which followed immediately on a shot in the head. Sergt. Holmes was a fine type of soldier, and his death is a palpable loss to Kirkby Lonsdale.
(Lancaster Guardian, 5 June 1915)
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Pte. W. Preston, of Kirkby Lonsdale, is reported wounded while serving in the Border Regiment.
(Lancaster Guardian, 24 June 1916)
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16851 Private William Henry Lowe, Border Regiment. Killed in action on 30th November 1916, aged 32. Son of John Lowe, of Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland; husband of M. M. J. Lowe, of Stanley Villa, Fairfax Drive, Westcliff-on-Sea; born at Kirkby Lonsdale. CWGC database gives his age as 34.

9649 Lance Corporal William Henry Maudsley 3rd South African Infantry Died, from wounds received in action, on 15th December 1916, aged 40.

KIRKBY LONSDALE HEROES.

Mr. John Lowe, of Main-street, Kirkby Lonsdale, has received news of the death of one of his sons, Pte. William Henry Lowe, Border Regt., at the front. The deceased soldier's officer, writing to one of his brothers, says that Pte. Lowe was shot by a sniper on the 30th November, and died immediately. He was buried a few hours later by his comrades, and a cross was erected over the grave. Pte. Lowe, who was 32 years of age, was a Kirkby Lonsdale man, born and bred. He enlisted at Carlisle in the autumn of 1914, coming there from Warrington, where he latterly resided, to join his County Regiment. He went out to the front in September last. He leaves a widow and one child.

On Wednesday news was received that Lance-Corpl. William Henry Maudsley, South African Light Infantry, son of the late Mr. John Maudsley and of Mrs. Maudsley, Kirkby Lonsdale, died on December 15th. He had been shot through the head and left hand on the 14th, and died the following day after an operation. Always of a very patriotic nature, Lance-Corpl. Maudsley was ever to the fore in offering to serve his country. Early in the Boer War he volunteered for service, and joined the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, going out with this regiment to South Africa in February, 1900. He went through the Boer War, and afterwards took a post on the railways in South Africa. His first visit to Kirkby Lonsdale since the Boer War was just over two years ago, when he renewed his many friendships there. He returned to South Africa in June, 1914, and immediately afterwards joined General Botha's army, and went all through the German South-West African campaign. He then enlisted in the South African Light Infantry, in which he has fallen.
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14905 Lance Corporal Sidney Herbert Blows, 7th Border Regiment. 16th December 1915, aged 21. Son of Wilfred Blows, of Cambridge Road, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire.


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590401 Serjeant Alexander Kirkham, 18th London Regiment (London Irish Rifles). Killed in action on 4th April 1917, aged 27. Son of Thomas and Jane Ann Kirkham, of 49, Seal Street, Liverpool. Native of Kirkby Lonsdale.

KIRKHAM, Sergt. Alexander, London Irish Rifles, only son of Mrs. Kirkham, of Kirkby Lonsdale, is officially reported as missing after an engagement on 7th April in France. Sergt. Kirkham, who was 27 years of age, was always keen on military life, and in his younger days was a member of the Kirkby Lonsdale Cadet Corps, and later the local Territorials. He enlisted in London the day after war broke out, and had been at the front for two years. He did good work as a sniper up to Christmas, being a capital shot, and was promoted sergeant this year. Much sympathy is expressed with his mother and sisters.

(Westmorland Gazette, 12 May 1917)
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Second Lieutenant Arthur Armer, 11th Border Regiment. Killed on 5th September 1917, aged 23. Son of John and Sarah Jane Armer, of 11, Fairbank, Kirkby Lonsdale. Husband of Alice Ruth Armer.

Lieut. A. Armer (Killed).
Second Lieut. Arthur Armer, Border Regiment, of Kirkby Lonsdale, is officially reported to have been killed on the 5th September in France. A letter received from the Lieut.-Colonel of his Regiment says :- "It is with great grief that I have to inform you that your husband, 2nd Lieut. A. Armer, was killed in action on Sept. 5th. He was just about to enter his dug-out in the front line, when an enemy minenwerfer shell exploded close to him, and he was struck on the head and died immediately. It may be some measure of comfort for you to know that he suffered no pain. Though he had only been with us a short time he was loved by all ranks, and I feel his end with all the force of a personal grief. He always set the highest example of courage and devotion to duty, and this unit and the army is much the poorer by his loss."
Lieut. Armer, who was 23 years of age, was a native of Kirkby Lonsdale, and played for the local cricket and football teams for many years. He was a member of the Cadet Corps, subsequently joining the Territorials, and went with the Border Regiment on the outbreak of war. He served in India until early in 1916, and then returned home, re-enlisting in the Borderers in June, and saw active service at the front until December, when he was recommended for a commission. Prior to the outbreak of war he was for several years in the office of Capt. Frank Pearson. His death has evoked much sympathy for his wife, brothers and sisters.

(Lancaster Guardian, 6 October 1917)
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310137 Private Christopher Scott Twitchen, Tank Corps. Died of pneumonia at Wareham Camp, Dorset, on 4th October 1918, aged 29. Son of John James Twitchen; husband of Florence Twitchen, of 1, Lyncot Road, Aintree, Liverpool. Born at Penrith.