Wigan Album
harlow
12 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 18836
This photo is from the late Hilda Bache - Robert was her uncle. Her father, Daniel Swann, married Robert's sister Jane. Robert was born on May 13th 1893 when his parents John (a collier) and Ellen (formerly Bennett of 19 Alfred Street) lived at 1 Darnhall Street, Spring View.
Robert married Elizabeth (Hilton) on December 14th, 1912. He was a printer at that time.
Date (presumably WW1) and place of photo unknown. The number on the floor in front might be their hut number, and was presumably to help the photographer find them to sell the photo - it doesn't look like an official regimental photo, judging by the informal pose, and the undress of most of the men.
Thankyou Rev David Long, it is indeed Grandad Robert Harlow third from the right. He was a printer at the young age of almost 12 years old for the Wigan Observer newspaper. He later served in the WW1 5th Manchesters Regiment, and for the last 8 months of that conflict he was a prisoner of the Germans. After the war he continued printing the paper until he retired in 1960. He married my grandmother Elizabeth Hilton on December 14th 1912. He was a keen and skillful crown green bowler and won many major awards, and in his younger days, he also turned out for the Observer's football team. Robert died at his home Cheltenhan Ave, Lower Ince on the 23,March 1979 aged 86, the Funeral was on Friday 30, March at St Mary's Church, Lower Ince.
thankyou so much rev for sharing this photo with us.i only remember my grandad in his later years.this has made my day
The sad thing is that we may never know who his comrades-in-arms were, and what befell them in the carnage of the Great War. Each face full of character, with its own story, perhaps never to be told.
what a lovely photo,i love these and theire stories just think this pic has made a relatives day and mrs batch (hilda) had it all this time, hilda lived next door but one to me in spring view,r.i.p.hilda
I have photos of my grandad who was with the 5th Manchesters (Territorials) in this very camp at Hollingworth Lake, Littleborough near Rochdale. The huts are very distinctive as they are raised due to the wet conditions. The Manchesters did their training here before setting off for Egypt on the 10th September 1914,and as they say "the rest is history", a very fine history it is too!
Thanks for that Joseph, very interesting information, I know Hollingworth Lake very well...just maybe some/all of these great men can be identified on WW in days to come.
Forgot to say most of these huts were used for supplies, ammo, medical, food etc. The men would have been in tents, far better I would have thought during their late summer stay. The valley was described by a local paper as a "Sea Of Tents" this in turn saw crowds of locals turn up to view the spectacle. "Many of the Manchester's went around the locality giving away bread and tins of 'bully beef' to the local people. "Sadly very few of these Manchester’s were to survive the terrible landings at Gallipoli,they were mown down by murderous gunfire as they disembarked from their troopships. God bless them all.
Colin - do you have your grandfather's medals? They will have his service number inscribed around the rim. He lived in James Street at the time of his 1912 marriage. Our WW1 memorial lists several men of the Manchesters from that area. By their numbers it appears they joined up together. If Robert's number is in a similar batch, it may be that they were in this same hut at Hollingworth.
I made enquiries regarding my grandmother, Colins great aunt, and its snowballed! I think its wonderful that so many people have commented with information, not only directly involved with my search, but with so much extra information, pictures like this, and stories that touch the hearts of so many families involved. As David says, we dont know what happened to these men, so full of character and life. I hope if anyone recognises a loved one on this picture that it brings them comfort, and that they know that there are still people alive today who recognise their bravery, and the sacrifices that both they and their families made, and that we will never forget.
Thankyou Rev David Long: I'm afraid I don't have his Medals or indeed other personal items that belonged to him. I intend to make some inquiries with my uncle Alan (Robert's son) who is now in his 80s, and hopefully he could help with some history. I'm sure he'd be interested to know aswell.
what a crakin photo, i have 2 of my grandads medals and 4 of my dads (TOM) 2ND WORLD WAR MEDALS, THEY WERE LEFT TO ME WHEN MY DAD DIED IN 1979, MY GRANDADS MEDALS ARE FROM THE GREAT WAR AND THE OTHER FOR EFFIECENT SERVICE, AND HIS SERVICE NUMBER WAS 200959 , HOPE YOU CAN MATCH THEM UP. A VERY PROUD SON AND GRANDSON AND THANK YOU REV LONG FOR SHOWING US THIS MAGNIFICENT PHOTO , KEEP THEM COMING