Wigan Album
War Related Items
9 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 25609
The stones have been turned round in the meantime, presumably so that they may be seen more clearly, and in recognition of the fact that they died in the service of their country during, or shortly after, the Great War.
Sadly, they seem to have been accorded no such honour when they died (between 1915 and 1921), as the legend above their names, "Buried near this spot", conceals the fact that they were buried in common, or paupers', graves in that area.
Food for thought, perhaps, for those who long for the return of the "Good Old Days"....
Since writing the above, I've found another set of pics I took of these graves in 2009, including individual pics of each grave. Thanks to these, I've been able to trace these men in greater detail.
Their names are (from the nearer end): James Littler, Joseph Ascroft, Walter Mason, Jonathan Hitchen, Joseph Taylor, John Roberts, Harold Baxendale, William Marshall (the pot reads - To Mother and Dad At Rest), Reuben Jennin(g)s (no 'g' according to the Cemetery Records), and Joseph Moss.
I can confirm that they were all buried in nearby, different, common graves. Three died in War Hospitals, including one at Leigh, with a fourth dying in Wigan Infirmary. The rest died at home. I have most of their home addresses, and some next-of-kin names. They were aged between 20 and 55. There are discrepancies for some between their ages at death, and also the date of death given in the Cemetery Records, and those given on the War Graves site.
The heroism of one, Walter Mason, was recognised - he was awarded the Military Medal.
If the names mean anything to anyone, please contact me and I'll send you a copy of what I've discovered.
One of these headstones is my grandfathers, Reuben Jennings, who was wounded whilst fighting with the 6th Border regiment at Galipoli. He survived and re-enlisted with the 2nd Border regiment but later died from complications arising from his injuries.
So the name on the gravestone is correct, but the record on the Wigan Cemetery Index is wrong - it is Jennings, rather than Jennins.
He was the casualty who died in Wigan Infirmary, husband of SA Jennings, of 13 Prescott Street, Wallgate.
A hero, unrecognised in his home town.
War graves are always sad - this set must be amongst the saddest.
It may be that these headstones were erected some time after the war when the CWGC were informed that these men had no memorial. I know from experience that the CWGC are still erecting headstones when errors or omissions are reported to them. When I discovered that one of the men on my local memorial in Norfolk was not missing in France but buried in a now derelict churchyard not a mile away, the CWGC investigated and had made and erected a headstone next to the War Memorial but stating where the man was buried.
It would be interested to find out exactly when the headstones were erected.
I have the honour of being in possession of Harold Baxendale's Victory medal, I'm currently researching his story, so far I have learned that he was a guardsman in the grenadier guards (same regiment I used to be in) and he died of his wounds in 1917, his injury, a gunshot wound to the leg, he was 21, I'm still hoping to find out more about him, if anyone has any info please don't hesitate to email me, many thanks
I am currently researching soldiers who were treated at the Red Cross Hospital at Easton Park Mansion in Suffolk during WW1 and have come across newspaper reports of an inquest into Private J MOSS who died on the 15th February 1917 and through further research believe him to be the Joseph MOSS you mention in the Wigan Cemetery - any extra information about him and his family and possibly a photo of his grave would be very gratefully received and I am happy to share information I have found about him and Easton with you in return. Many thanks Simon Last
You're lucky - I've not looked at these pics for some time - but was idly browsing from one set of WW1 pics to another and came across the comment you've just posted. I'll send you pics I took of the graves in 2009.
Unfortunately the site has no way of letting anyone know that a fresh post has appeared relating to a pic posted some time ago - so you may not get any other responses very soon.
Simon, re Joseph Moss, he is recorded on the Roll of Honour in St. Catharine's Church, Scholes. To commemorate the soldiers who gave their all in WW1 I researched and produced a small booklet each month giving as much details as I could on these brave men. Joseph is included in the February edition. You are more than welcome to a copy of the article (just drop me an email), I would be interested in the stuff you regarding Easton Park, and would consider updating my info and maybe the article accordingly.
Walter Mason was my G.Grandfather.
We, the family , do not know why he was awarded the M.M.
Extensive research undertaken. Still trying to locate the medal too.