The United Reform Church - Clitheroe

The following memorials to those who lost their lives during World War Two which are honoured at The United Reform Church, Castle Gate, Clitheroe are -

In memoriam

Sapper Thomas J Hayhurst. Died at Leeds 29 August 1944. Dedication on one of the communion chairs.

In memory of Peter Liver. Royal Corps of Signals who died in Italy July 4th 1944 from wounds received in action at Cassino. March 19th 1944. Aged 21. Memorial on the Communion Table.

In memoriam Pilot Officer James Hargreaves Wilkinson. Lost in flight April 26/27th 1944 aged 21. Lecturn in memory of.

14 men were lost from this church during the 1914-1918 war and they are also remembered in the church.

Our thanks got to Geoff Holmes for this information.

Trooper Killed.

Trooper Walter Francis Mowle, 17 The Crescent, Mitton Road, Whalley, who, as reported in our issue of last week, was killed in Burma on February 11th, whilst serving with the Royal Armoured Coprs. Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated Friday 17th March, 1944.

Commissioned

Many friends in Whalley and district will be glad to learn that Mr William Peters, of 3 Pleasant View, Billington, has been commissioned second Lieutenant in the Pioneer Corps. Previously employed at Langho Colony, Mr Peters joined the Pioneers in February, 1940, and served all through the campaign in Norway. Later, he was drafted to Iceland, where he was engaged on various constructional works for two years. He is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Tom Peters, of Sunnyside Avenue, Billington and has three brothers all serving with the Forces, one in the Royal Navy and two with the Lancashire Fusiliers. All the brothers used to play in the Clitheroe Borough Band.

Pilot Officer Stanley Whittaker, a Blackpool journalist and only son of Mr W Whittaker, newsagent, Grindleton, who, as stated in our last issue, has been recently promoted to commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force. Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated March 17th, 1944.

Pilots Joint at Anzio

Taken from an article in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated Friday 17th March, 1944. A photograph appears of a soldier cutting a joint of beef. The soldier engaged in preparing the joint is leading Aircraftman Arthur Sims, of 41, Bawdland, Clitheroe. In the Anzio beachhead where the flat country makes observation from the ground almost impossible, pilots of an R.A.F. Squadron, serving an air observation post, have the dangerous job of spotting for the artillery. German artillery and fighter planes concentrate their efforts to bring down the little Gipsy Auster planes used for this purpose, and the pilots are all highly skilled at evasion tactics. They are crack artillery officers, who volunteered for the work and specially trained by the R.A.F. High ranking officers of infantry brigades take flights in the spotter planes to reconnoitre the enemy's positions on their immediate front. In the photograph L.A.C Sims, the Air Observation Post Cook is preparing fresh meat for the pilots dinner.

L.A.C Sims, whose Mother, Mrs J Sims, resides at 6, Nelson Street, Low Moor, joined the R.A.F a year last November, and went overseas last August. Previously Arthur Sims was employed as a van driver for Dawson's Empire Bakery. He is married and has four sons, the youngstest of whom he has never seen. 

Chatburn Soldier Missing.

Official news was received on Tuesday by his parents, Mr and Mrs Rex Hudson, 2 Pendle View, Chatburn, that their eldest son, Private Harold Hudson, serving in the Loyal Regiment was missing in Italy. An old choir boy of Christ Church and a popular member of the Institute, Private Hudson was employed as a driver by Messrs Keighley, of Rimington prior to joining the Army.

We have no record of his death and therefore presume he was injured or captured. Taken from the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times Friday, March 17th, 1944.

L.A.C Geldard

Article from the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated October 5th 1945. This glad news reassuring them of the safety of their son, L.A.C. Edwin Geldard R.A.F was received last Friday by Mr and Mrs Geldard, 2, Whipp Avenue, Clitheroe. L.A.C Geldard joined the R.A.F in 1938 and was posted overseas just before the war, arriving in Singapore in August 1939. He was fortunate enough to escape capture when that city fell. He made his way to Sumatra, only to fall into the hands of the Japs a little later and be made a prisoner. During his long period of incarceration Mr and Mrs Geldard received but four postcards -the last one being dated October 1944. We trust the parents will soon have the joy of welcoming their son, fit and well, back home.